Roger Hyttinen

Review of Upgrade by Blake Crouch

June 21, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Blurb

“You are the next step in human evolution.”

At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little . . . sharper. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep.

But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in whole new ways.

The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy.

Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost.

Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human.

And even as he’s fighting, he can’t help wondering: what if humanity’s only hope for a future really does lie in engineering our own evolution?

Intimate in scale yet epic in scope, Upgrade is an intricately plotted, lightning-fast tale that charts one man’s thrilling transformation, even as it asks us to ponder the limits of our humanity—and our boundless potential.

Review

“We don’t have an intelligence problem. We have a compassion problem. That, more than any other single factor, is what’s driving us toward extinction.”

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Blake Crouch (especially Dark Matter and Recursion), and this novel was no exception. This bold and imaginative science fiction/speculative fiction story takes place in the not-so-distant future after a human-made pandemic caused by a failed experiment that wiped about a good portion of the earth’s population. The story follows Logan Ramsay, an agent with the Gene Protection Agency who, after being exposed to a strange chemical tied to genetic engineering, begins to change….to evolve both physically and mentally. Books that were once out of his level of comprehension are now accessible. He knows what people are going to do and say before it happens. His bone density level increases, as does his muscle mass, pain tolerance, memorization ability, and concentration. But though he gained a lot in the “upgrade,” he also lost pretty much everything in the process.

What I enjoyed about this scientifically-fascinating book is that it reads like a thriller with plenty of heart-in-your-throat, non-stop action. It’s an adrenaline-filled tale that certainly kept my eyes glued to the book’s pages. I eagerly kept turning the page in order to find out what was happening to Logan and why.

The author has an incredible ability to put the reader firmly in the mind of the main character so that Logan’s thoughts became my thoughts—Logan’s actions became my actions. In this way, the book is exceptionally immersive. Additionally, the complicated plot has a plethora of layers to it, and trying to figure it out was like putting the pieces of a puzzle in place.

As Logan continues to evolve, he begins to wonder how much of his humanity is even left—that is to say, at what point does a human cease being a human? I also enjoyed the conversation around DNA research and science, human evolution, and the survival of the human species. The story also raised some interesting questions about how far we should go to save humanity and whether there is a point where we have to draw the line. And though the author does introduce somewhat complicated scientific topics, they in no way take away from the thrilling narrative.

All in all, this was an intense, wild, adrenaline-filled ride with relentless pacing about a hero who’s trying to save the world from the villain who’s trying to destroy it. I adored all the twists, turns, and surprises, as well as the complex questions that the novel caused me to ponder. A volatile, mesmerizing, and unpredictable story that I loved!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy of this book.

Purchase Upgrade from Amazon

Review of Like Silk Breathing by Camille Duplessis

June 15, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Blurb

When Tom Apollyon returns to Cromer to help oversee his uncle’s pub, it’s a difficult adjustment. Overwhelmed by his born ability to sense auras, Tom relies on constant drinking and drifting to function normally. Coming back is too much to handle and one night, he decides to end it all. He just doesn’t expect to encounter a bewitching stranger when he tries.

While on an annual seaside holiday with his lover, Theo Harper takes a solitary evening stroll near the water. He thinks it’s just the thing a landlocked selkie needs, yet instead of being soothed, he stops a troubled man from drowning. The earnest good deed sparks a romance that makes Tom and Theo hope for a happier, gentler life together.

While both need to decide to trust themselves and each other, they’re not daunted until an alarming problem presents itself. Theo’s skin — which can definitely be used to capture or kill him, to Tom’s horror — has gone missing.

To build the future they want, they have to get the skin back…

Review

The gay fantasy novel was right up my alley. I loved the relationship between Theo, a Selkie, and Tom, who has a touch of witchiness inside of him in that he can see people’s auras. I enjoyed how they brought out the best in each other, and I loved journeying with them as they got to know each other and understand each other. The supernatural elements in the story were a lot of fun, and just about everyone in the story had a touch of the supernatural to them, whether they knew it or not.

I tend to enjoy stories involving mythical creatures and felt the Selkie aspect of this was exceptionally well done, especially once Theo’s skin goes missing and the two of them together take on the quest to find it. Of course, as the reader, we know what happened to the skin, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

Initially, I wasn’t quite sure of the time period where the narrative takes place as the prose felt like a book written in Victorian times. However, at one point, a character mentions it’s the 20th century and that being gay is still considered a crime, so I’m guessing it took place at the beginning of the century (if the time period was ever mentioned, I missed it).

Like Silk Breathing was a subtle blow-me-away kind of book that got its hooks in me quite quickly and even moved me to tears in a couple of places. This was a lovely and eye-opening story about letting go of one’s prejudices and seeing beyond what is there. I found it to be as thought-provoking as it is emotional. Furthermore, it is utterly enchanting and a hell of a treat for anyone who enjoys good yarns with believable characters and a healthy dose of the supernatural. Though there are only a handful of people in the story that really matters, their characterization is really well done. As a reader, it’s easy to identify with almost all the characters in the story.

This beautifully written tale, with its lush prose, takes the reader into a delightful new fantasy world, and I adored the time I spent there with these characters. It’s an engaging, quiet, and gentle story, yet it pulled me through the narrative wonderfully.

Note that though this is a romance, you won’t find any steamy erotic scenes. Instead, this is a tender love story about two men from completely different worlds who discover that they have more in common than they thought — a story about love in its purest form. Definitely worth the read!

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a review copy of this book.

Review of Epically Earnest by Molly Horan

June 8, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Blurb:

In this delightfully romantic LGBTQ+ comedy-of-errors inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, a high school senior works up the courage to ask her long-time crush to prom all while deciding if she should look for her bio family.

Jane Grady’s claim to fame is that she was one first viral internet sensations, dubbed #bagbaby—discovered as a one-year-old in an oversized Gucci bag by her adopted father in a Poughkeepsie train station. Now in her senior year of high school, Jane is questioning whether she wants to look for her bio family due to a loving, but deeply misguided push from her best friend Algie, while also navigating an all-consuming crush on his cousin, the beautiful, way-out-of-her-league Gwen Fairfax.

And while Janey’s never thought of herself as the earnest type, she needs to be honest with her parents, Algie, Gwen, but mostly herself if she wants to make her life truly epic. With a wink toward Oscar Wilde’s beloved play, Epically Earnest explores the complexity of identity, the many forms family can take, and the importance of being . . . yourself.

Review

This endearing queer slice-of-life romcom was so much fun! I love this loose retelling of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and the Oscar Wilde quotes at the beginning of each chapter were a delightful, extra touch. I especially enjoyed the overarching theme of family in the story – family found and family born into. But the sweet blossoming romances between Janey and Gwen, and Cecil and Algie (short for Algernon, a character from The Importance of Being Earnest) were at the heart of this novel. In addition, I loved the tender portrayal of the uncertainty of young love in the story — and first love for some of the main characters. So in this way, the idea of relationships played a huge role in the story — relationships between friends, between lovers, and between family, all of which really resonated with me.

Being adopted myself, I could relate very well to Janey’s inner turmoil about meeting her birth family and how to tell her adoptive parents that she was considering a meetup with her blood relatives. I liked the way the author handled the adoption issue and felt it was well done and respectful.

There was also plenty of humor — fun, witty banter that caused me to chuckle out loud on more than one occasion. Overall, the story was light and enjoyable — with no significant angst or heaviness. That being said, I found the conflict in the story minimal, with no real obstacles to the characters finding their HEA. So for those who like their stories a little more on the angsty side, you won’t find that here.

All in all, I loved this little story about a teen girl trying to find the inner bravery to ask her crush to the prom, while also discovering her biological family. We end up seeing quite a bit of character development from both Janey and her friend Algie (who was, in the past, kind of a ‘playboy.’). A quick and easy read with nice LGBTQIA+ and adoption representation and plenty of humor that put a smile on my face.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Clarion Books for providing a review copy of this book.

Purchase Epically Earnest on Amazon

Review of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

May 14, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Blurb

Albert Entwistle is a private man with a quiet, simple life. He lives alone with his cat Gracie. And he’s a postman. At least he was a postman until, three months before his sixty-fifth birthday, he receives a letter from the Royal Mail thanking him for decades of service and stating he is being forced into retirement.

At once, Albert’s sole connection with his world unravels. Every day as a mail carrier, he would make his way through the streets of his small English town, delivering letters and parcels and returning greetings with a quick wave and a “how do?” Without the work that fills his days, what will be the point? He has no friends, family, or hobbies—just a past he never speaks of, and a lost love that fills him with regret.

And so, rather than continue his lonely existence, Albert forms a brave plan to start truly living. It’s finally time to be honest about who he is. To seek the happiness he’s always denied himself. And to find the courage to look for George, the man that, many years ago, he loved and lost—but has never forgotten. As he does, something extraordinary happens. Albert finds unlikely allies, new friends, and proves it’s never too late to live, to hope, and to love

Review

This delightful and heartwarming story follows Albert, a lonely 64-year-old postman who makes some startling discoveries about himself. Though this is in part a story about a man coming out of the closet after over forty years and searching for his lost love, it’s also about coming out of your shell — about taking the brave step in opening yourself up to your neighbors and coworkers. This was a very relatable book for me as I am close in age to Albert and know only too well the hate and homophobia gay boys had to face in the 60s & 70s. It was also quite accurate from my recollection.

I enjoyed how the story was told via flashbacks to Albert’s youth, and we see the events that led him to his current situation: his hateful homophobic father, his apathetic mother, the oppressive laws of the time, and, of course, George — the first and only boy Albert fell in love with. The story unfolds in bits and pieces, allowing us to slowly understand where Albert is coming from as all is finally revealed.

I loved how Albert began to shine once he attempted to get the know the people in his life and start to embrace his life in the process. I especially enjoyed his friendship with Nicole, a single mom going through some tough times. The author did an excellent job of juxtaposing Albert’s newfound happiness with the darkness and sadness of his past. It was s delight to see Albert bloom once he ceases feeling ashamed of who he is and embraces and accepts himself instead. His transformation warmed my heart as well as sent a tear or two to my eyes.

All in all, I love this impactful story. It was heartfelt, amusing at times, traumatic at others, but always compelling and touching. Albert’s character development and character arc were phenomenal. And though the story does tackle some tough themes, it ultimately will bring a smile to your face. At least it did mine.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.

Purchase book from Amazon

Review of If you Change Your Mind by Robby Weber

May 1, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Blurb:

“A romantic hero’s journey with a happy ending that will leave you smiling and swooning… I loved it!” —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

In this hilarious and heartfelt debut novel, an aspiring screenwriter learns sometimes love has its own script.

Harry wants nothing more than to write Hollywood screenplays. He knows the first step toward achieving that goal is winning a screenwriting competition that will seal his admission into the college of his dreams, so he’s determined to spend his summer free of distractions—also known as boys—and finish his script. After last year, Harry is certain love only exists in the movies anyway.

But then the cause of his first heartbreak, Grant, returns with a secret that could change everything—not to mention, there’s a new boy in town, Logan, who is so charming and sweet, he’s making Harry question everything he knows about romance. As he tries to keep his emotions in check and stick to his perfect plan for the future, Harry’s about to learn that life doesn’t always follow a script.

Review

If You Change Your Mind is a delightful summer romantic read which follows Harry during the summer of his senior year, who decides that he would spend his summer free of distractions, especially boys. Things don’t entirely turn out the way he’d hoped, however, and he ends up having to choose between two boys — a boy from his past and a boy who’d just wandered into his life. Typically, I’m not a fan of love triangles, but this one worked exceptionally well in the story. Though it was an essential element in the narrative, it didn’t overshadow the rest of the plot. In fact, I didn’t mind it one bit. It was actually fun journeying along with Harry as he tried to figure things out, especially when things got messy. What I especially enjoyed was that nobody was as they appeared to be.

It’s also worth mentioning that Harry is writing a screenplay that is supposed to help him get into the college of his dreams — a film school in California. What’s fun is that the beginning of every chapter contains a scene from Harry’s screenplay, which parallels his real life. I thought the play provided a compelling insight and element to Harry’s story.

What I really loved about the book was how Harry, even though he’s a bit insecure, refused to allow anyone to walk all over him or treat him with anything less than respect — although it took a couple of lessons for Harry to learn this. What we ended up with, then, is a touching story about following your dreams and not losing sight of what is really important — even when love comes to call.

All in all, I adored this novel. The character development was phenomenal, and the plot was riveting. I also enjoyed the themes about the importance of family, friendship, self-discovery, and not losing sight of the important things in life. Additionally, there were many movie references to well-known rom-coms, which added a fun element to the story (such as the title of the first chapter: When Harry Met Logan).

So if you’re in the mood for a breezy heartfelt gay rom-com with lovely characters that will tug on your heartstrings, then definitely check out If You Change Your Mind.

Review of Book Boyfriend by Kris Ripper

April 19, 2022 by Roger Hyttinen Leave a Comment

Blurb

A secret crush leads to not-so-secret romance in this delightful romantic comedy from Kris Ripper

There are three things you need to know about Preston “PK” Kingsley:

1) He’s a writer, toiling in obscurity as an editorial assistant at a New York City publishing house.

2) He is not a cliché. No, really.

3) He’s been secretly in love with his best friend, Art, since they once drunkenly kissed in college.

When Art moves in with PK following a bad breakup, PK hopes this will be the moment when Art finally sees him as more than a friend. But Art seems to laugh off the very idea of them in a relationship, so PK returns to his writing roots—in fiction, he can say all the things he can’t say out loud.

In his book, PK can be the perfect boyfriend.

Before long, it seems like the whole world has a crush on the fictionalized version of him, including Art, who has no idea that the hot new book everyone’s talking about is PK’s story. But when his brilliant plan to win Art over backfires, PK might lose not just his fantasy book boyfriend, but his best friend.

Review

This is my first Kris Ripper novel, and now I’m a new fan!

Book Boyfriend follows PK, who has been in love with Art, his best friend, for five years but has never told him about his feelings. So when Art moves in with PK following a nasty breakup, PK hopes that this might be the first step in them getting together. But PK can find the words to let Art know how he feels, so he writes a thinly veiled romance novel about his love for Art in what PK feels is a “Grand Gesture.” Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned, and his gesture has the opposite effect — leaving PK has to scramble and pick up the pieces. Apparently, those super grand romantic gestures you see in rom-coms rarely work that well in real life.

This was such a fun novel! And by fun, I mean laugh-out-loud funny in places. Book Boyfriend had amazing banter and incredible chemistry between the two main characters. The story is told entirely through PK’s POV, and it was fun following his often convoluted and chaotic inner monologue. His humorous inner monologue had me chuckling on more than a few occasions. That being said, I loved the writing style, and it worked perfectly for me.

What I also loved about the story was the peek into the world of writing and publishing. In fact, the entire novel is about books and is heaven for the book-lover: Art works in an indie bookstore, PK works for a publishing house, and then PK writes a romance novel. I also enjoyed PK’s insecurities about writing — his fear of both failure and success, feelings that many writers will relate to.

The romance is an extremely slow burn with a lot of pining going on. It ended up being so sweet, heartwarming, and oozing with romance. I really cared about PK and Art making it to a happy ending and felt that the journey that takes them there is utterly satisfying. Though the plot was a tad quirky and over-the-top at times, the realism of their romance and the well-written narrative held it steady.

Both characters are engaging and likable, rendering the story all that much more enjoyable. Oh, and just to let you know, there is no sex in this story, so if you’re looking for steam and spice, you won’t find it here. But what you will find is a charming and compelling romance that I loved from beginning to end. Recommended!

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.