Academia Diaries

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (listened on Audible)

I loved the first book but the others in the series are taking me a bit longer to get through. I’m still a fan though! I find some chapters harder to sit through than others just cause I have my favorite POVs. Still, a more urban fantasy is my jam and I love when magic is incorporated into the real world. Need to finish book three. Currently have 11 hours left.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (Listened to on Spotify)

I can totally understand if her books are not your cup of tea. I find her romances to just be good unserious fun. There are just times when you need to read something a bit silly and Hazelwood hits the spot. Jack Smith is also a dreamboat, which helps.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

Such a good mystery. Good Dark Academia vibes. I truly love Oliver as a character. Was aI annoyed by the constant quoting of Shakespeare? Yes. But that was intentional. As a reformed theater kid, yes, I cringed, but it’s a good reminder that nothing is ever that serious. And maybe you shouldn’t let the drama nerds be isolated. I also really appreciated the exploration of type casting and how it affects actors. Most of it was really subtle, but it’s so ingrained in the theater world that it’s glossed over in real life as well, even if we all know it’s happening.

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

When I say Jo March is aro/ace it’s the aro part that is more important in that statement. It’s because of the importance she places on the love for her family, saying that she doesn’t think she will ever marry, wanting to be loved by a romantic partner but that is not the same as loving. It’s the insecurity she feels over not having the same kind of relationship Meg and Amy have with their husbands or that her mother has with her father, because she doesn’t feel she can love someone in that way and doesn’t know why.