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440 reviews
Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This one just did not do it for me. The dialogue was stilted, the plot/mystery was simultaneously overcomplicated and too simple, the characters shifted from mad at each other to flirting in a single sentence…I felt like I could just not get into it.
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Okay, I really enjoyed the first book in this series but this one was a no go.
I can see how the plot is interesting, but it just had too many of my least favorite things to want to recommend it (seemingly real hate between main characters, a “first time” happening under the influence, and then kidnapping/threat of rape), just very much not my thing.
I can see how the plot is interesting, but it just had too many of my least favorite things to want to recommend it (seemingly real hate between main characters, a “first time” happening under the influence, and then kidnapping/threat of rape), just very much not my thing.
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
(I don’t star rate memoirs!)
I’ve read this one before when I was younger and less likely to be annoyed by Bourdain’s schtick. There’s a lot to be annoyed about in this, but there’s also a lot that is just beautiful writing.
His chapter about a day in the life at Les Halles is spectacular and the moments when he’s talking about himself and his experience hit beautifully in comparison to when he focuses on others.
If you haven’t read this before, read it. It’s clearly written by a guy with opinions that aren’t always right and will likely annoy you, but I appreciate that he knows it. It’s odd to reread it after his death, but I’ll always love that books keep someone alive.
I’ve read this one before when I was younger and less likely to be annoyed by Bourdain’s schtick. There’s a lot to be annoyed about in this, but there’s also a lot that is just beautiful writing.
His chapter about a day in the life at Les Halles is spectacular and the moments when he’s talking about himself and his experience hit beautifully in comparison to when he focuses on others.
If you haven’t read this before, read it. It’s clearly written by a guy with opinions that aren’t always right and will likely annoy you, but I appreciate that he knows it. It’s odd to reread it after his death, but I’ll always love that books keep someone alive.
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
I’ll admit that this is probably my least favorite of Fortune’s books but it’s kind of like having a least favorite kind of cake…ultimately it’s still cake.
Fortune has such an incredible way of building characters and they always feel so real and fully fleshed out, no matter how much time on the page they get. I love that she focused on a couple in their 30s and their history was real and hard but never felt insurmountable or like it was being treated as more dramatic than it was.
An absolutely perfect book to be my last read of the summer!
Fortune has such an incredible way of building characters and they always feel so real and fully fleshed out, no matter how much time on the page they get. I love that she focused on a couple in their 30s and their history was real and hard but never felt insurmountable or like it was being treated as more dramatic than it was.
An absolutely perfect book to be my last read of the summer!
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I just really like Janice Hallett.
There seems to be no time where I figure out the full mystery before she explains things and, with this one, I genuinely found myself getting anxious around the events. As a book lover, it was absolutely fascinating seeing a research process that I'm sure was similar to what Hallett did herself to write this book so it felt really meta in a great way.
I did find myself a little lost amongst the slew of characters and I do think some could have been cut out without hitting the plot too much. All in all, the mystery was fascinating and intriguing and a little anxiety-inducing and I would highly recommend this one as much as I'd recommend all of Hallett's others!
There seems to be no time where I figure out the full mystery before she explains things and, with this one, I genuinely found myself getting anxious around the events. As a book lover, it was absolutely fascinating seeing a research process that I'm sure was similar to what Hallett did herself to write this book so it felt really meta in a great way.
I did find myself a little lost amongst the slew of characters and I do think some could have been cut out without hitting the plot too much. All in all, the mystery was fascinating and intriguing and a little anxiety-inducing and I would highly recommend this one as much as I'd recommend all of Hallett's others!
Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A lovely kickoff to a new-to-me series! I love the friendship being built among the wallflowers and, while I found myself hovering around a 3 star for most of the book, from the proposal to the end it picked up quite a bit. Simon and Annabelle were the lovely kind of enemies to lovers where they aren’t even enemies at all, she just thinks they are. All in all, I just thought it was delightful.
I also loved how Kleypas tossed in discussions around class and what sort of divide it causes for people.
I also loved how Kleypas tossed in discussions around class and what sort of divide it causes for people.
The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh by Claudia Gray
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
4.5
Absolutely delightful as always! I continue to love every edition to this series and genuinely can’t wait for the next one.
This one didn’t quite hit 5 stars because I found it quite slow going at points that had me putting it down and not always wanting to pick it back up. That said, by about 70% of the way through I wanted to ignore everything and fly through it.
The whole series continues to be a must-read!
This one didn’t quite hit 5 stars because I found it quite slow going at points that had me putting it down and not always wanting to pick it back up. That said, by about 70% of the way through I wanted to ignore everything and fly through it.
The whole series continues to be a must-read!
Beyond Getting By: The Financial Diet's Guide to Abundant and Intentional Living by Holly Trantham
4.0
Wear It Well by Allison Bornstein
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
(I’m still on the fence about giving nonfiction books a star rating so I’m just gonna skip over that box for now.)
I loved Bornstein’s surprisingly in-depth look at defining your own style. She does an incredible job of pairing the more spiritual/strategic aspects of style with the tactical step-by-steps and I put the book down feeling fully inspired to invest in what I wear (both in time and money as needed).
While I sat down and read this pretty much in one go, I think it would probably work best to go part by part and do the cleaning and shopping as applicable, but reading all in one go works, too!
I loved Bornstein’s surprisingly in-depth look at defining your own style. She does an incredible job of pairing the more spiritual/strategic aspects of style with the tactical step-by-steps and I put the book down feeling fully inspired to invest in what I wear (both in time and money as needed).
While I sat down and read this pretty much in one go, I think it would probably work best to go part by part and do the cleaning and shopping as applicable, but reading all in one go works, too!
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
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
4.5
Wow wow wow - what a dang book! Kuang does an incredible job of building a relationships between Grant and Helen that feels so unbelievably real; the tension was incredible, the trauma is well worth the concern it causes them and the love is so honest (even when it really isn’t).
Romances sometimes make mountains out of mole hills in order to keep characters apart, but the risks and worries and fears were so understandable and legit in this one, so be aware of some real things going on including a lot of discussion of suicide.
I didn’t love the ending, hence the 4 1/2 stars, but otherwise this book was damn near perfection and I cannot wait to read more from Kuang.
Romances sometimes make mountains out of mole hills in order to keep characters apart, but the risks and worries and fears were so understandable and legit in this one, so be aware of some real things going on including a lot of discussion of suicide.
I didn’t love the ending, hence the 4 1/2 stars, but otherwise this book was damn near perfection and I cannot wait to read more from Kuang.