oceanwriter's reviews
719 reviews

Dreamover by Dani Diaz

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It's the beginning of summer vacation and before the start of high school. Amber, Nico, and their friends have a strong friend group, but when Amber and Nico confess their feelings for one another, they notice a new distance between them and their friends. First love has the young couple oblivious to those around them and it takes a shared dream for them to realize their part in the rift. Their dream also provides a sounding board for their relationship. High school has made the already shy Nico even quieter, making him wonder why someone as upbeat as Amber would be interested aside from the fact they grew up together.

This was a sweet story accompanied by nice illustrations, especially during the dream sequence. I do wish there had been a deeper look at especially Nico's character in particular as there is a lot of vagueness around him. We don't see too much of Amber and Nico's connection until the dream. That said, this might not be as big of an issue for the younger readers this book is geared toward.

Thanks to IDW Publishing | Top Shelf Productions and NetGalley for providing a free digital ACR of the book! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Saboteur of Auschwitz: The Inspiring True Story of a British Soldier Held Prisoner in Auschwitz by Colin Rushton

Go to review page

dark informative sad medium-paced

3.5

Arthur Dodd was taken prisoner and sent to Auschwitz in 1942. Not willing to die at the hands of the Nazis, he begins sabotaging and orchestrating a mass breakout. 
 
I appreciated the story and the courage, however I struggled with the style in which it was told. Being told more like a novel, I feel like I didn’t retain the facts as much as I would have liked. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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? Yes

3.0

It’s been a while since a prologue gripped me as much as the beginning of Husbands & Lovers. 10/10 hook for sure. Had this book solely followed the modern storyline I think this could have been a five-star read. 
 
After a summer camp incident involving a poisonous mushroom, Mallory’s son Sam is in need of a new kidney. With no matches in her immediate family, the obvious choice could potentially be Sam’s father — someone Mallory has spent the last decade trying to forget. 
 
This historical portion of the book is set in the 1950s, centering on Hannah, a Hungarian refugee living in Cairo torn between two men, one of them the father of her baby. 
 
Though the two storylines do of course tie together, Hannah’s portion had little significance in the long run. It was a separate story next to Mallory and Monk’s story which was far more fleshed out. I struggled through the historical timeline, especially given Mallory has a number of flashbacks into the past. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Book of Purrs by Luís Coelho

Go to review page

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Such a cute and lighthearted read! I especially loved it because many of the illustrations reminded me of my little black kitten both in looks and personality. A great pick-me-up kind of book, especially if you're a cat lover.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a free digital ARC of the book to read and leave my honest review.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Pink Panther Movie Storybook by Emma Harrison

Go to review page

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

4.0

I went down a rabbit hole of nostalgia with the Steve Martin Pink Panther movies over the summer. I definitely owned and probably read this book as a kid and I’d completely forgotten about it until stumbling across it on eBay. So fun going down memory lane! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Inseparable by E.B. Roshan

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Inseparable is the sixth and final installment in the Shards of Sevia series. I have read two other books in the series (Wrong Place, Right Time and For Better and Worse) and can confirm that the books can be read as a standalone. However, I would recommend reading the first book Wrong Place, Right Time first for the most context although it is not necessary. 
 
This book is very family-oriented, focusing on Dunya, Rado, and their adopted son Mosin. When they discover that Mosin’s grandparents are alive, the couple is faced with a difficult decision. This leads to doubts and questions about their relationship.
 
As has been the backdrop throughout the series, there is an emphasis on war as well as maintaining faith in God when things are falling apart. This was portrayed exceptionally through Dunya and Rado. 
 
I’m sad to hear that this is the last book in the series, but I am glad that I still have three others to go back and read. I look forward to seeing whatever E.B. Roshan creates next! 
 
A huge thanks to the author for reaching out and sending me a free digital ARC to read and leave my honest review! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
I'm Getting Married to Mothman by Paige Lavoie

Go to review page

adventurous funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

It’s wedding time! This is the third and final book in the Mothman in Love series and it’s a doozy. A notable difference this time around is the addition of Moth’s POV. 
 
Heather’s bachelorette party takes a turn when she’s kidnapped by a vampire king (Magnus) who has taken an interest in her. He intends to marry her and will seemingly stop at nothing. It’s up to Moth (with the help of friends and family) to rescue his flame. 
 
This book has a wildly different feel than the first two books. Although I absolutely loved the addition of Moth’s narration, I wasn’t super into the plot. A 'me' issue for sure as I’m more into magical realism if I pick up the fantasy genre (which was prominent in the first book, less so in the second) rather than full-on fantasy. I still enjoyed visiting with these characters again. I was also happy to see more involvement with the side characters as well. (Makes me wonder if there will be a spin-off series in the future?) 
 
A huge thanks to the author and 4 Horsemen Publications for providing me with a digital ARC through Booksprout! I am leaving my honest review voluntarily. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Breath by Tim Winton

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.
Accidentally read some spoilers but ultimately glad I did. I do not want to read about an
explicit adult/minor relationship.
From what I understand if the ending
getting 125 pages in was not worth my time if the explanation is what I’m gathering it is.
Just… why. Bummed because I was really enjoying to book and the surfing. And does no one else
find it disturbing that Loonie is peeping on his dad with a woman????
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Go to review page

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

5.0

I almost didn’t pick up this book because typically I can take or leave romcoms. Just for the Summer was nominated for The Global Book Nook’s group read at the beginning of the summer and I only picked it up in the last day or two of that month because I was waiting for a library hold to come through. Three or four chapters in, I ditched the library book and purchased my own copy because there was no way I wasn’t going to pour my emotions into the pages. 
 
What begins as a comical ploy to break a ‘curse’ when their internet presence and sorry dating records align, Emma and Justin agree to date for a little while, check some boxes, and then break up so they can move on to meet their soul mates. It seems foolproof, at least in the beginning. If nothing else, a bit of fun and a story to laugh about later. What they didn’t anticipate were genuine feelings. This wouldn’t be as much of a problem if not for Justin’s life being uprooted by a family emergency. Emma, too, finds herself dealing with family drama as well. 
 
Even a couple of months later as I’m finally writing my review, I still cannot believe how much I fell in love with this book. I only wish I had picked up one of Abby Jimenez’s books sooner! I felt so connected to both Emma and Justin despite not sharing the same life circumstances as them. Before even finishing the book, I shared it with one of my best friends because I knew she would love it as well (and she did). 
 
I’m so looking forward to backtracking in the series and (hopefully) reliving these emotions all over again. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission That Flew Us to the Moon by Charles Fishman

Go to review page

adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Out of all of the space race books I’ve read, this one has been the most unique. It offers a look beyond the general facts that have become prevalent in the media/the typical narrative of the story. 
 
One Giant Leap is a play-by-play look at the Apollo program politically, logistically, and scientifically. It’s less focused on the science that propelled the rocket to the moon, rather the human side. What was the driving force behind President Kennedy’s ‘We choose to go to the moon’ speech? 
 
I almost wish I’d taken notes or purchased a physical copy of the book to tab along the way. I found it thought-provoking and it makes me want to research some of the topics further. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings