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natreadthat's reviews
389 reviews
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Anothaaaa one. Are we surprised that I continued the binge? All the carnage, love, loss, fight, spirit, and spice were just as good as the first time around. What more do I have to say? ✨🦇
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
My friends told me to read Crescent City. Now I’m telling you that if fantasy is your thing (and maybe even if it’s not), you absolutely *need* to read Crescent City!!!
The notoriously brutal Fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, is assigned to work with half-fae, half-human, Bryce Quinlan to find a murderer running rampant in Crescent City. And…that’s all I’m gonna give you to avoid spoilers and let you experience it fully.
That being said, the world-building that went into this story is insane. The main characters (and the side characters) are lovable af OR you love to hate them. And the action? A detailed, wild ride from start to finish.
It did start out a bit slow and it took me a minute to figure out who’s who and what their role is in society. But after that, I spent the rest of the book on the edge of my seat.
Damn. Damn. Damn. Hats off to #SJM for continuing to have me in her grasp. If you’ve read it, slide into my DMs to hear which part is living absolutely rent free in my head. 🌙
The notoriously brutal Fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, is assigned to work with half-fae, half-human, Bryce Quinlan to find a murderer running rampant in Crescent City. And…that’s all I’m gonna give you to avoid spoilers and let you experience it fully.
That being said, the world-building that went into this story is insane. The main characters (and the side characters) are lovable af OR you love to hate them. And the action? A detailed, wild ride from start to finish.
It did start out a bit slow and it took me a minute to figure out who’s who and what their role is in society. But after that, I spent the rest of the book on the edge of my seat.
Damn. Damn. Damn. Hats off to #SJM for continuing to have me in her grasp. If you’ve read it, slide into my DMs to hear which part is living absolutely rent free in my head. 🌙
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I liked this book just as much as I did the first read.
As Nesta’s beast of a book (all 784 pages of it) shows, recovery is a hard journey. I went from disliking Nesta early in the series to really rooting for her. And trust me, I know the love-hate spectrum with Nesta swings very far in both ways in the bookstagram universe, but I really do love her character. This book, the tension, banter, growth, hate… they really make the story worthwhile. As well as the spice, of course.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism
Recursion by Blake Crouch
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“’That’s my pitch. Can I count you in?’ Helena looked across the table with a razor-blade smile. ‘You can get fucked.’”
False Memory Syndrome has plagued the country. People are nearing insanity as real and false memories cloud their minds. After failing to save a woman unable to decipher between the two, detective Barry Sutton begins searching for the truth. And what he finds is certainly not what he expected.
Helena Smith has dedicated her life to developing a technology that will capture the memories of those, like her beloved mother, suffering from Alzheimer’s. When she receives the unending funding to make it actually possible, it doesn’t go quite as planned.
You don’t get this type of science friction often — a mind-bending look at memory loss and how we might change it. It’s a vortex of good versus evil. And although the ending was a bit redundant and dragged out, the majority of the book was a fast-paced, alternating-POV race against time itself.
False Memory Syndrome has plagued the country. People are nearing insanity as real and false memories cloud their minds. After failing to save a woman unable to decipher between the two, detective Barry Sutton begins searching for the truth. And what he finds is certainly not what he expected.
Helena Smith has dedicated her life to developing a technology that will capture the memories of those, like her beloved mother, suffering from Alzheimer’s. When she receives the unending funding to make it actually possible, it doesn’t go quite as planned.
You don’t get this type of science friction often — a mind-bending look at memory loss and how we might change it. It’s a vortex of good versus evil. And although the ending was a bit redundant and dragged out, the majority of the book was a fast-paced, alternating-POV race against time itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Dementia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Eleanor is wickedly observant, completely unfiltered, and borderline crass. When it comes to being social, Eleanor is not. She stays vehemently true to her routines, has held the same office job for over a decade, and does not maintain friendships. She drinks two bottles of vodka every weekend and, most importantly, she’s completely fine.
When her broken computer forces her to track down the IT guy at work, everything changes. Together they save an old man from a nasty fall, form something akin to a friendship, and slowly but surely pull Eleanor out of the darkness that has consumed her.
Eleanor is quirky and I loved her character, even when her story was hard to read. There’s even a sense of mystery as her past traumas are slowly unwrapped, leaving you guessing until the end.
This is not a Happily Ever After™️, but it will tug at your heart strings.
When her broken computer forces her to track down the IT guy at work, everything changes. Together they save an old man from a nasty fall, form something akin to a friendship, and slowly but surely pull Eleanor out of the darkness that has consumed her.
Eleanor is quirky and I loved her character, even when her story was hard to read. There’s even a sense of mystery as her past traumas are slowly unwrapped, leaving you guessing until the end.
This is not a Happily Ever After™️, but it will tug at your heart strings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Rape
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
I liked this a lot better the second time around. It didn’t pack a punch like the rest of the series is so well known for, but it was still an enjoyable look at the #acotar characters in a more laid-back setting. Quick, easy, and now on to the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Open Book by Jessica Simpson
emotional
slow-paced
2.0
First book club read of the year!
Considering I only read celebrity memoirs when I really like the celebrity and I couldn’t name a Jessica Simpson song if my life depended on it, I was definitely not the intended audience for this book. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising when I couldn’t connect with it at all.
Jessica laid out her life and the struggle of being in the public’s eye through divorce, addiction, weight gain/loss, and fame. To me it felt forced, like Jessica wanted to resonate with the reader, but not really. If you’re a Jessica Simpson fan or grew up listening to her music, this might be the book for you. For me, I finished it for the sake of book club.
Considering I only read celebrity memoirs when I really like the celebrity and I couldn’t name a Jessica Simpson song if my life depended on it, I was definitely not the intended audience for this book. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising when I couldn’t connect with it at all.
Jessica laid out her life and the struggle of being in the public’s eye through divorce, addiction, weight gain/loss, and fame. To me it felt forced, like Jessica wanted to resonate with the reader, but not really. If you’re a Jessica Simpson fan or grew up listening to her music, this might be the book for you. For me, I finished it for the sake of book club.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
I can’t say much without spoiling anything, but damn, read. this. book!
The fact that Jodi and Jennifer wrote it together and it doesn’t feel disjointed whatsoever? Amazing. The fact that it had an incredible twist that knocked me off my feet halfway through? Amazing! The fact that it was thought-provoking, touching, AND educational? You guessed it: amazing.
Go in blind if you can, then let me know when you finish. I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile.
Thankful to my friend for recommending such a killer book. What a great way to start the year! 🍯
The fact that Jodi and Jennifer wrote it together and it doesn’t feel disjointed whatsoever? Amazing. The fact that it had an incredible twist that knocked me off my feet halfway through? Amazing! The fact that it was thought-provoking, touching, AND educational? You guessed it: amazing.
Go in blind if you can, then let me know when you finish. I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile.
Thankful to my friend for recommending such a killer book. What a great way to start the year! 🍯
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying and Medical content
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
There is so much laced into the pages of this beautiful little book—life, love, grief, regret, and what feels like the whole damn world. It made me feel all the feels and I hope it does the same for you. 🥲
Noah and Jude are twins, they’re inseparable. Until they’re not. This is their mesmerizing story.
Noah and Jude are twins, they’re inseparable. Until they’re not. This is their mesmerizing story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
This was a heavy read with mental health, sexual assault, child abuse, and self harm at the forefront of the story. But it was beautiful too.
With online support groups, remote work, deliveries, her cat, jigsaw puzzles, and her best friend regularly popping in, Meredith has no reason to leave the comfort of her home. In fact, she hasn’t crossed the threshold of her front door in over three years. Through an alternating timeline of past and present, we see the abuse Meredith withstood as a child, how she became estranged from her mother and sister as a young adult, and the two friends she makes from the safety of her home in her late thirties. It’s a delicate look at what it takes to work through trauma and finding a path towards recovery.
This is quite the debut novel. And, thankfully, has nothing to do with covid.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary copy. ✨
With online support groups, remote work, deliveries, her cat, jigsaw puzzles, and her best friend regularly popping in, Meredith has no reason to leave the comfort of her home. In fact, she hasn’t crossed the threshold of her front door in over three years. Through an alternating timeline of past and present, we see the abuse Meredith withstood as a child, how she became estranged from her mother and sister as a young adult, and the two friends she makes from the safety of her home in her late thirties. It’s a delicate look at what it takes to work through trauma and finding a path towards recovery.
This is quite the debut novel. And, thankfully, has nothing to do with covid.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary copy. ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent