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juanat77's reviews
156 reviews

The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

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Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-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

Banter. Romance. Magical realism. I’m here for it! I have to say this is my favorite Falon Ballard book! It captured my attention from page one and did not stop until the last page. The FMC, Cam, is hilarious. She is the kind of character you don’t usually read in books. She actually sounds like a couple of my friends lol. Cam is developed very well throughout the story. Loved the banter between Cam and the MMC Ben. Also as always my favorite: NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!!! It is Open Door which is not my cup of tea but I did over look it because I enjoyed the rest of the story so much. 

4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley @falonballard and @putnambooks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

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adventurous emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell

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adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective tense medium-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

3.0

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Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Well with any Tessa Bailey novel you know what you are in for! Open door romance. VERY open door.  While I myself usually appreciate closed door I enjoyed the storyline. The MMC, a hockey player, Sig, and the FMC, harpist, Chloe, meet and it’s “insta love.” The same day they find out their parents are marrying and so they have to stay away from each other…..at least romantically. But Sig and Chloe are having difficulty hiding their connection in public and well in private too. Soon the media starts reporting how “inappropriate the step siblings are acting” and the agents in their respective careers pressure them “either them or out!” So Sig is on a mission to find any dirt on his estranged dad to break up the engagement so he can be with his dream girl. 

It was really a unique read. For me anyway. Most romantic quick reads have the same kind of trope. This one had step siblings and a harpist. Part of the setting was in Connecticut. No drawn out “third act break up.” The MMC was always very supportive of the MFC. 

Chloe was a very funny and likable character. Her character was developed so well throughout the novel. She displayed strength and determination while sometimes not being realistic but she certainly did try!

This is part of the Big Shots series but it certainly can be read alone. 

3.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @netgalley @tessabailey and @avonbooks for an eARC on exchange for an honest review. 
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Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova

I loved this. It’s about an Irish Boston married Police Officer in his 40s who is diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease. HD is an inherited progressive neurological condition that breaks down the nerve cells in the brain. It affects cognition, behavior, movement, strength, mood, speaking, tremors also weight loss. There is no cure. He has four adult children and offspring have a 50/50chance to of inheriting it. 

Lisa Genova does an incredible job of educating us on the disease as well as showing us the progression through the MMC, Joe O’Brien. She also showed how it emotionally and psychologically impacted his family, friends and even his job. 

The story is not all doom and gloom. The support the family shows each other is beautiful. They are a very tight knit family using humor to break up the tension and stress. 

I felt very connected to this story—not sure if it is because I work in healthcare (I’m an OT in a short term rehabilitation facility) and treat many neurological patients or because I myself have a neurological condition (Multiple Sclerosis). But I NEEDED a book like this in my life. There is not many fictional books written to raise awareness about neurological conditions. I totally ate this up! This is my first Lisa Genova book and I cannot wait to read more! 

5 AMAZING stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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The Favorites by Layne Fargo

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

To be honest I picked this one up because of the cover. I knew nothing about ice skating. I wasn’t even interested in the subject. After I started it I couldn’t put it down. I switched between the audio and the physical book. The audio was done really well. It has a cast of characters and goes back and forth between interview transcripts to a first person POV. The author was able to incorporate information on the sport, competition, politics, costumes and the Olympics while producing an entertaining story. It had toxic relationships. Toxic friendships. Drama. Heartbreak. Betrayal. Very very messy. Layne Fargo showcased the behind the scenes “ugly” of competition. The pressure. The lengths people will go to win. The obsession. But also the “beauty.” Ambition. Passion. Love. Success.

I hated every character in the book (except one) but I think that was the point. It would be such a good film adaptation!

4.5 stars!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

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

4.0

Alice Feeney is becoming one of my favorite thriller authors. Her books are thought provoking, filled with twists and turns and always have you looking back into the story. Beautiful Ugly is no different. Dual timelines. Dual POV. Towards the end of story I second guessed so much and skimmed the book from the beginning to put the pieces together. Her books need to be read with an open mind and not necessarily believing exactly what you read. 

It is a slow burn but written really well. All of it comes together beautifully. That end!!!!!! It worked out perfectly. I could see it being adapted to film. It is brilliant. Almost reminds me of an Alfred Hitchcock tale. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes dark, creepy, psychological suspense, and stories that make you question everything! 

Four stars!!  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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