_chrstnlvly's reviews
221 reviews

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Go to review page

funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Secrets are everywhere. Some humans are crammed full of them. How do they not explode? It seems to be a hallmark of the human species: abysmal communication skills. Not that any other species are much better, mind you, but even a herring can tell you which way the school it belongs to is turning and following accordingly. Why can humans not use their millions of words to simply tell one another what they desire? 

At 24% into the book, I realized it would be the heartwarming and emotional story I never knew I needed. If you enjoy anything by Fredrik Backman, especially A Man Called Ove, you'll love Remarkably Bright Creatures. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
When We Were by Diana Elliot Graham

Go to review page

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

Go to review page

slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

3.0

Finished this book after almost 5 months because I was too bored with it and I refuse to DNF books especially series that I have complete physical copies of. šŸ˜‘ 

Rhys still showed that what he's feeling towards Feyre is lust rather than love. 

Feyre was a bit more bearable in the second half (finally, after 3 books šŸ™„). 

4 books in, and I still don't get the hype. šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
My December Darling by Lauren Asher

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 
What I know is that opinions are just that. Opinions, not facts.

Catalina came across as somewhat self-centered, especially when
Luke didnā€™t arrive at their planned meet-up at the hospital. She really should not have assumed that his absence meant he didnā€™t like her. After all, heā€™s a doctor! She should have known that emergencies in hospitals can occur, particularly since 1) she is a nurse and 2) it was Lukeā€™s shift. I found it irritating that her thoughts quickly turned to the idea of Luke getting cold feet because they had kissed the night before.
 
 
As for Luke, I found him to be a rather bland characterā€”the typical swoon-worthy type you often find in romance novels.
 
The epilogue also bothered me. Since this is only a novella, I questioned whether an epilogue was even necessary.
 
Overall, I can't really recommend this story, as it didnā€™t bring anything new to the table. If you're interested in holiday romances, there are certainly better novellas and full-length novels out there.
 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Go to review page

mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

It usually takes me about 30 to 50 pages to become fully captivated by a book. However, The Night Circus grabbed my attention right from page one. Itā€™s been a while since Iā€™ve experienced that. 

Some say this book lacks a traditional plot and relies solely on atmosphere, but I disagree. While the plot unfolds slowly, Erin Morgenstern's writing is so enchanting that you often donā€™t realize how much the story has progressed. I ended up tabbing many pages because there are so many mesmerizing quotes I want to remember. 

ā€œI am tired of trying to hold things together that cannot be held,ā€ Celia says when he approaches her. ā€œTrying to control what cannot be controlled. I am tired of denying myself what I want for fear of breaking things I cannot fix. They will break no matter what we do.ā€ 

Although Iā€™m not particularly a fan of the central characters (I felt their romance was a bit forced and was too convenient for the plot) the supporting characters are incredibly lovable, especially Poppet and Widget.

ā€œSomeone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. Thereā€™s magic in that. Itā€™s in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words.ā€ 

The Night Circus left me feeling book-drunk; I savored every page and was completely absorbed in the story, unaware of how quickly I read through it until it was done. 

I understand this book might not appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy atmospheric writing, beautiful prose, and reading as an escape from reality, then this book is definitely for you. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Go to review page

funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

If there's one thing Marissa Meyer excels at, it's breaking your heart.

Cinder is the second book I've read by her (the first was Heartless), and just like before, her dialogues and scenes tug at your heartstrings. I lost count of how many times I felt enraged by Adri and Queen Levana. I blushed and kicked my feet every time Kai spoke to Cinder. I felt genuine pain when Cinder was sad and when people were unkind to her. Meyer has a remarkable ability to make readers feel the emotions of her characters. As a reader, I know that's a challenging feat for an author, but Meyer consistently achieves it.

I also enjoyed the concept of a fairy tale retelling with a sci-fi twist. I love retellings because they allow me to explore different possibilities and scenarios based on the original story. I've read many Cinderella retellings, but this was my first experience with a sci-fi version. I wasn't sure how it would work, but Meyer pulled it off brilliantly.

I'm eager to read the rest of the Lunar Chronicles series. I audibly gasped when I turned the page and instead of a new chapter, I saw the acknowledgments. Meyer is a talented storyteller, and I have high hopes that I won't be disappointed with the upcoming books (here's to hoping!).
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
All by My Elf by Olivia Dade

Go to review page

lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Dialogue was a bit cringey. Nice novella to pass the time, though.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

Go to review page

lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.25

Thoughts while reading:

5% Oh look. Another male main character that is more than 6 feet tall.

11% This is starting to get cringey.

28% A Tessa Bailey book is not complete without sexual content, but right now it just reads like šŸŒ½

40% At this point this novella is just laughable. I don't know if it's trying to be unserious on purpose, but it is.

56% I'm sorry, what?! You'll marry her on the basis of her guessing how many grilled cheeses can you eat in one sitting? Aside from the lust you feel for her?

86% Glad they had their happy ending. Glad to know they proved it was love. It doesn't take away the fact that what they initially portrayed during the earlier chapters was only plain, old lust. I also stand by my earlier statement that it was a šŸŒ½ novella.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Stall by Susan Ulrich Kruse

Go to review page

mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

What was the point of this book?

While Lauren's (the female main character) "realizations" were mentioned, they werenā€™t effectively shown in the story. Instead of letting readers piece things together, the narrative explicitly explained them. This approach made Laurenā€™s journey feel less impactful.

Iā€™ll give credit to Susan Ulrich Kruse for crafting a quick read that kept me on edge at times. However, the overall mystery fell flat. The resolution lacked depth, and the story left me questioning its purpose.

Though itā€™s a fast read, itā€™s not a particularly satisfying way to pass the time.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

Go to review page

funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

But itā€™s okay. I see these things. Iā€™ve always seen them, and I love you because of, not despite, them. Because theyā€™re what makes you you.

Cruel Winter with You is a perfect short novella for a quick, cheesy read. Though brief, I thoroughly enjoyed following Marc and Jamie's story. Ali Hazelwood has a talent for making readers smile and swoon, and I lost count of how often I was grinning while reading.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings