The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Scott Yambao Raya boards the subway one night and finds herself catapulted onto the Elsewhere Express, a train that rides through another reality, all its carriages made up of weird and wonderful places. The reason she could come here is because her souls lacks purpose and weight. Alongside her is Q, a seeming stowaway. He wants to stay. She wants to leave. But it's possible that neither will get their wish.
I loved Water Moon, which I read last year, because the lush prose didn't detract from the story. Unfortunately, this was not the case with The Elsewhere Express. Beautiful writing should never come at the expense of everything other aspect of a novel... this time I found myself listlessly paging through the book, guessing what was going on with Lily early and not liking the author's attempts to mislead me, and wondering if I should disembark and DNF. Still, it was a magical journey with a few unexpected moments. I just don't think it was the journey for me. Content warning: mentions of suicide, loss of sight, death of relative
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I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez TW: book contains attempted suicide
Julia has never been a prefect Mexican daughter and her sister Olga - who seemingly was - is now dead. But Olga's secrets have not perished with her. Julia is determined to find out the truth, no matter how bad it is, but she has mounting personal obstacles that she needs to clear first. Which feels impossible, given how strict her parents are. Ooh boy. A few chapters in, I realised the tone of this novel was too similar to The Catcher in the Rye - a book I actively despise. So it wasn't a surprise when said despised book was actually mentioned. I find it hard to enjoy a story where the protagonist isn't particularly likeable and things just happen in lieu of a strong plot. But if you actually like The Catcher in the Rye and want a more diverse version, this is what you should pick up. PS: Do NOT read this during a depressive episode. I wish I'd had some warning. At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
TW: suicide ideation Nell works at a mental health crisis line and has to take some tough calls. What she doesn't expect is to receive a call from a stranger she had a chance encounter with at a cafe. Drawn to Charlie, she wants more than he seems capable of giving - can they overcome his past? And does time really heal all wounds? Such an unexpectedly raw and powerful book. Characters you can't help but love (and you also love to laugh at some of their interactions) and a journey of healing that feels genuine. This really isn't what the cover suggests it to be. Sure, it's romance, but it's so realistic and heartfelt. I would advise, however, that you don't read this during a depressive episode - not my smartest idea, admittedly. |
AboutAlyce Caswell, when she isn't drinking her way through a giant pot of tea, can be found dabbling in multiple genres and writing forms. She has self-published several titles in her space opera family saga, which is divided into two series: The Galactic Pantheon and The Pantheon War. Her most recent book is The Shadow of the Gods. 
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