amys_hygge_reads's reviews
48 reviews

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes

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emotional reflective 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

4.5

Aisling and the City by Sarah Breen, Emer McLysaght

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

3.75

Asking For It by Louise O'Neill

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

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challenging mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

People think the decisions you make that change the course of your life are the big ones. Marriage proposals. House moves. Job applications. But she knows it’s the little ones, the tiny moments, that really plot the course. Moments like this.


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My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

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challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

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The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

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

4.0

Tiffy needs somewhere to stay. Leon works nightshifts and isn't home on weekends. And so begins The Flatshare! 

I listened on audiobook format, I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed reading as much. But this was fun! Once you just give in to the strange flatshare concept, and all the questions that go with it! The characters stories were interesting - although I feel like we didn't get the same depth of character development with Leon. Fun and cute book. 
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Stay Another Day by Juno Dawson

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

‘It’s a struggle, life. Everyone is struggling with something. It’s why we’ve got to be kind to each other, even when it’s really fuckin’ hard. You just don’t know. You can’t tell by looking.’

Fern, Rowan and Willow - three siblings all gathering again at the family home in Scotland for Christmas. Fern and Rowan are twins, but are opposites in so many ways. Each sibling has their own issues - Fern and her need for control, Rowan and his detachment issues after coming out as gay as a kid, and Willow their younger sister who struggles with an eating disorder. And not to mention the parents as well! Being reunited for Christmas celebrations, with a few guests too - there's plenty of secrets to learn and demons to fight! 

I did really enjoy this book. It was funny, dramatic and entertaining, even if it was predictable towards the end. Many relevant topics for the YA audience to appreciate - love, family, friendship, eating disorders, college life, drug and alcohol culture, as well as non-binary, gay and bi characters. 

The book is very 'now' with pop culture references - makes me question what this book would be like to reread in say 10 years time. I disliked the parts were the house was narrating, I appreciate what the author was trying to achieve, but amongst this book it felt random and out of place. Also, there were two characters that were so random and minor, I really don't understand why they were included. 

That being said, it held my interst well. A funny read for Christmas - although despite it set at Christmas, I wouldn't consider it a 'Christmas book'. The characters were also great, which is what kept me! 
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Baby It's Cold Outside by Emily Bell

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

4.25

‘It’s funny isn’t it, how we agonize over these supposedly big choices we have to make that actually make no difference in the end. But the little decisions – that seemingly mean nothing – they can change everything.’
 
Main character Norah is a likeable music teacher in London. She has no plan for Christmas, until she remembers a plan she made with Andrew during a young holiday romance – to meet in 10 years time on Christmas Eve in Dublin. So off she heads to Dublin… with one of her best friends Joe. Will Andrew turn up? And what exactly is Norah looking for in her life? 

The story alternates between present day, the week leading up to Christmas, and some important moments in her life during the past ten years. She explores aspects of love, friendship, career choices, family, grief and life! 

I absolutely loved all the Irish and London references – made the story very relatable. Even if some of them were not completely accurate! 

Think Hallmark channel Christmas movie but as a book. Perfect light-hearted book to get you in the festive mood. Finished this on Christmas day and it gave me the warm Christmas feelings I was after! 

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