sebrittainclark's reviews
1858 reviews

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

5.0

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo

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hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Vitrine is a demon with a city. Until that city is burned to ground by angels. Vitrine must grieve and eventually rebuild her city, while dealing with the presence of the angel she cursed.

It's a book about grieving and rebuilding. It's beautiful and strange, but I really enjoyed it. 

I thought the narrator did a wonderful job bringing Vitrine's voice to life.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

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inspiring medium-paced

5.0

A Quiet Life in the Country by T.E. Kinsey

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mysterious relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2024 by Bill McKibben, Jaime Green

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informative slow-paced

3.0

This collection of science and nature writing covered a number of topics, with a particular focus on writing about climate change this year. The standouts for me were City of Glass by Ben Goldfarb, How Do I Make Sense of My Mother's Decision to Die? by Lindsay Ryan, Talk to Me by Elizabeth Kolbert, and Buried Under the Ice by Sarah Kaplan.

Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for an early copy.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

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lighthearted 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

4.0

The Prince of Christmas, Cole, is in trouble that for once he didn't cause: his dad has decided he's getting married to Iris, the Princess of Easter while pretending to be in a competition for her hand with Hex, the Prince of Halloween. 

The holiday royalty's politics played a much larger role in this book than I originally anticipated, but it was a different twist on a holiday romance that I really enjoyed. I enjoyed the growth both Cole and Hex made to learn to balance what they want with what they're capable of doing for their holiday.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy.
The Dead of Winter: Beware the Krampus and Other Wicked Christmas Creatures by Sarah Clegg

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dark informative fast-paced

4.5

This was an incredibly interesting book about the history of Christmas monsters and ghosts from how they came to become folklore to their ongoing evolution and popularity. This wasn't something I had thought about much before, but I found it so interesting to find out what we know about these stories origins and what the can tell us about how Christmas, and midwinter in general, was celebrated historically in Europe.

Thanks to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for an early copy.
Seas and Greetings by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

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lighthearted fast-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

Snow Place Like LA by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

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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

4.0

Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark

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lighthearted 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

4.0

Liz, Birdie, and Rafi are all returning to their famous mother's home for the holidays. Liz is trying to pitch a new season of her hit show, and avoid her feelings for the star of the show. Birdie is struggling with her stand-up career, her relationships, and her drinking when she meets a local artist. Rafi is turned down after a public proposal and returns home to spend time with his best friend.

I really enjoyed all the characters in this book. I did wish there had been an epilogue, especially for Birdie's ending, but I thought it was an all around great holiday romance.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.