literary fiction – Book Reviews for Bookish People

Posted on December 16, 2025 by bookreviews628

All we can do is honour the lessons this brings, look honestly upon who we were and what we have done, and try to do better when the next sun rises: Reviewing House of Odysseus (Book 2 of the Songs of Penelope Trilogy) by Claire North

Hi everyone and happy holidays! With the hustle and bustle of everything, I haven’t been able to do much reading. I may be able to post one more book review before my annual favorites of the year post. It all just depends on my mood. Before you read this review, I encourage you to read Ithaca, the first book in this series. Now, let’s talk about House of Odysseus.

Content Warning: Violence, Strong Language, Spousal Abuse, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny

Penelope, the queen of the Ithaca, struggles to maintain her power over the suitors that continue to ravage her home. With little hope of her husband’s return, Penelope relies on her wit and cunning to keep her place on the throne. Her troubles, though, had only worsened when Elektra and Orestes turned up on her shores. Orestes is mad with guilt over the murder of his mother Clytemnestra, and Elektra isgrieving her father Agamemnon and desperate to put her brother on the throne. Everything is thrown into further disarry when Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon and king of Sparta, comes to Ithaca in search of his murderous niece and nephew. Helen, the woman who broke the world, is also here to annoy Penelope. With Ithaca thrown into turmoil, Penelope must fight for her rightful place with the help of some unlikely allies. The queen’s plight, though, has caught the eye of the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, who may give her a fighting chance.

Claire North continues to impress me with her ability to inhabit all of these characters and breathe life into them in a way that very few adapatations have in the past. This novel is part murder mystery, part family drama, and part re-telling. Its dynamic nature is what made it just as enjoyable as its predecessor. What I particularly appreciated about the novel was having Aphrodite as the narrator. Not to be a mythology nerd, but I always for Aphrodite to be one of the more underrated deities in the Greek pantheon. Her commentary about love and desire ties into the themes from the first book about women’s struggles in such a seemless way. Claire North does a fantastic job creating unique character voices that feel so rooted in reality in a strange way. With all of that being said, I am so excited to read the third book in this trilogy and I think that you should check this one out too.

Posted on September 28, 2025 by bookreviews628

In the end, we all go west: Reviewing One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Hey everyone! I’m back, and I have a great review for all of you! As you know now, I love surreal and experimental literature. More importantly, I love “messy girl literature.” I was overdue for some unhinged women’s literature. Let’s step into the surreal and strange world of One’s Company.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Graphic Imagery, Implied Sexual Content, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Attempted Self-Harm, Grief and Mourning, Discussions and Depictions of Severe Mental Illness and Psychosis

Bonnie Lincoln has lived a difficult life. As a child, she lost both of her parents to unexpected tragedies. As an adult, she is the victim of a violent robbery that leaves her reeling from loss and trauma. Bonnie finds solace in the hit 1970s sitcom Three’s Company. The only thing she wants is to be left alone with her quiet obsessions. When Bonnie wins the lottery, she decides to take her love of the show to the next level. With her winnings, she buys an isolated mountain retreat and transforms it into the world of Three’s Company. Bonnie’s groovy little paradise is soon disrupted by her former best friend, and she finds herself fighting against the trauma that threatens her illusion.

Full disclaimer before I begin this review: I know nothing about Three’s Company, so I cannot provide any insight or commentary on that aspect of the story. With that being said, One’s Company was dark, chaotic, and utterly unique. It’s a novel that examines the dangers of isolation and the pitfalls of nostalgia. Having Bonnie as the narrator allowed for a deeper exploration of the complications that come with grief. Ashley Hutson balances between Bonnie’s delusions and the reality of her situation. Hutson emphasizes the issues that come with avoiding dealing with trauma and how certain coping mechanisms can be dangerous, even bordering on self-harm. The narrative, though, isn’t unsympathetic towards Bonnie’s struggles. Despite the chaos that happens throughout the novel, we have a relatable protagonist who simply wants someone to care about her struggles. One’s Company was a wild ride that I didn’t want to put down for even a second. Needless to say, I think you might enjoy this one too.

Posted on August 9, 2025 by bookreviews628

The heart does not go backward. Only the mind: Reviewing The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

Hey everyone! How are you all doing? I hope you answered positively. If you didn’t , then I hope your day improves. I am currently drowning in books because of all of the summer library sales that are happening around where I live. There are a couple of “little libraries” in my neighborhood as well, so I like to check those from time to time for anything good. Unfortunately, I have no impulse control and will take home any book that looks remotely interesting to me. With that being said, don’t forget to support your local libraries and small bookshops. Anyways, you can check out my review of The Historian, also by Elizabeth Kostova. For now, we are talking about The Swan Thieves.

Robert Oliver, a reclusive and brilliant artist, is arrested for attempting to attack a famous painting with a knife. He is placed under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Marlow. Marlow is also a painter and wants to relate to his stubbornly silent patient. In an attempt to understand Robert Oliver, Marlow goes on a journey through his patient’s past. By doing so, Marlow finds himself enthralled in a tale of obsession, passion, and secrets. The key to all of this is through the love letters between a nineteenth century artist and her forbidden lover. Only through these can Marlow finally understand his patient and himself.

Where The Historian fell in to the category of “dark academia,” The Swan Thieves fits comfortably in “light academia.” Kostova’s prose is breezy, eloquent and uncomplicated. This style, though, does not simplify or demean the themes of the novel. It is a novel focused on the complexities of identity and love, all told with art history in mind. Kostova gives no clear answer to her characters’ motives, but paints a picture (pun intended) and leaves the reader to interpret what any of it truly means. This is all done, though, with no pretention or assumption. It is a presentation of the complicated lives of characters who feel so incredibly lifelike, even in a slightly idyllic fictional setting. Kostova is a ridiculously talented writer and I so wish she had more than two books out. With all of that being said, you should absolutely read The Swan Thieves and The Historian.

Posted on May 25, 2025 by bookreviews628

Inevitably, with memory comes pain: Reviewing I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, Translated by Ros Schwartz

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. The weather is beautiful where I live and I have some extended time off so I am going to finish off some novellas that have been sitting in my TBR pile for some time. I continue to pile on to my book pile because I am unable to excersize any self-control in a book store. I am also fully expecting to get a few more books for my birthday next month, but that is exactly what I want. Anway, this particuar novella has been making the rounds in recommended reading so it’s time for me to talk about I Who Have Never Known Men.

Content Warning: Some Disturbing Imagery, Grief and Mourning

For seemingly no reason, thirty-nine women have been locked in an underground prison. None of them can entirely remember how they got there or what their lives were before they were imprisoned. The fortieth prisoner, a young girl, is shunned by her fellow prisoners. One day, for seemingly no reason, the guards flee from the prison and the women are able to escape. They realize that the young girl is their key to survival and their only hope in the strange world that awaits them.

I can see this book becoming a staple in literature classes in the near future. I Who Have Never Known Men is a tense, existential novella that asks broad questions about humanity, civilization, and gender. It is also a story of survival, friendship, and perserverance. Harpman keeps the reasons behind the circumstances for this novel frustratingly ambiguous, but that is one of the more compelling elements of this novella. There is plenty to speculate about and theorize, but we are ultimately left with a fascinating mystery. I don’t want to say too much because this is a book worth experiencing for oneself. You should definitely consider picking up I Who Have Never Known Men for your summer reading pile.

Posted on May 6, 2025 by bookreviews628

The amount of pain we can endure is spectacular: Reviewing Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Thank you so much for your likes for my last couple of posts. I love to see that you are all still enjoying my little hobby after all this time. It makes me happy. Don’t worry because I still have plenty of books to review. I’m also going to be starting a couple of series in the near future, so I’m looking forward to seeing if I like any of those. I have plenty of standalone books if that is something you are interested in. With that being said, let’s talk about Ripe.

Content Warning: Substance Abuse, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery, Self-harm, Abortion, Emotional Abuse

After spending years at a prominent tech company in San Francisco, Cassie has had enough. She is exhausted, lonely, and frightened but does her best to mask her feelings. Cassie’s life takes a turn when she suspects she might be pregnant. On top of that, her boss asks her to take part in a sketchy plan to take down a rival company. With the pressure growing, Cassie must make a choice that will change her life forever.

I haven’t read any “messy girl literature” in a while and Ripe sits comfortably in that category. I do not label something as “messy girl literature” dismissively. Ripe uses a combination of magical realism and eloquent prose to highlight Cassie’s struggles that most peope relate to. Sarah Rose Etter tackles heavy topics like the endless and torturous cycle of capitalism, depression, emotional abuse from a parent, and substance abuse with brutal honesty and sympathy. The novel was just ambiguous enough and just specific enough to keep me locked in. It is uncomfortable to read at times but those uncomfortable truths are worth confronting. If you want something provocative and harsh, then Ripe is exactly the book for you.

Posted on April 1, 2025 by bookreviews628

So I should compose my own history, should I? Or it will be lost forever: Reviewing The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I have some exciting life changes coming up soon. I also have a never-ending TBR pile to finish so that is my fault. Before I begin this review, I encourage you to read my other reviews of Natalie Haynes’ books. She has quickly become one of my favorites in the Greek myth – retelling genre. With that being said, let’s talk about The Children of Jocasta.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Self-Harm and Suicide, Disturbing Imagery, Death of a Child/Stillbirth

When Jocasta was fifteen, her parents forced her to marry the king of Thebes. She spent years praying that she might outlive her largely absent husband. When a handsome young man named Oedipus appears at her palace with news of her husband’s death, Jocasta is relieved. She, however, realizes she has a much greater challenge to face. Fifteen years later, Jocasta’s youngest daughter Ismene is nearly killed in the palace. She thought that she had finally found peace after her parents’ deaths, but now she must deal with a conspiracy against her family. Despite decades apart, mother and daughter must face the inevitable tragic fall of the house of Oedipus.

Natalie Haynes continues to impress me with her clever re-telling of myths that most people know by heart at this point. While she doesn’t entirely dismiss the classic tragedy of Oedipus, she puts a twist on it that has more logic but is nonetheless a sad story of a family torn apart by rumors. Haynes does not just take on Oedipus’ story, but Antigone’s as well. These two stories told from different perspectives provide a unique and engaging experience. While the novel embraces the classic tropes that surround Greek tragedies, it offers just a bit of hope that most of the stories sorely lack. Natalie Haynes has delivered yet another compelling narrative and I cannot recommend her novels enough to anyone interested in Greek mythology.

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Posted on March 27, 2025 by bookreviews628

I think I will go mad with the wildness: Reviewing Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

Posted on October 19, 2024 by bookreviews628

Stop eating meat, and the world will devour you whole: Reviewing The Vegetarian by Han Kang, Translated by Deborah Smith

Hi everyone! I hope you didn’t miss me too much. I still have a couple of horror books I want to wrap up by the end of October. While this particular book isn’t technically a horror novel, I think it still fits the vibe. I’ve also been trying to read more translated books, so I have been keeping my eye out for suggestions. I actually got this book for my birthday (back in June) and have been holding off until now to read it. So, let’s finally talk about The Vegetarian.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Explicit Sexual Content, Sexual Assault, Animal Death, Self-Harm, Eating Disorders, Discussions and Depictions of Schizophrenia

Yeong-hye and her husband lived a perfectly harmonious, albeit boring, life. It all changes when Yeong-hye begins to have violent nightmares about blood and death. Disturbed by these dreams, she decides to completely swear off eating any meat. This decision throws her marriage and relationships with her family into turmoil. Her family’s concerns quickly turn into a desperate bid to control Yeong-hye despite her wishes. She begins to spiral and, soon, no one will be able to help her.

I am going to preface this review by saying that this book will not be for everyone. It covers a lot of heavy topics and does so with unflinching prose. The Vegetarian is, to me, reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman. The readers are subject to witnessing this slow descent into madness, paired with other issues like marital abuse, the treatment of mental health patients, and psychosis. Like I said in the beginning, this is not a horror novel, but that doesn’t make it any less scary. Han Kang blends together different forms of prose, which enhances the message of the narrative. It is a bit of a bleak novel, but it is so interesting and hard to put down. At the end of the day, I am going to recommend The Vegetarian because it has such a powerful message amid haunting and brutal prose.