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olivia

@olivviabooks

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betty by tiffany mcdaniel

“a girl comes of age against the knife. she must learn to bear its blade. to cut. to bleed.”

betty is a coming-of-age novel unlike any i’ve read before. it paints a raw portrait of the carpenters in all of their tragic glory. for one family to suffer so much seems beyond unfair, beyond the laws of the universe. it amazed me to read something so brutal, so absolutely gut-wrenching and heart-draining, and to still finish it with a sense of hope. for these characters to remain so resilient against the cruelty that the world has showed them is a feat.

growing up as a young cherokee girl in the 1950s and 60s was not easy for betty or her family, but swirled into the stories of adversity were the stories of her father, the magic of sisterhood, and bravery. so much bravery.

this is one of those change-your-life kind of books. an absolutely gorgeous and emotional read from start to finish

★★★★★

this was my sixth book for my 12x12x12 challenge! i never saw myself reading this one before it was recommended and looking back that’s actually so crazy. don’t be scared of big books because they might just change your life! by @olivviabooks

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2 years ago

they’re going to love you by meg howrey

“you know what’s more terrible than giving up a dream? to discover you haven’t.”

i find myself at a loss for words when i try to describe this book. they’re going to love you is a book about family, ambition, art and dance, complicated father/daughter and mother/daughter relationships, mentorship, love, and loss, all set against the backdrop of New York City.

if that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. i find i can’t pinpoint what i want to talk about when it comes to this novel because, really, this book is about life. it’s about a life of hope and lost dreams, messy relationships and so much wreckage. it’s the struggles and the triumphs that come with being an artist. the obsession that’s bred from our ambitions. its betrayal, grief and forgiveness. it’s living with your ghosts because we can’t ever really get rid of them.

they’re going to love you is an incredibly immersive read. it’s not without its faults, but i think this book just hit me at the perfect time.

i do want to note: this book centers around carlisle, who’s now 40, trying to come to terms that she has one last chance to reconcile with her estranged father. i saw a lot of reviews that thought their not speaking for 19 years was, for lack of a better word, dramatic. from personal experience, i don’t think that’s something you get unless you live through it. but i do understand how it could seem a bit forced. i also think howrey did an excellent job of shaping robert’s character as someone who harbors a lot of resentment so it worked for me

★★★★★ by @olivviabooks

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2 years ago

all’s well by mona awad

“this face says i have lived, i’m alive. this face says i’ve known both joy and pain, known them both. i’ll know them both again.”

unique, dark, and haunting, all’s well is a brilliant depiction of chronic pain. it showcases the misery and frustration that women face at the hands of doctors, family, and friends who downplay or don’t believe in their pain.

my favorite part about this book was the way that miranda’s arc reflected that of a shakespearian play. her story was both a comedy and a tragedy, so although awad was dealing with an intimate subject, the tone was light hearted yet traced with bleakness. and it worked beautifully. i was also thoroughly impressed with the way this book had that “fever dream element” i love so much from mona awad yet the heart of the story was never lost.

mona awad is a masterful storyteller that will give you just enough but still leaves the final image a little blurry. a tale of agony, revenge, and redemption, all’s well will grip you until its final words.

★★★★★

also this was my third book for my 12x12x12 challenge! so glad this challenge encouraged me to pick up this book again 🎭✨ by @olivviabooks

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2 years ago

i am so glad to live in a world where there are octobers!!! 🎃🍂🍎🐈‍⬛🕯️ by @olivviabooks

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5 days ago

autumn hopefuls!! 🍂🐈‍⬛🎃

admittedly i did a REALLY bad job on my autumn tbr last year so it’s a lot of repeats (cough cough six of crows for the fourth year in a row). to avoid being repetitive i compiled a much smaller list than usual of new additions/recent acquisitions.

currently im reading ninth house & sense and sensibility - both fabulous but requiring me to take my time

happy autumn aka best season ever!!!! by @olivviabooks

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14 days ago

june - august 2026 🌷

my summer was equally parts wonderful and exhausting. i didn’t read as much as i hoped (i never do) but i still read some great books, watched some phenomenal movies, saw two concerts, and visited my dad’s sheep farm 🌞🌿🐑

june ratings:

my brilliant friend: ★★★.75
a lady for all seasons: ★★★
giovanni’s room: ★★★★.5
sex and rage: ★★★.5

the way eve babitz writes about LA, fame, and the life of a socialite is absolutely dazzling.

although this is only the second book of hers that i’ve read, i can tell sustaining a full novel is not where she thrives. she’s so funny and charming, but this book definitely falls into a very niche “party girl lit” genre that offers little beyond the surface. it’s not bad!!!! it’s just not her best. i much preferred slow days fast company

that being said, reading this outside with a salty waves latte (brown sugar, coconut, and sea salt) made this the perfect sweltering summer read

went to dc at the beginning of june and saw audrey hobert and holly humberstone in concert!!! definitely two of my favorite concerts ive been to. i also bought 6 books and ruined my physical tbr but thats what trips are for right???

cutest coffee shop in georgetown that doubles as a bookstore!

i watched a total of 6 movies in june! the star of the show was definitely little fish and i think i found a new favorite director??

masters of the universe: ★★★
little fish: ★★★★★
100 nights of hero: ★★★.5
pillion: ★★★.5
voicemails for isabelle: ★★★★
supergirl: ★★★★

i had “who’s the clown” and “cruel world” on repeat since i was seeing both audrey and holly in concert. and thank you off campus for introducing me to edge of the earth which i certainly played to death (as much as i can play a song to death, that is)

had to mention my huuuuge tomodachi life phase i had in june along with the rest of the world

july ratings:

the unmaking of june farrow: ★★★.75
heart the lover: ★★★★★
open, heaven: ★★★★
girl’s girl: ★★★★

my first 5 star read of the year!!!! 🩷

finn on the farm 👩🏼‍🌾

absolutely loved seán hewitt’s lyrical writing style! genuinely thought my pen was going to run out of ink from all my underlining. full of yearning and d by @olivviabooks

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a month ago

my (surely unattainable) end of summer tbr!

i also want to read east of eden and the virgin suicides but i had to make this list KINDA realistic. i couldn’t be more thrilled that we’re getting closer to fall but one of my ongoing goals is to not rush into the next season and savor where im at. as much as i strongly dislike the summertime ill continue to read my summer books with a glass of homemade mint lemonade until halfway through september when i really can’t take it anymore and start to manifest fall by reading a fantasy series 🌻

let me know if there are any books i should prioritize!! these are strictly from my physical tbr but im sure ill pick up a kindle book or two by @olivviabooks

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2 months ago

the most wonderfully nostalgic coming-of-age summer read 🌞💛🌳 girl’s girl captures the essence of summer break, female friendships, and girlhood laced with youthful yearning and desire. recommended to read with a glass of homemade lemonade while a summer storm rolls through by @olivviabooks

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3 months ago

i may have finished my brilliant friend in the middle of virginia, but reading the first half in italy was an experience i’ll never forget. reading a book where it takes place, even if it’s not the exact city and you’re quite literally hours away, is one of my favorite things 🍓✨

i can’t wait (and am a little nervous) to watch these characters grow up through the rest of the series 🥲 by @olivviabooks

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4 months ago

april wrap up 🦢🫧🌷

a month i’ll remember forever! work life has been insane but i got to escape for a week to stay at THE house used as marianne’s villa in italy in the normal people adaptation with @dnlreads 🥹 quite literally a dream come true and my first time out of the country!

here are the books i read this month:
harmless: ★★★★
bad words (eARC): ★★★★.5
wuthering heights: ★★★★
strange houses: ★★★.75
cursed bread: ★★★
role model: ★★★★

didn’t watch a ton of movie this month but on the plane i rewatched superman and im choosing to count that as a highlight 🦸🏻‍♂️ i’m currently watching margo’s got money troubles as it releases and oh my god what an amazing adaptation so far!!!

and in case you’re wondering i did in fact listen to enough music this month to report my top songs were drop dead (duh), sugar talking, and white noise by holly humberstone. dare i say holly humberstone’s newest album cruel world was life changing??

i think that covers everything, happy may! by @olivviabooks

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5 months ago

just dropping by with a little reading update 🌿🍋🩷

i’m about halfway through sisters in yellow and am really enjoying it! i spent the weekend on my dads farm so not too much progress was made reading wise, but i did herd some sheep (if standing on one side of the road so they didn’t run away counts as herding)

i’m also reading an eARC of bad words by rioghnach robinson! im still less than 10% in but im really excited about it!!

that’s all for now, happy monday and happy spring! 🌷 by @olivviabooks

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7 months ago

february wrap up 💌🦢

not much to report this month! watched a lot of movies, read a few books, and worked (a lot). but i did go to a few of my favorite coffee shops to read over my singular free weekend :’)

lost lambs: ★★★★
bless the daughter raised by a voice in her head: no rating
wild and wrangled: ★★
dominion: ★★★★

i really should just rate bless the daughter 5 stars but im doing this thing where i don’t rate poetry until i have a better understanding of it/my feelings towards it. but bless the daughter was quite unforgettable and i would recommend it to literally anyone! this month im trying to make my way through some upcoming releases and some of the books that have been collecting dust on my physical tbr. as much as i love the winter, i really am looking forward to spring 💐 by @olivviabooks

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7 months ago