mj_almquist's reviews
279 reviews

Animal Farm by George Orwell

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dark informative reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Must read. Especially today. 
Finale by Stephanie Garber

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adventurous emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I'm go glad that I read this series. The world of Caraval is one of my favorite worlds I've read recently. I loved the magical feeling I got when I read. 

The Tella and Scarlett are just not my favorite main characters. I loved Jacks, Dante and Julian much more than the sisters we were following. I do think throughout the series I was able to appreciate them more, but they still aren't highly loved for me. 

I wasn't a huge fan of the progression of the ending of the book. It felt rushed to me. The ended itself I enjoyed, but I was still left wanting more from the series. 
Legendary by Stephanie Garber

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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? No

4.0

Took me a little bit to get into this one because I was not a big Tella fan after the end of Caraval, but by 50% I was enjoying this book more than the first. I feel like I really got to see more of characters and feel them on a more complex level. Immediately started the third book after finishing this one.
The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker

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funny 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

Middle of the road romance book. Cute and funny with the movie plot line. Nothing special but still enjoyable.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber

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adventurous dark funny 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? It's complicated

3.5

I really liked the plot of this book and the overall atmosphere that is Caraval, however I struggled the love the characters. It was hard for me to figure out what the rate this because I was so conflicted between wanted to know what would happen next and know all of the the mystery and magic while also not feeling super connected to the characters not caring what happened to them. 
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I expected more from this book. I was truly hoping for a 5 star after the ending of Divine Rivals. I felt like the beginning was too slow and that some scenes in the beginning felt too long. 

I also feel like Forest and Sarah's deaths would have hit more if they were more involved in the plot. I would have loved to see more of their romance, like Attie and Tobias's romance. 
And a small thing that bothers me is that they didn't say who the new chancellor is. I'm ASSUMING its Keegan, but because it doesn't explicitly say I was slightly annoyed. 
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

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adventurous emotional funny 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

4.5

This book was dragging me out of a slump so hard and dragged me back to enjoying reading again. 

I have so many quotes saved from this book that made me feel things after not feeling so great about reading. 

Because I was in a slump I deeply struggled to get into the book in the beginning. I felt like it was taking me longer to understand the world and be immersed, which is why this isn't a 5 stars for me. Despite that I seriously did enjoyed this book and the last 100-150ish pages had me not wanting to put the book down.   
A Partridge and a Pregnancy by Willa Nash

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I think this would have been my favorite book in the series if there wasn't two issues I had with it. First it was kinda lusty. I was loving the second chance romance trope where the main couple knew each other and could feel seen with each other, which again I loved. But, there was extreme lust also happening which gave me a icky feeling. The other thing I didn't like was how they were handling the pregnancy for majority of the book, and it was annoying me how silly they were being. 
Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brother's Best Friend by Willa Nash

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funny lighthearted 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

3.0

Quick, seasonal read. I liked the first book more than this one.
The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny by Willa Nash

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funny lighthearted 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

3.25

Fun Christmas read. Super Fast.