anniefwrites's reviews
395 reviews

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I really, really enjoyed this! I am not usually a romance reader, but Emily Henry nailed the characters, dialogue, and friendship dynamic so well that I was sucked right in. It was super well-paced, and I think she handled the time jumps really well. I think the end got a little messy for me when we went back to two summers ago, but the END end was *chef’s kiss.* Would definitely read more from Emily Henry!
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

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emotional lighthearted reflective 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
Hadn’t read this one in many years, but it still hit hard. Reliably sad and beautiful. It captures the wonder of childhood so well. The only thing I noticed as an adult that I didn’t as a child was the fatphobia that crops up throughout; it’s very of the time. But still a fave and one I look forward to sharing with my niece when she’s old enough. 
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

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adventurous dark sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was my first myth retelling, and I don’t think the genre is for me. It’s so violent, and the characters are deeply entrenched in that violent culture, so they don’t feel relatable. The setting was beautifully described but not one I felt particularly engaged in. So I think it’s more of a mismatch for me—excellently written but I’m not the right reader. 
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Jamie and Lynne Spears are truly the scum of the earth. They should be deeply ashamed for how they treated their own daughter. (Jamie Lynn should be ashamed, too.) So glad Britney is here to share her story. 
Mermaids: The Myths, Legends, & Lore by Skye Alexander

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informative lighthearted medium-paced
This was a mixed bag! I did really enjoy the connections across cultures of different folklore and mythology, but it felt pretty repetitive; I don’t think the first part or the afterword were necessary. I also think some of the language around race and gender was a bit outdated despite the book having been published in 2012, and I wish the illustrations were as diverse as the folktales’ locales. The research seemed a bit surface-level; the author didn’t seem to use many primary sources. But in general, it was a fun summer read that makes me want to watch Aquamarine ASAP.
Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell

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informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

What an absolute delight. This book distills something complex in the way only a children’s author could. Would love to mail this to every snobby writer who’s ever dissed kidlit! Please have a soul and go find some joy!

Update: reread and it’s still wonderful. A great companion to the Reading Rainbow documentary on Netflix!
Planning Perfect by Haley Neil

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emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
Congrats to my former classmate, Haley, on her second YA novel! Such a fun read for my wedding-filled summer. 
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
Such a pacey, detailed puzzle of a book. The plot was so tight that it really carried the whole story for me, even though I didn’t find the characters particularly developed, I think because of the big cast. There were some aspects of the ending that confused me or weren’t quite as solid as I wanted them to be, but all in all, it’s a great start to the series. I might actually read more than Book 1, which is a rarity for me!
One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In by Kate Kennedy

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hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Mixed feelings about this one! As the youngest millennial, I found I started off heavily relating to the book but related less as it went on. I really appreciate the attention she gave to her girlhood and the cultural influences on it (I had a newsletter/blog that tackled similar subjects) and tying that to her current self. I’m not sure the writing style was for me; I think the audiobook may be the way to go. I think the best parts were when she engaged with the specificity of her own experiences, less so than when she applied them more widely. All in all, I’m happy this kind of book exists and I’m always curious to read a book with a CD on the cover 💿
The PLAIN Janes by Cecil Castellucci, Jim Rugg

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
I can imagine my younger self being really inspired by this. I think these days I seek out more character-driven graphic novels, though. The art style wasn’t my favorite, but that’s a matter of opinion. I hope this book inspires more young artists to think outside the box!