Book Review - Flesh by David Szalay

 

In Flesh by David Szalay, a Hungarian teenager named István navigates a life shaped by trauma, emotional detachment, and fleeting moments of connection. As a teenager, István and his mother move to a quiet apartment complex in Hungary. He is shy, new to the area, and doesn’t have many friends, leaving him feeling isolated—until his mother asks him to help a neighbor with errands. The neighbor, a woman around his mother’s age, initially becomes his only friend, but their relationship soon turns into an affair. István is deeply conflicted about the relationship, and he begins to feel as if his life is spiraling out of control.

After a violent encounter with another man, István relocates to London, where he drifts from job to job until he eventually finds steady work as a chauffeur for the city’s billionaires.

I found the novel rather pointless. I read the entire book and still couldn’t discern the message. István remains essentially unchanged throughout the story; there is little to no character growth. Everything that happens to him seems driven by external forces, and he passively goes along with it. The narrative feels like it revolves around two main themes: bad or uneventful things happening to István, and sex. Despite the constant stream of traumas he experiences, the story feels oddly static. At times, I felt overwhelmed by his life, yet strangely detached—as if nothing meaningful was truly happening.

Book Review - Count My Lies by Sophie Stava

 

In Count My Lies by Sophie Stava, compulsive liar Sloane Caraway fabricates her way into the lives of a seemingly perfect New York couple as their nanny, only to uncover that their polished facade hides something dangerous underneath. Sloane tells mostly harmless lies to make her life seem more interesting than it is. She cannot help herself when she sees a young girl crying in the park with her very attractive father. Sloane offers to help pull the bee stinger from the girl’s foot and tells the father that she is a nurse, even though she is a nail technician.

Jay and Violet Lockhart, the father and mother of the young girl, are very grateful that Sloane helped their daughter. They offer Sloane a nanny position that comes with great perks. The seemingly perfect couple has a brownstone, their daughter attends a private school, and they summer on Block Island. Since Sloane is the nanny, she now has access to those same perks. As Sloane’s life starts entwining with the Lockharts’, something is amiss…could it be that Sloane isn’t the only one keeping secrets?

The book was an entertaining read. It was full of twists and turns. Some were expected, while a few took me by surprise. The premise felt similar to other books I have read before. I didn’t like Sloane at first, but when the book switched POV towards the end, it became much more interesting. The ending caught me off guard, emerging out of nowhere, and I am not exactly sure it was realistic either. However, I would be open to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - "The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night" by Steven Banbury

 

In "The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night" by Steven Banbury, Evelyn, an orphan, is adopted by the mythical Pumpkin King.

Newly orphaned, Evelyn escapes her dreary orphanage on Halloween night and is unexpectedly taken in by the Pumpkin King. She becomes the Pumpkin Princess in the magical realm of Hallowell Valley, where she must navigate a world filled with supernatural creatures who are either afraid of or are wary of humans. Just when Evelyn thinks she has won over the town, she uncovers a sinister plot threatening her newfound family. 

The novel was an entertaining read, filled with spooky elements, and offers a heartwarming story of two people trying to define their idea of family. I appreciated how the author incorporated humor throughout the book. My favorite parts involved the scarecrows, making me wish I had a whole gang of them as friends. The mystery had some twists, although I managed to predict a few of them. The book is part of a series, and I can’t wait to dive into their other adventures.

Book Review - Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

 

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo follows 17-year-old Lily Hu, a Chinese American teenager who discovers her queer identity and navigates first love with classmate Kathleen (Kath), all while confronting cultural expectations and political paranoia in 1954 America. Lily can’t remember when she started feeling different from other girls; however, she does know that her feelings shifted when she and Kath went to the lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.

Being in love with another woman wasn’t common or safe in 1954, especially in Chinatown. The Red Scare impacted Chinese Americans like Lily, and with deportation looming over her father, is Lily willing to risk everything for her love for Kath?

The novel is a heartwarming coming-out story that has tender moments when Lily decides to stand up for herself and prioritize her needs. I enjoyed reading about her finding her voice. The book switches between different points of view and time, which I found confusing and didn’t feel this contributed meaningfully to the story.

Although Kath and Lily are main characters, I felt we rarely got to know them deeply. I was surprised to learn that Kath was 17 years old, as she sometimes acts much younger. The novel is a standalone, but the author has another book that includes a conclusion for Lily’s and Kath’s relationship, which remains unresolved at the end of this one. While I liked the book, I don’t think I would go out of my way to read another work by the author.

Book Review - The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson

 

 The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson follows a young girl named Blessing, who makes an unlikely friend during a long, unending winter. In London, winter has lasted for months with no sign of easing. One day, instead of going to school, ten-year-old Blessing wanders into a park and discovers a snowman named Albert Framlington—who turns out to be alive.

The two quickly form a friendship, and as they grow closer, Blessing opens up about her struggles. She talks about her mother, who suffers from seasonal depression, and the bullies at school who make her dread attending. Albert explains that every snowman is duty-bound by the Snowman Code to help any child in need.

As Albert supports Blessing through her challenges, he’s also hiding a secret of his own. The reason winter seems never-ending is that Albert is searching for his long-lost love, Clementine, and winter won’t end until every snowman is ready for it to do so. Will the pair be able to help each other find their happy endings?

I thought the book was a fun and cozy read, filled with silly moments that young readers would enjoy. It’s a heartwarming story about learning, taking risks, and being there for one another. While the book addresses some heavy topics, it does so thoughtfully and could serve as a great conversation starter between young readers and their guardians. It’s a cute, wintry read that might even encourage kids to head outside and make a snow-friend of their own.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.