juanat77's reviews
150 reviews

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

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adventurous 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

5.0

I rarely think that a romance novel is perfect but this one is close. The ending of the story was a bit rushed, but everything else makes up for it. I went in blind when pre-ordering the book and was so glad that I did. While the authors, Christina and Lauren were able to touch upon serious topics such as complicated family dynamics, financial struggles, and abandonment issues they were also able to flawlessly combine it with humor and witty banter. The main character, Anna, is both strong and witty while the the other main character Liam, is initially serious and could be considered a “stick in the mud” he does develop emotionally throughout the story. The chemistry and dynamics between the characters of Anna and Liam worked very well together as well. To me, this is the perfect beach/vacation read. The story made me eager to see what would happen next and I was always excited to get back to the book. I’d love to see some sort of continuation of this story especially with Liam’s brother Jake! I highly recommend!
5 stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

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challenging emotional hopeful mysterious 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

3.5

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Funny Story by Emily Henry

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

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By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult 

Jodi Picoult is a must buy for me. I read anything written by her without reading the synopsis. She often writes about controversial issues while also educating the reader on a specific subject (my favorite part).

Any Other Name is different from her other novels, while in her other books she often has multiple POVs in the same time period this one has a historical blend to it, taking place in the 1500s and continuing to present day. Picoult shows how some challenges women face really did not change in the past 500 years within a chauvinistic world. This well-researched tale invites us to think, “Did Shakespeare really write his own stories?” This book shows playwright Emilia Bassano’s life in 1500s England and the obstacles she goes through. Due to the time period she lived through, her voice was not valued as a woman and the literary works that she created were not attributed to her, but rather the well-known figure, William Shakespeare who would claim her stories as his own, showcasing the challenges women like Emilia endured during this time and how they were not seen as equals to their male counterparts.

Fast forward to present day, Melina Green, a playwright and descendant of Emilia experiences challenges of her own. Although woman do have more of a voice in present day some things remain the same. Melina faces similar challenges that Emilia experienced in a male dominated Broadway world. She too, hides behind a man so that her play could be taken seriously.

I loved the connection between Emilia and Melina within the story along with how well written it was. I also really appreciated the character of Jasper, the quirky theatre critic, who showed a unique perspective within the text.

Previously to reading this book, I was not incredibly knowledgeable of Shakespeare. Picoult really helps readers who might have a base level understanding of his work learn more about the playwright. This book showcased people who felt unseen and without a voice while also showing the strength and perseverance they had.
 
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this thought-provoking novel in exchange for an honest review. 

Releases 8/20/24

#NetGalley  #ByAnyOtherName #randomhouse
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You'd Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace

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

4.0

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One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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The Last Verse by Caroline Frost

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dark emotional 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? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

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emotional hopeful 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? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

This is my first Kristan Higgins book. I must confess I never read one because the covers look like it’s a Rom-Com or straight up romance. Yes, I judged a book by its cover! I was wrong. Very wrong. It is MORE than romance. In fact, I would say there isn’t much romance. It is a story about loss, healing, change, self discovery and female friendships. There are three storylines told by three different POVs. There’s fake dating, trying to get over a loved one’s death and a marriage in trouble. While there are serious undertones in the book there is also humor which helps soften the story. Look on the Bright Side is mostly set in Cape Cod and at times in Boston. The descriptions of the locations transported me to sunshine, the beach and even the busy streets of Boston. The pacing is fast, the characters are likeable, with the exception of one but he grows on you by the end, there’s hilarious moments and of course emotional ones. If you enjoy Elin Hildebrand you will definitely enjoy Kristan Higgins. Definitely going to check out her other books! 4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. 

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Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

Wicked Serve

This was my first hockey romance and my first book in the Beyond the Play series. It was cute and I really appreciated the mental health representation. I felt it was a bit too long. And there was A LOT of sexy times. Too much for me anyway. A different audience may appreciate it more. Nik and Izzy were a cute couple and very supportive of each other.  I did not appreciate how Izzy was always pressuring Nik to confide in her or how she was so adamant in including herself in his mental health journey when it was clear he needed to do it himself. All in all it was a solid read. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series! 3 stars! 

Releases 8/13/24


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