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randi_jo's reviews
395 reviews
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Honestly I didn't really like this book, but I didn't hate it either. Some parts were really funny and others were just so cringe I had to skip the scene over because it physically hurt. Anyway, Jolene's entire sadgirl reasoning is misleading at the beginning and the revelation is . . . underwhelming. Meh.
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
adventurous
challenging
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
3.5
Space boys solving a space empire's problems and falling in love while they do it. ๐ฏ I love a slow burn romance, though I will say the slowburn on this one is based in misunderstandings from past trauma. TW: DV.
Pros:
โ๏ธ Great plot progression with a believably solved 'mystery'.
โ๏ธ The romance is cute AF and it's sensitive towards things such as healing from DV and grief.
โ๏ธ Interesting political intrigue plots that make sense.
Cons:
โ๏ธ Reads a bit like fanfiction - polished fanfic, but it has the vibe.
โ๏ธ Kidnapping trope my dudes.
Pros:
โ๏ธ Great plot progression with a believably solved 'mystery'.
โ๏ธ The romance is cute AF and it's sensitive towards things such as healing from DV and grief.
โ๏ธ Interesting political intrigue plots that make sense.
Cons:
โ๏ธ Reads a bit like fanfiction - polished fanfic, but it has the vibe.
โ๏ธ Kidnapping trope my dudes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik
adventurous
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
3.75
This one was a fun romance space romp. Definitely genre fiction at heart but it was cute.
Pros
โญ๏ธ Super fun genre fiction that doesn't delve too deep into the harder or gritty side of being ex-military.
โญ๏ธ The romance is cute and there is no 3rd act break up I REPEAT no 3rd act break up!! There are minor miscommunication but it stems from cultural differences and are always solved within 2-3 pages.
Cons
โญ๏ธ The aliens are unabashedly human-esque. In fact, they are basically said to stem from humans or humans came from them blah blah, basically they're humans with mind powers. The native fauna in their planet is more alien than they are LOL. A sad day for the monster fuckers.
Pros
โญ๏ธ Super fun genre fiction that doesn't delve too deep into the harder or gritty side of being ex-military.
โญ๏ธ The romance is cute and there is no 3rd act break up I REPEAT no 3rd act break up!! There are minor miscommunication but it stems from cultural differences and are always solved within 2-3 pages.
Cons
โญ๏ธ The aliens are unabashedly human-esque. In fact, they are basically said to stem from humans or humans came from them blah blah, basically they're humans with mind powers. The native fauna in their planet is more alien than they are LOL. A sad day for the monster fuckers.
Mission: Save the Hunter by Sorim
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.25
Did I blast through this obsessively? Yes. Did I enjoy the hell of of it? Also yes.
Very slow burn romance, but sweet. It's less of a dungeon break novel than it is a social commentary on the obligation of the strong vs the weak and the creation of a world where kindness begets kindness.
Very slow burn romance, but sweet. It's less of a dungeon break novel than it is a social commentary on the obligation of the strong vs the weak and the creation of a world where kindness begets kindness.
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
adventurous
lighthearted
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
Hello I loved this book so much I read the near 400 pages in a day and a half. The world building, magic system, characters, and the slow burn romance are all so on point that I just could not put it down at all.
Pros
๐ชถ I love slow burn romances and this one was so great because none of it relied on miscommunication - they do communicate, just in a very explosive way lol.
๐ชถ World building and magic system is so thoroughly thought out and presented so well that I had zero issues with immersion.
Cons
๐ชถ Book 2 isn't out yet and that is a TRAGEDY.
Pros
๐ชถ I love slow burn romances and this one was so great because none of it relied on miscommunication - they do communicate, just in a very explosive way lol.
๐ชถ World building and magic system is so thoroughly thought out and presented so well that I had zero issues with immersion.
Cons
๐ชถ Book 2 isn't out yet and that is a TRAGEDY.
Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
Haunted Space Titanic? Yes please. I was absolutely invested in this story from beginning to end.
Pros
๐ช Great horror use. Ghosts, hallucinations, madness - all portrayed concisely and emotionally.
๐ช So atmospheric, it's easy to imagine yourself in the vastness of space, the derelict ship, I loved it.
๐ช MC is both strong and flawed. She feels like a real person.
Cons
๐ช Not the cosmic horror I was expecting, but it was still great.
๐ช I only wished for a bit more in the epilogue but that's just because I'm nosey and like more than simple bowtie endings.
Pros
๐ช Great horror use. Ghosts, hallucinations, madness - all portrayed concisely and emotionally.
๐ช So atmospheric, it's easy to imagine yourself in the vastness of space, the derelict ship, I loved it.
๐ช MC is both strong and flawed. She feels like a real person.
Cons
๐ช Not the cosmic horror I was expecting, but it was still great.
๐ช I only wished for a bit more in the epilogue but that's just because I'm nosey and like more than simple bowtie endings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Shakespeare's Kitchen: Renaissance Recipes for the Contemporary Cook by Tim Turner, Francine Segan, Patrick O'Connell
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I did not expect to find myself amused by tidbits about Elizabethian food culture in a cookbook. I also now have more context to some lines and general information on Shakespeare's plays that are basically food culture related. Still, found some interesting recipes that I plan to try soon.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
I found this to be a very great book that helps women find ways to empower themselves, women in their community, and examine the culture that keeps women and other 'outcast' groups low. In the end I think it was about 100 pages too long for me, many of the topics hardly tangent to the topic in question (and then the topics I wanted more of were really lacking i.e. recognizing our parts in raising privileged and emotionally stunted men). She also has a very specific language she chooses to use for basic things like intuition (Knowing), meditation, and other things.
What I'm saying is Glennon should probably start a cult. She's already halfway there.
What I'm saying is Glennon should probably start a cult. She's already halfway there.
Honey by Isabel Banta
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.75
I dunno how I feel knowing that early the 2000s pop scene and boy/girl band era is historical fiction, but boy did this book really take me back to being a preteen in all the best and worst ways lmfao. It really did capture what it was like to be a teen coming into their sexuality and self in a time when women were built-up to be sexy then slandered for it, and pit against one another for simply existing. โ๏ธ
Pros:
๐ฟ Coming of age but also coming into one's sexuality themes. Amber's insecurities were so painfully relatable at times. Her adamant refusal to take responsibility for others' perception of her was great.
๐ฟ Extremely nostalgic media representation of musical artists in the early aughts. Down to the Seventeen Magazine quizzes omg.
๐ฟ Happy Ever After romance towards the end, which was nice and left it on such a wholesome note. Loved that.
Cons:
๐ฟ Sometimes it was a little TOO on the nose. If you've read other female celeb memoirs that cover this decade: i.e. Paris the Memoir by Paris Hilton, Woman in Me by Britney Spears, even Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson, you've already read this book. It doesn't add much, if anything, to the conversation.
๐ฟ Not a con but a Content Warning forabortion .
Pros:
๐ฟ Coming of age but also coming into one's sexuality themes. Amber's insecurities were so painfully relatable at times. Her adamant refusal to take responsibility for others' perception of her was great.
๐ฟ Extremely nostalgic media representation of musical artists in the early aughts. Down to the Seventeen Magazine quizzes omg.
๐ฟ Happy Ever After romance towards the end, which was nice and left it on such a wholesome note. Loved that.
Cons:
๐ฟ Sometimes it was a little TOO on the nose. If you've read other female celeb memoirs that cover this decade: i.e. Paris the Memoir by Paris Hilton, Woman in Me by Britney Spears, even Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson, you've already read this book. It doesn't add much, if anything, to the conversation.
๐ฟ Not a con but a Content Warning for
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abortion
A Tale of Whispers and Rogues by Jordan Lee
adventurous
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
I think the best way to describe this book is slow. Slow world building, slow plot progression, slow burn romance. If none of that is appealing to you, then I would skip over this one haha. It was definitely a lot of "on the run" -- okay so like 95% of the book is just them walking and camping out and sometimes running across ne'er-do-wells.
Pros:
๐ Great character development.
๐Believable slow burn romance.
๐ Interesting world-lore and magic system.
Cons:
๐Little plot progression until the last 10%.
๐ Really an almost 500 page camping excursion.
๐ Bros have so many close calls that it takes the suspense out of it by like, 60%.
Pros:
๐ Great character development.
๐Believable slow burn romance.
๐ Interesting world-lore and magic system.
Cons:
๐Little plot progression until the last 10%.
๐ Really an almost 500 page camping excursion.
๐ Bros have so many close calls that it takes the suspense out of it by like, 60%.