jennametheny's reviews
163 reviews

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

This book is emotionally striking and beautifully written. I do not cry often, but I was close to tears multiple times.

The author strikes at the core of human experience through many phases of life. The subtle details that remind you of what it’s like to be a child, what it’s like to be lonely, what it’s like to be irrevocably bonded to someone, are so familiar and beautiful.

Although the characters often don’t speak to one another like average Americans do, their actions and personalities are so real and grounded in their flaws. They may make you hate them sometimes, but not nearly as much as you will love them.

It would be a five star read for me, with the exception of a single chapter. Without revealing too much, the Pioneers segment is a dull valley interrupting two emotional highs. It slowed down the experience for me.

That said, it won’t stop me from recommending this book to everyone I know.

Content Warnings

Iron Cast by Destiny Soria

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adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Pretty middling for the finale of such a widely praised series. SJM clearly grew as an author as she wrote these books, and it shows, but this brick was still entirely too long.

I absolutely loved the beginning of the end, when

Dorian and Aelin come together with Chaol and Rowan to do the thing

.

The conclusion was fine. Character deaths in this series felt earned, which I appreciate after all the plot armor in ACOTAR.

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was so nervous to finish this duology because of the change in perspective. The concern was unnecessary. I loved these characters so much, I hurt when they hurt and kicked my feet when good things happened. An added romance felt fresh and earned without trying to take the place of the one in the first book. And the YEARNING!!!! Excellent. Loses some points at the very end for

not giving us the reunion we’d waited fifty chapters for. I loved Elspeth’s goodbye with the nightmare, but immediately cutting to an epilogue was EVIL.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is one of the most addictive fantasies I’ve read in a while. I love the concept and the characters are wonderful. It doesn’t quite hit 5 stars because of some over-wrought dialogue choices and the terrible decision to replace certain curse words with a silly sounding in-universe phrase. I’m sorry but when your characters are capable of saying the F word, and they say “oh, trees” instead, it totally takes me out of the narrative for a second.

That said, the romance had me kicking my feet in the air and the last four chapters inspired the fastest reading I’ve done in a long time. I’m hooked.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

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hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I love the concept so much. The romance is well written. But the dialogue is so incredibly fake, it’s hard to move past, and the emotional crux of the story is HAMMERED in rather than woven through.

Under the Surface by Diana Urban

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced