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kellysrambles's reviews
605 reviews
Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our Infinite Fates is a breathtaking novel with the most gorgeous love story sprawled over thousands of years. The love between Evelyn and Arden was addictive to read and shattering each time their lives came to an abrupt end.
I really enjoyed the way the story flitted between the present in Wales and the past in various locations and times, truly showing the depth of their love. I loved that their love for one another had no boundaries and that in every life they found one another, regardless of the tragic reasons for their pull towards the other.
Laura Steven’s writing in this novel is utterly beautiful. The myriad of descriptions, the way the story ebbs and flows and the last chapter had my heart singing. Words cannot summarise how stunning this novel is, if you haven’t read it yet, pick it up and see for yourselves.
Thank you to Penguin Random House UK, Laura Steven and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Let Down Your Hair by Bryony Gordon
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I picked this up hoping for a quick, easy read between fantasy books and I definitely got what I wanted.
Barb is a mesmerising character and I found myself easily enraptured by her ‘social media influencer’ lifestyle. The life so many people yearn for, yet ultimately it is making her miserable, so is it really worth it?
I really enjoyed the exploration of social media and the world of influencers. The falsity, the sense of expectation, nothing feeling as good as it should. Added in with some rather complex relationships and a hell of a plot twist I really genuinely enjoyed this one and was cheering for Barb at the end!
'Til Death by Busayo Matuluko
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
‘Til Death is a captivating debut with an addictive plot filled to the brim with Nigerian culture. Lara’s socialite cousin Derin is getting married. It’s the talk of the town and the gossip blogs; but who is threatening to ruin Derin unless she cancels the wedding?
This book gave me Gossip Girl / Bridgerton vibes with the snippets from the gossip blogs and the mysterious notes Derin receives. Whilst the mystery was definitely unfolding in the background, it did feel like this book was more of a family drama to me than a full blown thriller. That being said, I was totally taken in by the plot and really enjoyed how it all played out.
There were SO many characters in this story, all of whom I enjoyed reading about although at times I found myself confusing some of them. I do think the complexities of the many relationships, the expectations on Lara and her brother, the sisterly relationship between Derin and Lara all contributed to me enjoying this book! I also really liked learning a lot more about Nigerian culture, especially around the various wedding traditions and celebrations.
By far the most poignant thing about this story is the intricate way in which the author addresses the rings of sickle cell disease, both in the story and the author’s note.
Overall a really enjoyable debut that was an easy but interesting read. Lara is a loveable protagonist who I rooted for throughout.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK, Busayo Matuluko and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.
The Cleaner by Mary Watson
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I was attracted to this story by the concept of a cleaner (to the wealthy) collecting secrets. The idea that a cleaner is unassuming, nobody pays attention to them yet their knowledge of their clients goes deeper than they would dare to imagine.
Esmie is a brilliant character. Deceitful, jealous, driven by revenge yet unassuming and sweet to those who see her. Wanting to get revenge for her brother Nico’s downfall, Esmie sets about collecting as much information as possible about the inhabitants of The Woodlands. Here unfolds a captivating mystery full of complex, layered relationships between a series of both likeable and unlikeable characters. There were so many reveals that I stopped anticipating what would happen and just enjoyed the ride.
This one definitely kept me guessing and I enjoyed how dark and complex things got as the story developed. A great adult debut from Mary Watson!
Thank you to Random House UK, Mary Watson and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson
adventurous
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
5.0
This books was incredible! I had high expectations after seeing it all over social media in the buildup to its release and I devoured it in less than 48 hours.
This book has it all: characters to love and loathe, complicated friendships, slow burn romance, focus on language and DRAGONS. And not just a sprinkling of dragons, we’re talking LOTS of dragons.
As well as being fast-paced and action packed, this book was emotional and thought provoking when it came to tackling the tiered society Viv lives in. I liked the way the book developed alongside Viv’s own thoughts and understanding of the world around her which she had simply accepted as okay until now. There were times I felt enthralled and excited, times I felt nauseous and sad but mostly I felt filled with fire wanting to know what would happen next.
This book has become an immediate favourite for me, I absolutely loved it!
Ps. The Waterstones edition also happens to be insanely beautiful to look at too 🔥
Girl, Ultra-Processed by Amara Sage
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
I absolutely LOVED this book. I initially requested the arc not really knowing what to expect but having been attracted to both the cover and the blurb on NetGalley. Little did I know just how insanely relatable and lovable Saffron was going to be.
Girl, Ultra-Processed is a YA contemporary novel all about insecurity, lack of self-confidence and it absolutely blows up diet culture and societal expectations. As a female who has always felt ‘fat’, Saffron’s character really resonated with me. The hours she spends with her social media feeds telling her she should be thin to be beautiful, that ‘fat’ girls shouldn’t wear certain clothes or that because she’s larger than others she simply *must* want to diet. I loved that this book explored all of these things but managed to ooze body positivity as we see Saffron grow and develop into a more confident version of her true self.
The storylines were all written so well and interwove seamlessly into the book: really cute romance (although I would have liked to see more of what happens next!), family ups and downs, the trials and tribulations of friendships and especially how they change when you leave school. There’s social media pressure, catfishing, disordered eating, jealousy, love, friendship and self-acceptance.
The characters are so well written that I truly adored Saffron, Veronica, Toby, Otis and little Rue whilst effortlessly disliking Jack. The way in which Saffron’s friendship with Veronica in particular developed and strengthened so naturally had me beaming. It was easy to relate to my own super natural friendships, those which develop simply because two people are meant to know one another and that’s what it felt like for those two.
I am so pleased that I picked up this book and will absolutely be encouraging as many people as possible to read it. Saffron is a character I’ll be thinking about for a long time and I’ll be taking some of the messages away into my own conscience too.
Thank you to Faber and Faber, Amara Sage and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
challenging
dark
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
4.0
It’s difficult to describe whether or not I ‘enjoyed’ reading this book because some pages were extremely difficult to stomach, but I also couldn’t put it down.
Set in the 1970s during a time when pregnant teenage girls would be packed off to a ‘Home’ to be pregnant, give birth and have their babies taken away before returning to their own lives, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls packs a real punch. Fern is fifteen, pregnant and learning to adapt to her new life at Wellwood House. Surrounded by other teenage mothers, Fern and her friends Rose, Holly and Zinnia find themselves drawn to witchcraft, but do they really understand the consequences of such power?
My favourite thing about this book had to be the friendship between Fern, Rose, Zinnia and Holly. The dialogue and relationship between these four is what kept my reading on even when the plot was quite slow at times. I truly cared for how their storylines would develop.
A story all about feminine power and rage, I couldn’t help but feel full of anger and sadness at times. There are some extremely gruesome descriptions of pregnancy, child birth and body mutilation - some of which seriously made my stomach churn and I would advise avoiding this if you’re currently pregnant or dealing with any post-labour trauma.
The true horror of this novel comes from the fact society allowed these places to exist and for these young girls to be stripped of their identities.
Thank you to Pan MacMillan, Grady Hendrix and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Catch Your Death by Ravena Guron
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
31. Catch Your Death by Ravena Guron
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Really enjoyed this YA thriller! I thought the first half was great but then the second half properly blew me away! There were SO many plot twists. Then I was convinced I knew what was going to happen and it all changed again. Absolutely brilliant! 🔪
The Bad Seeds by C.J. Skuse
challenging
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
5.0
30. The Bad Seeds by C J Skuse
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved this final instalment to the Sweetpea series. Packed full of the dark humour and edginess from our leading lady Rhiannon and plenty of action and suspense along the way. I can’t say my favourite thing about this one without spoiling the book! I absolutely love how this series ended!