book_lover_irl's reviews
437 reviews

Spare by Prince Harry

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.25

Conflicted. This was an interesting read. Surprisingly raw and honest, yet very pointed in only sharing Prince Harry’s perspective (but what else do you expect from a memoir, right?). I loved the beginning third and last third. I felt like it dragged in the middle while sharing his military service and lost wandering during his 20’s as he sought to “find his true self”. The details were probably useful to show how Prince Harry evolved… but I was bored. 😀 Overall I’d definitely recommend the book if one was interested in the royals. It was my first read about the royals. I doubt I’ll seek out additional books about them.
When You Find Me by P.J. Vernon

Go to review page

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

3.5

That twist at the end... WHOA! 👀
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Lost Orphan by Stacey Halls

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I wanted to love this book. It started out so good but by the middle of the book…. I just wanted to know the ending without actually having to put the effort into reading it. I did finish it but it was extremely disappointing. I feel like the ending was entirely unfulfilling and “too tidy”.  I wouldn’t recommend this book.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Say Her Name by Dreda Say Mitchell, Ryan Carter

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.0

Interesting and thoughtful. Slightly predictable. I look forward to trying other books by this author to see if I enjoy them more.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective sad 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

4.25

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

Go to review page

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

3.75

Disturbing, gory, confounding, violent. A train wreck that you can’t look away from. I want to give the book less than 3 stars because of a horrible plot twist that I’ll never forgive the author for but I feel compelled to honor the uniqueness and lyrical beauty of the author’s voice.

Apparently there is a scary movie made from this book. There isn’t enough money in the world to get me to agree to watch it.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
SINdicate by Marie James

Go to review page

dark tense slow-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? No

2.5

Meh. Having just flew through the first three Cerberus MC books, I wonder if this particular book was actually boring overall or just less exciting than the others or if I'm tiring of the series. 

In any case, feel free to skip this novel and move on in the series (if you're still interested in learning MC stories.) Personally I'm skipping ahead to Snatch's story. I'm assuming it'll be intense since he seems to be a rough character.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious 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

So many lies and twists and turns. Disturbing and addictive. 

Trigger warnings below. Not sure if TWs are considered spoilers? I didn’t say who or what was involved in the TW. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Go to review page

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings