I’m sharing another instalment of my Mini Review Mondays, the most recent of which was . In case you haven’t seen any of my previous posts, I do ‘mini’ reviews of books that I’ve previously read and am now ready to share my full thoughts about.
First up, I’d like to talk about The Sharp Edge of Silence by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum. Thank you to Hot Key Books for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Students at Lycroft Phelps are marked for success. As a straight-A student and girlfriend of the school’s star rower, Charlotte believes in what the school has to offer. Meanwhile, scholarship student Max is struggling. Until he’s asked to join the rowing team offering him popularity – but at what cost?
Then there’s Quinn, a sixth-generation legacy student, who should be able to lay claim to the school in a way others can’t. Who instead must watch the boy who assaulted her continue to play at the top of the school’s food chain. Only in the dead of night does Q realize the solution to her suffering: Colin Pearce must die.
But Lycroft Phelps has more than one dark secret at its heart, and as the three students uncover just how far the school will go to keep those ugly truths hidden, there’s a lot more than reputation at stake…
Publication Date: 11th April
TW: sexual assault, rape, harassment, manipulation, gaslighting, traumatic flashbacks
My Thoughts:
The Sharp Edge of Silence is a book that cuts deep.
This is a book that fills you with rage at the injustices and violence perpetuated by toxic masculinity, rape culture and a society that is determined to allow it continue. It tears apart the ‘boys will be boys’ mindset and deconstructs the way toxic masculinity warps boys into this, while also holding them accountable for their unspeakable actions. There is definitely nuance here, but not at the cost of forgiving the unforgivable.
For me, this was a searing and incredibly moving book that delves into the myriad emotions and reactions to sexual assault and toxic masculinity. Rosenblum presents this through several different viewpoints, all of whom experience different aspects of this toxic culture. This was a smart move and a sharp indictment of this culture. These characters are so lovable and I connected with all of them quickly, despite their flaws. Rosenblum just makes them so fallible and human and I was drawn to that. My standout by far has to be the combination of Charlotte and Quinn. One of them is consumed with rage and a deep desire for revenge. Rosenblum validates this but also indicates the dangers of letting it control you. The other is slowly awakening to the bubbling darkness beneath the surface of the perfection and social structure of the school.
I loved how raw this felt. Every page is filled with building intensity and tension. It creates such a dynamic atmosphere and means that the stakes feel real. It is definitely a tense and thrilling read, with the pacing and plotting top-notch.
The Sharp Edge of Silence is a book that refuses to let accountability slip by. Let your rage fly, just be careful that it does not consume you.
Next up, I’d like to talk about Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn. Thank you to Andersen Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blumwald is a town overshadowed by an ancient curse: in a sinister castle in the depths of the wild wood lives a monstrous Witch.
Once a generation, she comes to claim a companion to return with her – never to be seen again. Now that time is drawing near once more… Mina, daughter of the duke, is grieving and lonely. She has lost all hope of any future for herself in Blumwald.
So when the Witch demands her next companion, Mina offers herself up – though she has no idea what fate awaits her. Stranded with her darkly alluring captor, the mystery of what happened to the previous companions draws Mina into the heart of a terrifying secret that could save her life, or end it.
Publication Date: 4th May
TW: suicidal ideation, emotional abuse, neglect, self-harm, depression and anxiety
My Thoughts:
Kat Dunn has established herself as an author I need on my shelves. Bitterthorn is a gem of a book, surprisingly touching and quietly enchanting.
Dunn has crafted an absolute beauty of a book. It spins its own original, odd and ominous fairytale, pulled straight from the deepest desires of your heart and the darkest moments of the night. The character work, yearning and dynamics were all stunning. I do not know why, but I was not expecting this to be as romantic as it was. It is all in the whispers, the glances and the sparsely exchanged words. There is just something so compelling about this slow-burning dynamic. It is an earnest and all-consuming love that defines this book, using its power to recognise the truths we have buried within ourselves. It reveals secrets we have forgotten we hold. Dunn’s writing is just spell-binding, allowing me to totally lose myself in the story. She creates an intense, emotional atmosphere that has real mystery, stakes and tension. All the way through, I was desperate to learn this dark secret and yet, I was still startled at the final reveal.
At its core, this is a book about loneliness and two lost souls coming together. There is so much grief and gloom surrounding these characters and Dunn lets you sit in their isolation and misery. These can make monsters of us all. Mina and the Witch are both such complex and intriguing characters. The setting of the castle was also a standout for me, with its seemingly never-ending corridors and confusing elements that seem to follow no rules. It is a place entirely out of joint and I love the menacing intrusions that start to interfere. Dunn messes with your head through her use of Gothic tropes.
Bitterthorn is a gorgeously Gothic sapphic fairytale that completely had me under its spell.
Finally, I’d like to delve into Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee. Thank you to the author, Underlined and Random House Children’s for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.
Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.
In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.
Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?
Publication Date: 25th May
TW: grief, death of a parent, alcoholism
My Thoughts:
Fake Dates and Mooncakes filled me with sparkle, joy and hope. This is a pure ray of sunshine that I hope everyone picks up.
This book reminded me of the joy you can get from YA romances. It was just so full of heart, love and brilliant characters. The dynamic and dialogue between Dylan and Theo was sizzling and from their very first (slightly disastrous) meet-cute, I knew I would be rooting for them until the end. Lee does not let their romance just plainly sail though, with plenty of trials and tribulations along the way. Dylan as a character has my entire heart. He was so driven and determined to save his family’s livelihood, while also wanting to pay homage to his mum. That grief has deeply marked him and the raw vulnerability hit home so hard for me.
Of course, I adored all of the food as well. These are such lush and evocative descriptions that had me salivating over my pages. I loved how creative the recipes were and also how tied into familial and cultural understandings of life. Food often connects us to a specific moment in time and allows us to re-experience happy memories. It also is a joyous celebration of culture and Lee leans into this heavily, with it as a key way for Dylan to remember his mum and Theo connect with a culture he was scared of losing.
At its core, this is a pure tonic of hope and happiness against the odds. It just brings so much joy and sunshine into your life and I highly commend that.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes epitomises the brilliance of YA contemporary romance. It weaves sensitive themes, normalised representation, so much food and the type of love that makes you all gooey inside.
A Short Book Lover 
4 thoughts on “Mini Review Monday #105”