Class Acts: Service and Inequality in Luxury Hotels by Rachel Sherman⭐⭐⭐
If you love The White Lotus I would recommend reading this book. Rachel Sherman goes behind the scenes in two urban luxury hotels to show the relationship between workers and wealthy guests. The hotel management shares what they do to ensure their luxury guests feel comfortable and return. I would recommend to anyone interested in luxury hospitality
I loved reading about wealthy guests who justify their luxury consumption and why they choose to spend $1000 on a hotel suite. As someone who once worked at a luxury hotel, I confirm Sherman got everything correct!!!
Rachel Sherman also wrote Uneasy Street: The Anxieties of Affluence. If you enjoyed Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, I would recommend reading her books. Alix Chamberlain in Such a Fun Age is every woman interviewed in her books. My only complain is that it just felt like a long thesis paper instead of a book
I took so many screenshots and thought I would share this extract. If you have watched The White Lotus, who does this remind you of? The similarities…
Another chapter I found interesting. If you have watched The White Lotus, who does this remind you of? Is this not Belinda and Tanya in Season 1?
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola ⭐⭐
I wanted to like this book but really hated it. My least favourite 2022 Reese book club read.
This is the second book I have read by Bolu Babalola and I was pretty disappointed. I read Love in Colour early this year and also hated it.
Kiki, host of a college radio show, has to work with Malakai (the new player on campus) on a film project to win a prestigious internship. They decide to fake date to help with the popularity of their project. I thought this was a young adult novel because of the strong gen z language and pop references but it became a little bit spicy halfway so i was very confused.
What I did not like:
- The many pop culture references and Beyonce references in every single page. I personally feel like you alienate readers if the characters constantly discuss social media topics that only certain people will understand. This is coming from someone who uses Tiktok references…
- The conversations felt like an online twitter discussion with no conclusion
- We need to stop bringing the who makes better jollof debate in every Nigerian story
- The characters are seniors in university but the conflict felt like teen drama
- So many conflicts introduced and no resolution? What happened to Malakai’s father?
- Maybe I am a hater but I also hated the nicknames they had for each other….
Enjoying The Show by Marie Harte ⭐⭐
I can explain myself ! This is a safe space !!! I read these two books because they were recommended if you enjoyed You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. Boy was I confused…
Enjoying the show had no character development, no conflict and the dialogue was kinda cringey. Hailey and her friends enjoy watching their neighbour gage every friday (🚩🚩🚩) because its their form of entertainment. Gage catches Hailey and gives her a choice —go out with him, or he’ll call the cops. Of course Hailey goes out with him and they instantly fall in love. There was no plot and let’s just say there was no dialogue the last half. Super short read, if you are looking for a short spicy read then go for it!
Sustained by Emma Chase is another spicy romance read. Jake, a defense attorney, meets Chelsea after her nephew robs Jake. Chelsea is the guardian of her 6 orphaned nieces and nephews. Of course they fall in love but I felt second hand embarrassment. The kids were annoying and Chelsea was such a flat character. another super short read, if you are looking for a short spicy read then go for it!
I should add these are definitely for mature readers because they were explicit.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My last book review for the year. Pachinko has to be the best book I read in 2022 and ever! I think I am biased because I love Min Jin Lee and her work. Her debut novel, Free Food for Millionaires is amazing! Another favourite for me!
Pachinko is a Korean multi-generational family story. Young Sunja falls for a rich Korean man who impregnates her. She refuses to stay with him after he learns that he is married and has kids. Sunja then marries a sick minister and moves with him to Japan. My girl Sunja did not catch a break!!
I loved seeing how each generation made their decisions. For some it’s for love and financial security. I think it’s kinda crazy how the choices we make right now will affect your family’s generation. If you do not want a connection to your past like Noa, you end up giving up on important opportunities.
I rarely read historical fiction but Pachinko made me want to read more historical fiction. I learnt about the discrimination Koreans faced in Japan, the pachinko game and how Koreans had to apply for alien registration every 3 years in japan.
It’s a long book but so worth it! TRUST ME!!! Min Jin Lee is an icon, she’s a legend and she is the moment.