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courtsbooknook's reviews
1599 reviews
The Judgment of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum
emotional
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed this book immensely. Yoyo Gold was an incredible protagonist and I loved the lens into Orthodox Judaism. I thought Isaac did an amazing job of showcasing different ways to be Jewish and I really liked that aspect. This was heartfelt and emotional and captured the questioning aspect of Judaism. The coming of age part was done well too, and I related to Yoyo as the older sibling. I loved her journey of self-exploration and I thought this book was just so well done. I'll happily read anything from Isaac, that's for sure! Thank you to Philomel Books for the ARC to read and review!
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
emotional
informative
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Lynda is a master storyteller. I loved the alternating timelines from the early 1900s to the 1980s. Augusta was an incredible narrator; I felt I lived in her world. The food descriptions were absolutely mouthwatering, and I wanted to eat Aunt Esther's soup myself. I thought the pharmacy setting in New York was so well done, and I loved watching Augusta and Irving's relationship develop. There was a slight magical element here, which I thought was very well done. The timelines blended together seamlessly. It was easy to root for these characters. Lynda pulls me into her books every single time. From the Jewish comfort to the ease of friends and family, there was so much to enjoy from this story. I couldn't put it down. Another absolute knockout from Lynda, and I'll always be excited to see what she does next. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC to read and review!
The Wingman by Stephanie Archer
emotional
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Stephanie Archer always has my heart; if anyone can nail a friends-to-lovers trope, it would be her. Hayden and Darcy were so sweet, and their chemistry was top-tier. I wish they had shared their feelings with each other sooner. I didn't love how down on herself Darcy was, but it made sense based on the circumstances of her past relationship. I loved the cameos from the other characters, and I thought this was developed so well. As always, the spice was SO fantastic, and I loved these moments. I was also cackling with the garden gnome incidents, and Stephanie really knows how to balance humor with serious moments. Thank you to Stephanie Archer for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review!
The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
I've loved Sarah Dessen for years and I finally got around to reading this book. It was so good, too! I loved the lake setting and the nostalgic summer vibes this one brought while reading. The friendships and kind of found family vibe was done so well. I loved all the new bonds that were formed and how Saylor made her connection to the place where her mom grew up. Dessen handled topics like grief and addiction with care and I still value her storytelling capability. I wish I would have gotten a smidge more of an ending, but overall this was such a great read!
Night Owls by A.R. Vishny
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As one of my most anticipated debuts, this book blew me away. I loved the Jewish representation and the mythology interwoven into the story. the old Yiddish theater setting was super interesting as well. I loved the characters and the alternating POVs made the story so engaging. I didn't really know a ton about Estries and I think they're such a unique part of Jewish mythology. This story had romance, fantasy, and a bit of horror and I loved it all. The world-building was incredible and I just want more. Clara, Molly, and Boaz all had lovable qualities and I loved each of them individually and together. I absolutely can't wait to read more from A.R. Vishny as this was an incredible debut!
Come Back to Me by Mila Gray
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I think I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! Not much happened plot-wise but I loved the characters and the writing. So many emotions were brought out while reading and I thought that aspect was really well done. I also couldn't believe these characters were so young because I feel like they'd all been through so much. The chemistry between Jessa and Kit was insane. I loved witnessing them falling in love with each other. I was rooting for them the whole time. There were plenty of cliched moments, but even those couldn't take away how much I enjoyed reading this. I know these are interconnected standalones but I'm so excited to read more by Mila Gray!
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
funny
informative
fast-paced
5.0
As a huge Gilmore Girls fan, this was one of my most anticipated books this year and it did not disappoint! Of course, the Kelly didn't actually talk about GG until halfway through but I didn't even care because her life was so interesting to read about. I loved her Broadway journey and how she found herself back and forth to New York. I loved learning about her family, her love interests and how each piece led to the next. She's an excellent storyteller with so much life experience and I was here for all of it. This may be my favorite celeb memoir to date. I loved her narration as well. No part of her life was boring. I loved hearing about A Chorus Line and all her roles leading up to Dirty Dancing and Gilmore Girls. I also love that she's now a fellow New Jerseyean because it's the best state obviously. This had so much heart and was soothing to the soul. Huge fan of Kelly Bishop and this book solidified that even more. Truly a top tier book.
Beauty Tempts the Beast by Lorraine Heath
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
After five books, readers were finally gifted Beast's story — although I like him much more as Benedict. His story flew by! From the big reveal to the enjoyable love story and so much more, there was a ton that pulled me into this book. I loved Althea's independence and how her and Benedict's story started and developed. I liked the steaminess and intimacy in this novel as well. I didn't like the third-act nonsense and did think Althea was incredibly obtuse, but I'm glad it was resolved relatively quickly. I also enjoyed the conclusion and the happy endings for every sibling. the epilogue closed everything off so beautifully and I loved reading about this fictional family. Overall, I would definitely read more from Lorraine Heath because I loved this series!
Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson
fast-paced
3.5
I actually liked this one more than I thought I would. I love the idea of swapping places as a royal and I think this trope was done well here. I liked the Italy setting and thought the day of adventure was a nice touch. Unlike others in this series, this one felt more developed and I felt the story had a nice build-up and conclusion. The characters were written well and I enjoyed how the love story played out.
A Place to Hide: A Novel by Ronald H. Balson
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Ronald H. Balson is one of those authors that never cease to pull me in. His writing is emotional, makes you feel like you're sitting with the characters, and accurately portrays intense and large historical moments. I loved how this story was told — almost like a story within a story. Teddy was an incredible narrator and I enjoyed how he and Karyn interacted. It's very detailed and I know Balson included both real and fictional people in this narrative. This book was heartfelt, emotional, and an easy page-turner. I couldn't stop reading. I did think there would be a Balson-esque twist at the end, so I felt like I wanted more in a sense when I didn't get one. The ending felt a little abrupt as well, but other than that I did really enjoy this book. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC to read and review!