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mmrohbock's reviews
738 reviews
Flirting With Disaster by Naina Kumar
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4ā
PG-13š¶ļø
If you wish Sweet Home Alabama changed out the Civil War reenactments for a hurricane, this is the book for you. Through all the chaos of surviving a storm and rediscovering love despite a few plot points that felt a bit naive, Naina creates a sweet and hopeful romance that shows how her books continue to get better and better.
PG-13š¶ļø
If you wish Sweet Home Alabama changed out the Civil War reenactments for a hurricane, this is the book for you. Through all the chaos of surviving a storm and rediscovering love despite a few plot points that felt a bit naive, Naina creates a sweet and hopeful romance that shows how her books continue to get better and better.
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
3.5ā
I fear this was far too lit fic-y for me to enjoy. With a narrative that wandered rather than created a clear path, I was left with a book that felt like it had no conclusion and had not added some amazing alien observation of human life. I think this book would have been more impactful if Tony had actually been the one sending the alien superior faxes š
I fear this was far too lit fic-y for me to enjoy. With a narrative that wandered rather than created a clear path, I was left with a book that felt like it had no conclusion and had not added some amazing alien observation of human life. I think this book would have been more impactful if Tony had actually been the one sending the alien superior faxes š
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.75
5ā
What a saga!! I was seated, hands inside the car for this roller coaster ride of a book from beginning to end. This book was so rich in its storytelling from the characters to the mystery to the history of living in colonial Maine. I was viscerally angry at the villains while always rooting for the wonderful Martha. If you love Claire Fraser in her colonial doctor era but want a murder mystery too, you need to pick up this book and maybe get a copy for your mom too.
What a saga!! I was seated, hands inside the car for this roller coaster ride of a book from beginning to end. This book was so rich in its storytelling from the characters to the mystery to the history of living in colonial Maine. I was viscerally angry at the villains while always rooting for the wonderful Martha. If you love Claire Fraser in her colonial doctor era but want a murder mystery too, you need to pick up this book and maybe get a copy for your mom too.
Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
4.25ā
PG-13 š¶ļø
Marriage in crisis novels are my catnip and my spouse and I really like hiking... Obviously I was going to enjoy this book! Sarah and Win's best friendship is what has truly stolen my heart though.
PG-13 š¶ļø
Marriage in crisis novels are my catnip and my spouse and I really like hiking... Obviously I was going to enjoy this book! Sarah and Win's best friendship is what has truly stolen my heart though.
Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World by Chris Lowney
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
4ā
While probably not a book I'd recommend to many, this was a good blend of history, religion and leadership skills that I enjoyed and thought had some excellent anecdotes. (And yes this is not my normal read but this was a gift from a work colleague last year and I'm just glad I'll be able to tell them I finally read it next week.)
While probably not a book I'd recommend to many, this was a good blend of history, religion and leadership skills that I enjoyed and thought had some excellent anecdotes. (And yes this is not my normal read but this was a gift from a work colleague last year and I'm just glad I'll be able to tell them I finally read it next week.)
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
4.5ā
Charmaine Wilkerson is unparalleled in her ability to weave stories together. What starts as a story of different timelines and characters comes together in this beautiful blend of family history, a horrible tragedy and bit of mystery trying to figure out how they connect beyond their love of an old jar created by an enslaved man. After starting off slightly slow, I could not put this one down. If you (like me) love the books Homegoing and Black Cake, I think you'll love this one too.
Charmaine Wilkerson is unparalleled in her ability to weave stories together. What starts as a story of different timelines and characters comes together in this beautiful blend of family history, a horrible tragedy and bit of mystery trying to figure out how they connect beyond their love of an old jar created by an enslaved man. After starting off slightly slow, I could not put this one down. If you (like me) love the books Homegoing and Black Cake, I think you'll love this one too.
Hardly Strangers by A.C. Robinson
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75ā
Rš¶ļø
This novella was so Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist coded if Nick and Norah were adults who lived in LA.
And yes I know how niche that makes this review!
Rš¶ļø
This novella was so Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist coded if Nick and Norah were adults who lived in LA.
And yes I know how niche that makes this review!
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
4.5ā
What a fun book 100 for me! This book gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings I love from a good book. A lonely thoughtful traveler finds friendship, helps people, saves her people a little bit and discovers that she doesn't have to be so lonely after all. If you loved the Spellshop but wanted a little bit more conflict (but not too much!), you'll love this one.
What a fun book 100 for me! This book gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings I love from a good book. A lonely thoughtful traveler finds friendship, helps people, saves her people a little bit and discovers that she doesn't have to be so lonely after all. If you loved the Spellshop but wanted a little bit more conflict (but not too much!), you'll love this one.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5ā
No š¶ļø but still feels spicy?!
Ummm I think I'm going to need 3-4 business days to recover from this book and write a good review. This book was EVERYTHING. Figure skating, competition, rivals turned friends, lovers turned enemies, the Olympics, a bit of a throuple and a Wuthering Height's retelling all in the same book!! I couldn't put this down and I couldn't guess where the twists and pirouettes and jumps were headed next.
If you loved Spinning Out on Netflix (or The Cutting Edge) and Daisy Jones and the Six and classical novels, you MUST read this in 2025. It was good. Read it so we can gush over it together.
No š¶ļø but still feels spicy?!
Ummm I think I'm going to need 3-4 business days to recover from this book and write a good review. This book was EVERYTHING. Figure skating, competition, rivals turned friends, lovers turned enemies, the Olympics, a bit of a throuple and a Wuthering Height's retelling all in the same book!! I couldn't put this down and I couldn't guess where the twists and pirouettes and jumps were headed next.
If you loved Spinning Out on Netflix (or The Cutting Edge) and Daisy Jones and the Six and classical novels, you MUST read this in 2025. It was good. Read it so we can gush over it together.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
challenging
emotional
informative
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
4.5
4.5ā on š§
One of the most poetic writers of our time. Also I just love when dads write books that are basically love letters to their kids.
One of the most poetic writers of our time. Also I just love when dads write books that are basically love letters to their kids.