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laurenleigh's reviews
629 reviews
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Buckling in for this ride! This first book was a lot more YA than I anticipated. YA is just such a spectrum these days. I have a feeling the series deepens and intensifies as it goes on. Not to say I didn’t enjoy this book! Badass FMC showing up all the boys in a series of trials? Eats almost every time. There is a love triangle brewing (this was published in 2012 after all), but I actually didn’t mind it at all for whatever reason. It kind of seems like SJM writes okay first books to set the tone for amazing series.
Bar Down by Stef C.R.
emotional
hopeful
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
Very grateful to get to read this ARC after loving The Love Penalty last year! I love interconnected stand alones, especially when there’s amazing found family like this. In this case, I’m particularly enamored with Ash and Robbie’s friendship. I definitely started to fall in love with Ash in the first book, and I liked getting to know his character more. I found him very relatable. I don’t usually like pet names in romance, but Eli’s Finnish words for Ash were so sweet. And damn if the one bed trope doesn’t hit every time!
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This series is undeniably fun! I appreciated how the world expanded in this installment; I think the series really needed that to not get stale. I still wish Xaden and Violet could just be together and work as a kickass team, rather than the constant push and pull we get in their relationship, but I also understand that tension keeps things moving. Loving to see more of Sawyer and Ridoc in this one! I was a bit more on the fence with this series after Iron Flame, but I’m fully invested now.
Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Bethany Joy Lenz
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
4.5
This is really sticking with me, and I keep thinking about it. I had a vague recollection of hearing about Lenz being really religious or something, but I had no idea to what extent she was indoctrinated into a cult. It was honestly so heartbreaking to read, seeing all that she gave up and lost out on. It was eye opening to read about a cult that is in a lot of ways, a very normal looking church group. You could see how easy it would be for someone to be taken advantage of. I am so glad she got out of this abusive community, and I highly recommend this read.
A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A slightly different spin on the vampire/human love story, where vampires are a relatively new species, so a quest develops to eradicate them altogether. I didn’t quite connect to the FMC all that much and she felt a bit one dimensional, but I liked the softer MMC. As much as I enjoy a tough shadow daddy “who did this to you” trope lol, it was a nice change of pace to read a gentler MMC. I don’t know that this will stick around in my memory forever, but it was fun!
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
This was bizarrely entertaining. McConaughey is such a weird, memorable individual. Lots of crazy stories and funny moments. This memoir absolutely wants to be read in audio format; his narration with all its quirks is a vital part of his storytelling. I appreciated his take on being a romcom actor for so many years. There’s nothing wrong with levity and bringing people a joyful break from reality! I did not appreciate the story where his brother pretends to be disabled to get their dog in a fancy resort.
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After three Caraval books, I finally get to read this series! I think I already like this better. I also think Garber’s wonderful descriptive imagery works better for me in print rather than audio, so I can let things sink in a bit more as she paints her scenes. She’s very imaginative, and it’s fun to live her in fairy tale worlds. The FMC is slightly annoying but also I relate to her a lot lol. Her unyielding hope is sweet. Not sure why Garber always has to have this sister dynamic though.
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I picked this out literally just because Freddy Carter was a narrator, and that turned out to be my favorite part of the experience. I’m having trouble with attention and comprehension in audiobooks lately, but that’s not the book’s fault. I appreciate that we had some true enemies to lovers with high stakes. I could have used more world building. It felt very Six of Crows coded (no surprise there), which is a very large shadow to be in. Kind of just makes me want to reread SoC!
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Eh this was fine, just not much to write home about. I’ll probably still continue with the series because I’ve heard great things about further Shadowhunter books, but I wasn’t especially captivated by this book. I do NOT understand why we’re continuing with a certain romance storyline (iykyk). But there were still interesting parts, like the fairy court. I still think it’s worth getting through some 3 star reads to set the stage for further books.
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
This series is all just an automatic 5 stars for me. I will never tire of Nick and Charlie’s love! It’s so wonderful to watch their character growth over time and see what kind of men they’re growing up to be. Being a part of their journey is healing to my inner teenage self! I watched season 3 of the show right after reading this, and it’s amazing how closely they have stayed to the text. Both the books and the show are absolutely brilliant, and any hype you’re hearing is 100% deserved.