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cowboylikeb's reviews
295 reviews
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.5
The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Klune does it for me yet again. A campy trope-filled romp that could easily slide into the MCU. It even has an after credits scene.
I adored all the characters, Nick was especially relatable to me. So excited to get my hands on Flash Fire.
I adored all the characters, Nick was especially relatable to me. So excited to get my hands on Flash Fire.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.0
I am a bit sad, I really wanted to like this book. I did appreciate the idea the author was trying to convey, I think the execution fell short. It felt like a tedious retelling of Alice in Wonderland yet not at all because its ultimately a love story to... stories. Very meta.
Due to the complexity of the nested stories and the format in which they were presented, I was often playing catch up whenever corresponding sections would pick up again. I think things were lost or muddled along the way. At some point, I increased audio speed to 1.5 just to help it along (I have never done this before). It's possible may've enjoyed it more if I'd read a physical copy... but the fact of the matter was that I still needed to read a couple "explained" articles to ensure I completely comprehended what I'd just read. If I finish a book and am still confused, that's not a good sign.
If you're thinking of picking this one up because you liked The Night Circus, please know this is not similar in the slightest. If you were not a fan of the format, this is definitely not for you.
But if you enjoy unlocking doors to find beautifully written slow burning paced tales with seemingly endless layers, that are metaphors but sometimes not, and cats then this is the book for you. Maybe take notes.
Due to the complexity of the nested stories and the format in which they were presented, I was often playing catch up whenever corresponding sections would pick up again. I think things were lost or muddled along the way. At some point, I increased audio speed to 1.5 just to help it along (I have never done this before). It's possible may've enjoyed it more if I'd read a physical copy... but the fact of the matter was that I still needed to read a couple "explained" articles to ensure I completely comprehended what I'd just read. If I finish a book and am still confused, that's not a good sign.
If you're thinking of picking this one up because you liked The Night Circus, please know this is not similar in the slightest. If you were not a fan of the format, this is definitely not for you.
But if you enjoy unlocking doors to find beautifully written slow burning paced tales with seemingly endless layers, that are metaphors but sometimes not, and cats then this is the book for you. Maybe take notes.
X Marks the Scot by Kaitlyn Dunnett
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Beach Read by Emily Henry
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Wow. An excellent slow burn of a novel, like peeling away layers of paint to discover what was beneath. I grew very attached to Piranesi over the course of the novel. The only reason this isn't a 5 star is because the ending underwhelmed me. It's worth the read, I just personally wish there was a bit of something more. And I'm not entirely sold on the fantasy tag it's been given.
Zipper Mouth by Laurie Weeks
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I'm... well... disappointed. I guess I hung to heavily on the prospect of magic and ultimately hoped there was much more than the book actually offered. I found that I was far more interested in the magical elements and the paper cutting than I was about the very literal re-telling of The Great Gatsby.
I enjoyed Jordan as the choice for narrator, but that hardly helped me enjoy any of the characters more, including Jordan. I was quickly reminded that I probabl like the idea of Gatsby's extravagant parties and the images they conjure up far more than the actual story itself.
Now if something else had been done to explore the paper cutting and the magic, I would've been more enthralled. Give me that book, I want to read that one!
I enjoyed Jordan as the choice for narrator, but that hardly helped me enjoy any of the characters more, including Jordan. I was quickly reminded that I probabl like the idea of Gatsby's extravagant parties and the images they conjure up far more than the actual story itself.
Now if something else had been done to explore the paper cutting and the magic, I would've been more enthralled. Give me that book, I want to read that one!
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Alcohol, and Classism
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Who have Casey the right to hit me squarely center in my feels like this??? ðŸ˜
This book is... everything. Found family, drag queens, time crime, pancakes, queer love, pop culture callbacks, NYC subway rides, modern sleuthing, and more. If this is what paranormal romance is, I am here for it. I love everything McQuiston crafted, I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with these characters. 💌
The narration of the audio book was very well done!
This book is... everything. Found family, drag queens, time crime, pancakes, queer love, pop culture callbacks, NYC subway rides, modern sleuthing, and more. If this is what paranormal romance is, I am here for it. I love everything McQuiston crafted, I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with these characters. 💌
The narration of the audio book was very well done!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Sexual content, Grief, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol