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laedyred's reviews
279 reviews
The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Burnout by Amelia Nagoski, Emily Nagoski
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Not quite as well written as Come As You Are or Come Together, but still an actually helpful self help book.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I am completely lukewarm on this book. The threads of the mystery become quite tangled but the last discoveries and resolution are disappointing. The characters are quirky and could be charming if the writing wasn't so awkward. I did appreciate the moments of depth and speculation on greater themes of the end of life and love. All in all, I was unimpressed.
What Makes Love Last?: How to Build Trust and Avoid Betrayal by John Gottman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Can't deal with the subject material right now. Will come back to it at a later time, maybe.
Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
I will go back to this at some point. It's too heavy and literary for my mood right now.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Another solid story from Emily Henry; I'm not disappointed. The plot and feelings are painfully relevant, this was a good time to read it. There's a cute cast of characters that grow on you even though they might be underdeveloped. Daphne feels relatable, personal, if not slightly underwhelming personality-wise. And I appreciated Miles' differentiation to the other love interests in Emily Henry's books.
It does bother me that Miles rides the line a little too close to some of the tropes I think are problematic. He withholds the truth from Daphne about seeing Petra, saying it was "a friend" until pushed. He has the same non-committal, fuck-boy history as so many others in this genre. He forgets about her completely on the day Petra calls him. He apologizes, but these are huge offenses. I liked them together, but outside of a book I wouldn't accept it.
That being said, this is one of my top choices from Emily Henry. I highly recommend it for readers who want more from their romance novels.
It does bother me that Miles rides the line a little too close to some of the tropes I think are problematic.
That being said, this is one of my top choices from Emily Henry. I highly recommend it for readers who want more from their romance novels.
Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
2.0
This book is fun enough, the characters are cute (albeit one dimensional), the cozy atmosphere of books and witch magic is comforting. But holy hell, this book is also a mess. It's the sort of mess that makes you wonder if anyone actually sat down to edit it. Wood's writing isn't terrible, but even for a debut novel it's weak. I wanted it to be so much better than it was.
The plot could have been ripped off from a Disney channel movie with how formula I it is; character tropes and cringey dialogue abound. The romance is forced and unnecessary. Wood is not proficient with "show, don't tell," as evidenced by the three page villain monologue and lazy "as you know..." dialogue. I had to abandon keeping count of plot holes, nevermind the points mentioned and promptly forgotten. It would be untruthful to say this book was good.
If there weren't so many issues with the construction, I would give an extra half star. It's cute. I'm harsh on books. But I will forget everything about this book in a matter of days. I can't call this book well done, but it will satisfy an itch for a cheesy, cozy witch tale. Just don't expect anything beyond that.
The plot could have been ripped off from a Disney channel movie with how formula I it is; character tropes and cringey dialogue abound. The romance is forced and unnecessary. Wood is not proficient with "show, don't tell," as evidenced by the three page villain monologue and lazy "as you know..." dialogue. I had to abandon keeping count of plot holes, nevermind the points mentioned and promptly forgotten. It would be untruthful to say this book was good.
If there weren't so many issues with the construction, I would give an extra half star. It's cute. I'm harsh on books. But I will forget everything about this book in a matter of days. I can't call this book well done, but it will satisfy an itch for a cheesy, cozy witch tale. Just don't expect anything beyond that.
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I want a robot friend to help me figure out life.
Lionboy by B. Sendra Tanuwidjaja, Zizou Corder
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I'm not the demographic for this book, but it holds up outside the middle grade genre with clever writing and quick wit.