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amalas_bookstop's reviews
105 reviews
The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thought this book was so refreshing. To have two grown adults enter into a secured workplace romance with a twist. This book is the definition of diverse. Our FMC is black and our MMC is half black, half Korean. They are both successful and technically don’t need each other but want each other.
I want more romances like this please!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Beach Read by Emily Henry
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this universe! This is my first Emily Henry and I think this was a great start. Parts of the books did seem to drag, but I still enjoyed this universe.
I would actually love to read a novella of what January wrote!
I would actually love to read a novella of what January wrote!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.5
If a historical and literary fiction had a baby it would be this book. I highly recommend this book if you are someone who normally reads literary fiction but would like to read a fantasy.
In this story you have Anaques who is a native, because she obtains a dragon she has to go to an English school to be scholarly trained and to have the permission to keep her dragon. The author tackles social tension between English colonialism and Native Americans within this realistic but mythical land.
This book is a bit of a slow burn, the timeline of this book is the first year of school. I am also really thankful for the pronunciation guide. Overall I enjoyed this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
This book was certainly entertaining. I do have to admit there were some points that started to drag for me, maybe too much of telling me as a reader not enough showing. I didn’t need to know Violets every waking thought every time she saw Xaden, I was like girl you are giving to thirsty. I wish she would have had more inner empowerment without needing to wait for a guy to tell her what to do through so much of this book. I just wanted her to be more confident in her intelligence.
If we removed the spicy and suggestive scenes this book felt very young adult. I felt like the more political or economic make up just didn’t hit hard enough for me, or what I would expect from an adult fantasy.
I do give credit where it is due however and I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.
If we removed the spicy and suggestive scenes this book felt very young adult. I felt like the more political or economic make up just didn’t hit hard enough for me, or what I would expect from an adult fantasy.
I do give credit where it is due however and I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Classism
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a really optimistic story about America. While the book is this murder mystery the book is so much more than that. Through spending time with different individuals in the town you really get to know them. I love that Hames McBride is not cynical if anything his town throughout the book is largely neutral until then end when he gives you warm fuzzies.
This is a really great novel about communities and how we can all use each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Infertility
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
OMG! This Game was brutal! I think I like Peeta more in this book, Katniss frustrated me a little. I am trying to give her a break though because of all she has been put through. I am still having a hard time connecting that this is young adult. The details that Suzanne writes about the poorer districts and their starvation to President Snow having blood in his breath. This is such a powerful book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Confinement, Vomit, and Police brutality
Beloved by Toni Morrison
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a book that will need to be reread.
Masterclass in how to write characters and consciousness, the characters feel so real. Quite honestly I feel like Beloved was haunting me what I finished.
This is a messy but completely honest story, that is not told enough post slavery.
Masterclass in how to write characters and consciousness, the characters feel so real. Quite honestly I feel like Beloved was haunting me what I finished.
This is a messy but completely honest story, that is not told enough post slavery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror and Blood
Minor: Bullying
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I totally recommend if you are looking for a historical fiction meets magical realism.
Wins: the author does an amazing job of setting the historical scene. From the beginning she ensures the reader knows about the limitations of being a young unmarried woman in 1884 to what it was like to be an Egyptian during European colonialism. She even had me doing a quick Google search of what caused Britain to invade Egypt in the 1880s. The pace was really well done and the actions scenes kept me going.
Personal reasons why this is not a 5⭐️: As I read more fantasies I am realizing I don’t enjoy those that center the relationships. I kind of find that the romance scenes get in the way of me totally enjoying the book, because they tend to pop up in the most in opportune times for me. That is strictly a personal reason, the scenes in this book are age appropriate (young adult) and are written well. Secondly the main female character is 19 and repeatedly makes 19 year old decisions. I am hoping in the next book she has learned some lessons and won’t keep making the same mistakes.
Despite that I am still looking forward to picking up the second book and reading how this story ends!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
How do I write this review without sounding to scathing? Honestly I did not enjoy reading this at all. The language was to dense, and then somewhat lightened towards the last quarter, then became dense again at the end. Shame on Gregory Maguire's editing team for not cutting out like a good 200 pages of the book.
This just makes me appreciate the musical more, the way that they shined this diamond in a ruff is remarkable. Save your energy and don’t read this book. Just enjoy the movie and musical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such a fun cute story of relationships, human interactions and found family. I was looking for something unserious to read and this book fits the bill. I enjoyed that this was a quick read that I could finish in one weekend. I am also glad that the spice level of this book was low and very tasteful. I really enjoyed this book, this is a case where booktok has gotten it right.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Sexual content