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Tag: november book review

  • Our 3 Favorite Things About Coldwire By Chloe Gong

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    Dystopian fiction really is rising in THP’s rank of favorite genres this year! In our pursuit to expand our reading horizons, we’ve read so many incredible dystopian novels that it almost feels like 2012 again. We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing Coldwire by Chloe Gong to continue this streak.

    Coldwire is the first book of Chloe Gong‘s new dystopian series. We were so hyped to see her new cyberpunk world come to life! Most of society subscribes to the virtual reality known as “upcountry.” Those who can’t afford it, however, must live in the physical reality called “downcountry.”

    As a cold war between Medaluo and Atahua becomes imminent, two girls find themselves on a hunt for a program that could change who has the upper hand. Here are three things we love about Coldwire by Chloe Gong!

    Coldwire by Chloe Gong
    Image Source: Simon & Schuster

    Book Overview: Coldwire

    Content warnings: death, parent death, mention of suicide, assassination, racism, classism, amnesia, bombs, warfare, weapons (Read at your discretion!)

    Summary: The future is loading…

    To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.”

    But upcountry isn’t perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua—and no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as a soldier, or risk being labelled a spy.

    Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorp’s private forces downcountry, exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahua’s most wanted anarchist frames her for assassinating a government official, and she’s given a choice: cooperate with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.

    Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy. Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor goes wrong…

    Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy—and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.

    Not-So-Distant Dystopia

    One of our favorite things about reading dystopian novels like Coldwire is seeing how realistic it could be. We see the constant rise of artificial intelligence in everyday operations. The uncanny ability to create lifelike deepfakes and a virtual reality that’s almost tangible is becoming more and more real. Those who are rich enough can escape the conditions of the physical world by keeping their bodies in pods. Those who can’t afford it must live in the deteriorating reality. We love being able to make these connections and evaluate our current world.

    Eirale & Lia’s Entanglement

    We also really love the dual points of view in Coldwire. Eirale has been framed by an anarchist for assassinating a government official. She must work with her kidnapper or be captured by her employer for treason. Lia goes on an assignment to find an Atahuan traitor, who is someone she knew as a child. As their missions take these girls to the same locations, we started to put pieces together. And their paths converged in a way we couldn’t believe. By that, we mean we had to reread several pages to fully understand.

    The Twist Ending

    Don’t worry: you won’t find any spoilers for Coldwire here. But let’s just say after we finally process the big reveal, Eirale and Lia now face a life-changing decision (as if their lives haven’t already changed enough). And the twist ending beautifully sets up the sequel. Now that the die has been cast and pieces are moved, our main characters must prepare to overcome so many more obstacles than they faced in this book. We already can’t wait to see how they’ll pull off their next mission in book two!

    A dystopian series starter that is as refreshing as it is uncanny, Chloe Gong’s Coldwire absolutely lives up to the hype!

    Coldwire by Chloe Gong comes out November 4th, and you can order a copy of it here!

    What do you think of Chloe Gong’s new dystopian series starter? Are you getting your hands on a copy of Coldwire? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHLOE GONG:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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  • 3 Signs You’ll Enjoy The Trunk By Kim Ryeo-ryeong

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    We’re back with another translated book! If you’re anything like us, then you’ve been trying to broaden your reading horizons. And we don’t know a better way than by reading a book originally written in another language.

    Today, we’re reviewing Kim Ryeo-ryeong’s The Trunk, translated from Korean. And it’s the perfect time to get into this feminist thriller. The Trunk will soon be getting a Netflix adaptation featuring Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo, and we’re so excited!

    Alright, let’s get into our book review. Here are three signs you’ll love reading The Trunk by Kim Ryeo-ryeong!

    Cover: The Trunk by Kim Ryeo-ryeong
    Image Source: HarperCollins Publishers

    Book Overview: The Trunk

    Content Warnings: stalking, explicit sexual content, mention of domestic abuse and human trafficking, divorce (Read at your discretion!)

    Summary: Meet Noh Inji: almost thirty years old, with five wedding rings and counting, she’s never once been in love.

    When Inji first accepted a job at Wedding & Life, the popular matchmaking service that’s taken Korea by a storm, she never imagined her role would be with NM, their secret marriage division that rents out “husbands” and “wives” to their wealthiest clientele. Just like a real marriage, Inji’s assignments involve a wedding, some sex and a bit of housework, all tailored exactly to the client’s desires and length of time before they go their separate ways – no legal battles, no fights, no emotional baggage.

    After several marriages, Inji has become an old hand. She certainly isn’t interested in finding real love, despite everyone trying to convince her otherwise (her brazen neighbor Granny, her flirtatious best friend Shi-jeong, and her failed blind date, Tae-seong, who won’t take no for an answer).

    Then one of Inji’s old husbands, a mysterious high profile music producer, requests her back for another year. Over the course of their marriage, the secrets of Inji’s past begin to unravel – as well as the dark, sinister underbelly of NM’s management team, who will stop at nothing to preserve their reputation… and their clients…

    You Love Girlboss Main Characters

    If you love no-nonsense, girlboss main characters, The Trunk definitely fits the bill! Noh Inji is the type of independent woman who stays in her bag. And she works hard to fulfill her side of the marriage contract, no matter who her husband is. She’s honest and not afraid of upsetting anyone by her harsh words. Honestly, we want to be like her when we grow up. It’s so easy to root for Inji on her endeavors, whether that’s making it through a year of marriage or quitting her job.

    You Like Women Supporting Women

    Would The Trunk be a feminist read without women supporting women? No, it would not. Although Inji takes care of herself just fine, she’s also not afraid to accept help from others. Especially from her best friend Shi-jeong and the director at NM. These women stick together, no matter how much time they spend away from each other. Inji also supports Shi-jeong on all her new hobbies, like a true best friend. We weren’t expecting their friendship to take the turn it did, but you’ll have to read the book to find out!

    You Enjoy Uncovering A Layered Plot

    As with any thriller, nothing is quite as it seems in The Trunk. Inji deals with much more than contract marriages. We felt super nervous for Inji after her blind date turned into a dangerous stalking situation. Even after NM steps in to “take care” of the problem, Inji still feels uneasy. It turns out the director has some secrets of her own. And everything goes back to how much power and money one person can have. The people you know can truly change your fate, as long as you know the right ones.

    With a girlboss protagonist unraveling a complex plot amidst contract marriages and company secrets, Kim Ryeo-ryeong’s The Trunk is the feminist read you’ve been missing!

    The English translation of The Trunk by Kim Ryeo-ryeong comes out November 19th, and you can preorder a copy of it here!

    What do you think of Kim Ryeo-ryeong’s The Trunk? Are you looking forward to the Netflix adaptation? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    Interested in more book reviews? We got you!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KIM RYEO-RYEONG:
    GOODREADS

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    Julie Dam

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  • Four Life Lessons From Before We Forget Kindness By Toshikazu Kawaguchi

    Four Life Lessons From Before We Forget Kindness By Toshikazu Kawaguchi

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    We’re so back! If you’ve heard of the iconic Before The Coffee Gets Cold series, then you’ll be glad to know there’s a new addition. Toshikazu Kawaguchi has returned with Before We Forget Kindness, translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot and set to release next month.

    The famous Café Funiculi Funicula is where one can travel to the past or future and reunite with a loved one. They won’t be able to change the present no matter what. And they only have as much time as it takes for a cup of coffee to get cold.

    We’re introduced to four new patrons in the fifth installment of Before The Coffee Gets Cold. Here are four life lessons we learned from Before We Forget Kindness!

    Cover: Before we forget kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Image Source: HarperCollins Publishers

    Book Review: Before We Forget Kindness

    Content Warnings: death of family members, grief and loss depiction, divorce, mention of cancer

    Summary:

    • The father who could not allow his daughter to get married
    • A woman who couldn’t give Valentine’s Day chocolates to her loved one
    • A boy who wants to show his smile to his divorced parents
    • A wife holding a child with no name . . .

    They must follow the café’s strict rules, however, and come back to the present before their coffee goes cold. Another moving and heartwarming tale from Toshikazu Kawaguchi, in Before We Forget Kindness, our new visitors wish to go back into their past to move on their present, finding closure and comfort so they can embark on a beautiful future.

    The Boy – It’s Okay To Cry

    The first story in Before We Forget Kindness follows a seven-year-old boy named Yuki Kiriyama. He wants to travel to the day his parents announced they were getting divorced. Yuki made a wish at Disneyland for his parents to be happy, but he eventually realized they were much happier divorced than they were together. He wants to go back and show his parents a brave face and smile brightly this time instead of crying his eyes out. But it’s hard trying to act strong all the time, as Yuki quickly finds out.

    The Unnamed Child – Run With Doubt

    The next story is about a woman named Megumi Sakura who wants to travel back in time with her newborn daughter. She wants her husband to give their daughter a name and for him to see and hold the baby just once before he passes. But no one has ever tried to time travel with more than one person at the Café Funiculi Funicula before. Megumi has doubts about whether to go and bring her daughter along, but she also thinks not going would lead to regrets. So, the only thing to do is not let her doubts stop her from acting. Just go.

    The Father – Let Others Decide For Themselves

    In this story, a father named Fumio Mochizuki wishes to go back to the day he opposed his daughter’s marriage. At the same time, his daughter Yoko tries to come back and apologize to him before his sudden death, but she barely misses the timing. Fumio takes this chance to travel to the future and give Yoko his blessing. He regrets losing all contact with Yoko instead of trusting her to know what she wants. And she regrets not listening to her father and letting her pride keep her from admitting her mistakes.

    The Valentine – Don’t Let Jealousy Rule Your Mind

    Finally, the last story in Before We Forget Kindness is about Tsumugi Ito, a woman who regrets pushing away her best friend Ayame out of jealousy. Ayame even declined to go to the University of Tokyo so she could attend the same school as Tsumugi. But all the boys at school had a crush on Ayame, and Tsumugi hated being in Ayame’s shadow. So Tsumugi wants to go back to the day she was supposed to meet Ayame at Café Funiculi Funicula as adults. Because after all this time, she still didn’t know how Ayame truly felt.

    With a message of strength, hope, and forgiveness in Before We Forget Kindness, Toshikazu Kawaguchi never fails to bring our repressed emotions to the forefront.

    Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi comes out November 5th. You can preorder a copy of it here!

    Are you looking forward to Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s latest book, Before We Forget Kindness? Have you read the rest of the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    Interested in more book reviews? We got you!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TOSHIKAZU KAWAGUCHI:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

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    Julie Dam

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