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amalas_bookstop's reviews
105 reviews
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Solid 4.5⭐️
Taylor Jenkins Reid has definitely found a niche that works perfectly for her style of writing. This felt somewhat familiar because just like Daisy Jones and the Six. We have strong female protagonists that is being interviewed about her past and uses that monologue to leave life lessons for the reader.
Taylor has a way of blurring the line of history and fiction, to where she might almost have you fooled that you are reading a non-fiction.
Some of the themes of this book were personally a little much for me, and I figured out the twist as she was telling it, but I was still throughly entertained.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, and Car accident
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
“Color is not a human or personal reality; it is a political reality.”
The amount of gold nuggets he dropped in this essay should be illegal. Sometimes you read something meant for the current time only to realize it defies time.
I cannot believe that I have not read anything by James Baldwin before. This is a first, but won’t be the last.
The amount of gold nuggets he dropped in this essay should be illegal. Sometimes you read something meant for the current time only to realize it defies time.
I cannot believe that I have not read anything by James Baldwin before. This is a first, but won’t be the last.
Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home by Jessa Hastings
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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
4.75
I have been in a bit of a reading slump all summer. As soon as I felt the urge to read again I knew exactly what I wanted to read, and Jessa Hasting did not disappoint. I absolutely love the MPU universe and I don’t even normally read romance.
The way she write emotions and human interactions is real and visceral. Even though Magnolia and BJ drive me absolutely nuts, you can’t help but love them and root for them to figure it out.
The ending has left me reeling. I am so excited to jump in with Daisy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual content
Minor: Violence and Vomit
End of Watch by Stephen King
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
I don’t know how Steven King is able to write a detective trilogy where we as the reader know everything that is happening, but are still completely intrigued as the detective is finding it out. I thought this was a great ending to a wonderful horror trilogy.
Honestly this trilogy has started a new obsession with Steven King and now I have plans to read everything he has written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Carrie by Stephen King
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Even though I am way late to reading this and I have already watched he movie. This was still a really great read. It was a bit of a slow start for me, and the writing style didn’t agree with me totally. This is still a solid 4 stars.
What a horror gruesome lesson about not treating others horribly, because you have no idea what they are going through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
This is without a doubt the best book in the series. R.F. Kuang finally found the perfect balance between the battles and character dynamics between each other. The pacing in this one was extremely well done. Compared to the last book this one seemed to read so much easier. This book had highs and lows and it wasn’t just extreme intensity on every page. Don’t get me wrong final book definitely had it a twists and turns, but it just felt way more settled.
What an amazing ride!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.0
I thought this was a pretty simple plot. The story opens with Effy who attends the Architecture College at the University she attends. She did test high enough to attend the literature college however the school has an archaic rule that states women are not allowed. After entering a competition she is awarded an opportunity to stay at and design her favorite authors home who is recently deceased. It is through this opportunity she meets the love interest Preston and uncovers secrets that will have the potential to rewrite history.
Ava Reid is a really descriptive writer. I think she did a really good job of exploring some of the more triggering topics in this novel in a very age appropriate way as this is a YA novel. I also really enjoyed how she described the anxiety that Effy was feeling every day. There was only one scene between the love interests Preston and Effy that seemed to toe the line a little, seemed more like adult content.
I only have a few critiques. First, I thought the pace of this story was a little slow and very predictable. Once you get to the end the twist (if you could call it that) was not a surprise more of a confirmation. The ending seemed to also drag a little for me as well. I found myself skimming. Secondly, based on the cover and title I thought this book would have dark academia vibes, but this doesn’t quite hit the mark. While the overall atmosphere does seem pretty bleak. The university has a very minor role and I just don’t get the prestigious atmosphere like I have gotten in other dark academia novels.
Overall it was a great break from my usual tastes, but I will probably never think of it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Minor: Death of parent
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
So the second book was battle after battle after battle. I really enjoyed the comedic relief parts between friends and I kind of wish this book had more of that. It seemed like this book was full throttle without a break. I would have gladly had less battle scenes for more friendship building. I honestly might feel more connected to the characters.
However, she does have me still intrigued on how this war ends. I am glad this ended with Rin with some backbone. She got a little annoying to me throughout most of this book. But I totally get character development.
I am looking forward to reading the last one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love this universe so much!
I am honestly trying to figure out why these are considered contemporary romance novels. I honestly think these are just adult fictions with heavy coming of age themes. I felt that a little with the first book and I feel it even more now. Especially since none of the relationships are anything to really aspire to. I think her brother Julian is more drama than BJ.
I had to read about halfway before I got comfortable with Daisy. I found myself still looking for Magnolia in the beginning, because I truly think she is my favorite. However where Magnolia had me in my fluttery feels, Daisy keeps you extremely grounded. Which is isn’t a bad thing!
I am giving this 4.5 stars, there were just a few things (like the footnotes in Daisy perspective) that kept me from completely lingering in Daisy’ viewpoint, like I did in Magnolia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use
Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder by Asako Yuzuki
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
This was a really cozy mystery, a slow burn.
The is novel opens with Rika she is a journalist who has the opportunity to interview Kaji who is waiting for a retrial for three murders she was convicted of. The author also includes a side plot of Rikas friend Reiko and their journey as well.
I came into this story expecting a little bit more of the murder plot and figuring out if Kaji actually murdered three men. However, this book very much focuses on Rika and her discovery to know more of herself as she goes through these series of interviews with Kaji that focuses on great cuisine and its nuances.
The author uses this story to really ask the question, what is indulgence, especially when it comes to Japanese women, food, and relationships. In fact this book probably could have been 100-200 pages shorter without the extreme focus on every meal Rika either ate or made. Her coming of age story as an adult woman was definitely the highlight of the story. Kaji was used to help her break out of the traditional norms society places on women and to help her come to terms with childhood grief.
The writing was very descriptive and beautiful and the translation was well done. I would often want to get up and eat something extremely buttery as I read this story. However if you are looking to read this for more thrill or horror this is not the book.
I definitely recommend that you read this book with a nice steaming bowl of buttery rice and soy sauce. It will not disappoint!
The is novel opens with Rika she is a journalist who has the opportunity to interview Kaji who is waiting for a retrial for three murders she was convicted of. The author also includes a side plot of Rikas friend Reiko and their journey as well.
I came into this story expecting a little bit more of the murder plot and figuring out if Kaji actually murdered three men. However, this book very much focuses on Rika and her discovery to know more of herself as she goes through these series of interviews with Kaji that focuses on great cuisine and its nuances.
The author uses this story to really ask the question, what is indulgence, especially when it comes to Japanese women, food, and relationships. In fact this book probably could have been 100-200 pages shorter without the extreme focus on every meal Rika either ate or made. Her coming of age story as an adult woman was definitely the highlight of the story. Kaji was used to help her break out of the traditional norms society places on women and to help her come to terms with childhood grief.
The writing was very descriptive and beautiful and the translation was well done. I would often want to get up and eat something extremely buttery as I read this story. However if you are looking to read this for more thrill or horror this is not the book.
I definitely recommend that you read this book with a nice steaming bowl of buttery rice and soy sauce. It will not disappoint!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder