#and she writes her columns and novellas etc and there the same characters in different situations

[utterlyinevitable]

“‘The best thing a girl could be is a beautiful little fool.’”

“Okay, Daisy…” he chortles, because it’s absurd that this is the line their conversation has moved to.

“Gatsby? What Gatsby?” she mimics in the most breathy mid Atlantic accent she could muster. Palm up on her forehead and everything dramatic to prove nothing in particular. A jest. A joke. A levity on the situation before them.

“You’re not Daisy.”

“Then which of us is Jay?” There’s that breathy voice again. But this time it’s all-knowing, seductive. Luring him into another game to play.

He doesn’t say a word.

But she does.

“One of us is disrupting the life the others built. Flaunting and saccharine bravado without a care in the world.”

“One of us,” he’s quick to retort, he’s thought about broaching the subject since he saw her again, wasn’t going to bring it up. But now she’s comparing him to a tragically obsessed lover he’s got to play the card — “writes about it.”

He watches her jaw slacken and her face freeze with wide eyes caught in headlights. just as quickly as she was thrown she’s back to being cryptic.

“I’m not Nick,” she laughs off the absurdity as if he hadn’t just rattled her world.

He’s determined, “I’m not dying in a pool before the summer is through.”

“Interpret the classics however you want.” She shrugs and casts her gaze across the way.

[the-sound-and-the-fury]

May Reading Round Up!

I completely forgot to post this sooner...

1. Puddin’ (Dumplin’ #2) by Julie Murphy

This was a cute one! I didn't love it as much as Dumplin', but I did think it was a good companion story, and I thought Millie and Callie were great perspectives to follow (as unexpected as they were). I think my only "complaint" is that I would have liked more. Like, a little more depth and push-back in Millie's otherwise exceedingly optimistic chapters, or a little more of Callie exploring life outside of dance. Callie's voice was a smidge more realistic to me, probably because she had more room for personal growth, and I really just wanted to see more of these two experiencing life together. But honestly, the only important thing is that I was happy after I finished, and I appreciate that in a book

2-3. Starting from Scratch (Housemates #5) and Pretty in Pink (Housemates #6) by Jay Northcote

I just had to finish the damn series.

4. Can’t Help Myself by Meredith Goldstein

I thought this was a great balance between her own memoir and the submissions to her "Love Letters" column. 

Plus, the Globe is in the same office building as my company (the publisher of the book), so she actually got to visit us to talk about the book and sign copies, which was pretty neat.

5. The Astonishing Color of After by Emily XR Pan

This one is a little hard to review. Because on one hand, there was a very heavy use of magical realism, which made it hard to identify between fantasy and reality, and could be very confusing at times. But on the other, I felt that the development of Leigh's grief and her life growing up with a mentally ill parent was incredibly on point and moving. And at times, it was very hard for me to read, because I related to that so intimately. But this was a very engrossing story. There wasn't very much action per se (what with most of the events occurring in flashbacks), but it was never dull or dragging and I couldn't put it down. I really thought the pacing and the unraveling of Leigh's memories and discoveries was done so well. I might not have finished the book had I taken the time to look up all the specific colors that were mentioned throughout, but I appreciated the importance of art to the characters. Altogether I feel like this book deserves to be read.

6. Adrift (Cruising #1) by LA Witt

I’m glad this was on Kindle Unlimited and I didn’t have to spend money on it, because I am so up and down on this author.

7. How to Marry a Werewolf (Claw and Courtship #1) by Gail Carriger

This wasn’t my favorite novella, but I’m going to read everything in this universe, and I know I’m going to like it regardless.

8. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (HP #4) by JKR

I was 10 years old when this was published, and 18 years (and countless rereads) has not dimmed my love for it.

9. A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOTAR #3.1) by Sarah J Maas

I gave this 3 stars on Goodreads, but this is actually a 2.5 for me, but I rounded up to because I liked the teaser at the end. I just didn't think it was necessary, I guess? It definitely didn't need to be as long as it was, or else it should have been divided into multiple short stories so that you could actually focus on the different characters. I suppose I like knowing where everyone is (physically, emotionally, etc.) going into the next book, but again, it didn't feel crucial. I'm also a fan of writing that shows instead of tells, and this story told a lot. Which combined with the over flowery language, was A LOT. And some how I came out of it more interested in Nesta and Tamlin? Both of whom I have always disliked? Still don't give a shit about Elain, though. That said, I apparently forgot wayyy more than I realized from the trilogy. Enough of it came back to me as I read along, but I struggled getting into it for a bit, because I didn't recognize so many names at first.