eggbeater's reviews
1210 reviews

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

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informative mysterious 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? No

4.0

This mystery series is great! There is a very "Masterpiece Theater" flavor quality and I learn so much about Indian history, especially what it was like before independence from Britain. I think Perveen is an amazingly realistically drawn character, I always feel like I know her. This particular book in the series stood out because it dealt with student activism and various reactions to that. It was very relatable.
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

What a gem of a book! I can't wait for the next one. The characters were so well fleshed out and the world building was great, the plot hooked me from the beginning. I was impressed by everything about this book from the fact that the author wrote about non binary characters and disabled characters with agency and based her book off of pre-Columbian Indigenous civilizations. I think most people who like fantasy will enjoy this one, it has mermaids and witches and magic.
Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey

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slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

So, so boring. This book was just not for me. The characters felt flat and one dimensional and there is no real plot. I was disappointed because this is a book about a bookstore and it doesn't reference any real books or discuss literature. And my main beef is that I thought the main character was a whiney, unsympathetic BRAT and I didn't care if she kept the bookstore or got the guy! This sounds like a scathing review, but I am not sure I totally trust my judgment because I read this for book club and I am not a romance type.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

4.0

For a romance grump, I was surprisingly into this whole series. Maybe I am turning a new corner in my reading. I am sad that there aren't more sisters.

There are some really steamy romance scenes that don't hold back once they get going. They are really well written. I am impressed that Talia Hibbert's books address people going through ordinary life challenges such as being on the spectrum. It makes the romance and the whole story more viable for me. I loved Jacob and Eve. 
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is a little slow on the suspense scale, but it is a very well constructed and pointed, original social commentary. I was also very interested in the book publishing aspect of racism and it made me wonder how much of what I am reading is filtered through a white lense. The ending made me scream.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

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

4.0

 First, let me preface this review by saying that this was a good book and I enjoyed it immensely, but there were some inconsistencies which are glaring to someone familiar with the mental health system. These dudes were the most unprofessional shrinks ever! Don't they have anything like an equivalent of the HIPAA regulations in the UK? Also, if lighters aren't allowed on the locked ward, how/why are the patients and staff openly smoking? Are they rubbing two sticks together in order to light their cigarettes? Do they even let patients smoke in 2019 on Not Gutily by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) wards in England, really? They'd burn each other's eyes out.

Anyway, despite what seemed to me like inaccuracies, I liked the psychological aspects of the book and I laughed out loud when I came to the twist at the end. I felt like I should have seen it coming, but I was completely blind-sided. I could not put this book down and would love to discuss it with someone, especially England's psychiatric professionals, to find out how realistic it is 
Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

This was a light read. Very comical and a bit over the top, but a cute homage to family. The aunties were so much fun.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

I liked Get a Life, Chloe Brown a little better than this book because I related so much to Chloe's chronic pain, but this story was cute and I liked Dani. I am trying to get used to that level of sappy and happiness in my books. I did think Zafir's anxiety was portrayed well and he had good coping mechanisms. 
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

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adventurous challenging funny informative 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

4.0

If you're not a total science geek, I think this gets a little bogged down in some areas, but it really picks up around the middle of the book and becomes downright adorable. Weir's unique brand of humor is prevalent throughout and I got a physics refresher as I laughed a lot. I know it's a suspense thriller, but it's also endearing. Maybe I just like teachers. The protagonist was a middle school science teacher. I recommend it if you like science fiction at all. 
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Grishaverse that Leigh Bardugo has created is genius and the world keeps growing stronger with every book. From beginning to end I was enthralled, this book never lets up. There were several great twists throughout the story, Nicholai is such a lovable character, and the ending was brilliant.