Author: Shade Lapite

Video review: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

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Zetian is a girl with nothing to lose. When she signs up to become a concubine pilot to infiltrate the army so she can avenge the death of her sister, it’s in the full knowledge that the decision will likely kill her. Sure enough, she lands on the front line of the bloody war against an alien invasion. Throughout the riveting novel she battles aliens in the air and a patriarchal system that uses girls as cannon fodder on the ground. The book has been called a cross between Pacific Rim and Hunger Games. It’s powerful and beautiful and a must-read!

Video Review: I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan

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When Dr. Georgia Young realizes she’s stuck in ‘cruise’ mode with no target destination, she slams on the breaks and calls a time out to re-evaluate her life and the choices that have led her to it. Her daughters, ex-husbands, mother, colleague and best friends worry that she’s lost her mind, but Georgia is over prioritizing the opinions of others above her own. She commits to overhauling her life and being intentional about making choices that revitalize and feed her spirit. The death of a university crush also inspires her to seek out all men she has loved over the years with the goal of letting them know that they mattered. Terry McMillan’s 2016 novel is a story of reinvention and second chances and it challenges all of us to consider whether we are living our most optimal life or simply going through the motions.

The 2023 Reading List

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I started a ton of books in 2022 but finished only a handful. Here’s the (very short) list of completed books: The Sweetest Remedy – Jane Igharo XOXO – Axie Oh Shine – Jessica Jung Dread Nation – Justina Ireland The Emma Project – Sonali Dev The Comeback – Lily Chu The Stand-In – Lily Chu Pachinko – Min Jin Lee My absolute favourites were Pachinko and The Comeback.

Video Review: The Comeback by Lily Chu

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One of my favourite books this year has been ‘The Comeback’ by Lily Chu. It’s a sweet, romantic comedy about a workaholic, corporate lawyer – Ariadne Hui – whose life is upended when her roommate invites her gorgeous cousin to stay in their small apartment. Unknown to Ari, the quiet, artistic South Korean guy loafing on her couch is one of the biggest k-pop musicians in the world. Lily Chu has created two compelling, charming characters whose growing relationship propels them to liberate themselves from the expectations of others and discover what they really want from life. It’s a joyful, thrilling ride of a story that I whipped through in record time.