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shellballenger's reviews
496 reviews
Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Doyle
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
2.25
Type of read: Lunch/Weekend Read.
What made me pick it up: There is something about Doyle Melton that speaks to me. I've read a few of their books before and felt incredibly seen and I was searching for something to help pull me out of a bit of a funk. Something that gave me the feeling of not being alone and of being able to conquer the craziness and ineptness I was feeling inside.
Overall rating: Let's start with the obvious - this is not a book. I mean it is, but it's not one stream of consciousness. You're not getting nearly 400 pages of plot, story, and characters that all make sense and fit nicely into a neat little box. You're getting Glennon. Chaotic. Messy. Honest. Unwavering. Glennon. If that is not what you're looking for, you will 100% be disappointed in 'Carry On, Warrior.' If you're looking for something that has shorter glimpses into a life that might resemble yours (all or just at times), something that makes you feel less alone, something that makes you <i> feel </i>. That's 'Carry on, Warrior.'I enjoyed 'Carry on, Warrior' and will always recommend Doyle Melton for a real take on life, with the caveat that it's more of a conversation than a storyline. You're still getting a book full of someone's personal experience...while the intent may be to be helpful and inspiring to their readers, at its core, this book is all about the author.
"The only meaningful thing we can offer one another is love. Not advice, not questions about our choices, not suggestions for the future, just love."
Reader's Note: 'Carry on, Warrior' has mentions of drug and alcohol use, eating disorders (specifically bulimia - including descriptions of the author's past binging and purging process), infidelity, and spirituality, focusing on the authors own relationship with Christianity and how that shapes their life.
What made me pick it up: There is something about Doyle Melton that speaks to me. I've read a few of their books before and felt incredibly seen and I was searching for something to help pull me out of a bit of a funk. Something that gave me the feeling of not being alone and of being able to conquer the craziness and ineptness I was feeling inside.
Overall rating: Let's start with the obvious - this is not a book. I mean it is, but it's not one stream of consciousness. You're not getting nearly 400 pages of plot, story, and characters that all make sense and fit nicely into a neat little box. You're getting Glennon. Chaotic. Messy. Honest. Unwavering. Glennon. If that is not what you're looking for, you will 100% be disappointed in 'Carry On, Warrior.' If you're looking for something that has shorter glimpses into a life that might resemble yours (all or just at times), something that makes you feel less alone, something that makes you <i> feel </i>. That's 'Carry on, Warrior.'I enjoyed 'Carry on, Warrior' and will always recommend Doyle Melton for a real take on life, with the caveat that it's more of a conversation than a storyline. You're still getting a book full of someone's personal experience...while the intent may be to be helpful and inspiring to their readers, at its core, this book is all about the author.
"The only meaningful thing we can offer one another is love. Not advice, not questions about our choices, not suggestions for the future, just love."
Reader's Note: 'Carry on, Warrior' has mentions of drug and alcohol use, eating disorders (specifically bulimia - including descriptions of the author's past binging and purging process), infidelity, and spirituality, focusing on the authors own relationship with Christianity and how that shapes their life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Infidelity
The Waste Lands by Stephen King
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Type of read: Commuter Read.
What made me pick it up: Stephen King is a regular on my TBR and it's always been a goal of mine to read The Dark Tower series in completion.
Overall rating: I very much appreciate that each book in the series has had a bit of a recap at the beginning. It's nice to get the refresher and be in the right mindset as you dive back into the world of Roland. 'The Waste Lands' is a trip. You get to dive more into the character development of Jake and Eddie, specifically, I feel like we get an idea of who Eddie is as an individual and how he and his experiences are important to the weary band of travelers that has become a broken but strong gunslinger family. We also learn more about our world's interconnectedness and how Ka comes into play. Here's the thing I love about King, he makes you think. You will literally read a page that will be the most bonkers dialogue and scene building, turn the page, and sit there and be like 'huh, yeah, I guess that does make sense, but what if the lobstrositites....' and legitimately think that it's normal and sane. I do think there's quite a bit of filler in 'The Waste Lands' but it's necessary filler to get to that next step in the story. Definitely not mad and definitely looking forward to the next adventure in the next book.
Reader's Note: If you're familiar with King's writing, 'The Waste Lands' is very much in his normal vein of vulgarity. I read this as a paperback that I owned and my extended reading time is an indication of my overzealousness with library books and battling return due dates, not my interest in the story.
What made me pick it up: Stephen King is a regular on my TBR and it's always been a goal of mine to read The Dark Tower series in completion.
Overall rating: I very much appreciate that each book in the series has had a bit of a recap at the beginning. It's nice to get the refresher and be in the right mindset as you dive back into the world of Roland. 'The Waste Lands' is a trip. You get to dive more into the character development of Jake and Eddie, specifically, I feel like we get an idea of who Eddie is as an individual and how he and his experiences are important to the weary band of travelers that has become a broken but strong gunslinger family. We also learn more about our world's interconnectedness and how Ka comes into play. Here's the thing I love about King, he makes you think. You will literally read a page that will be the most bonkers dialogue and scene building, turn the page, and sit there and be like 'huh, yeah, I guess that does make sense, but what if the lobstrositites....' and legitimately think that it's normal and sane. I do think there's quite a bit of filler in 'The Waste Lands' but it's necessary filler to get to that next step in the story. Definitely not mad and definitely looking forward to the next adventure in the next book.
Reader's Note: If you're familiar with King's writing, 'The Waste Lands' is very much in his normal vein of vulgarity. I read this as a paperback that I owned and my extended reading time is an indication of my overzealousness with library books and battling return due dates, not my interest in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Type of read: Commuter read.
What made me pick it up: I don't even remember how I stumbled upon 'Dirty Laundry.' I think I was looking at a list of top-rated or new debut books from AAPI authors.
Overall rating: I'm going to be honest, I don't understand what Bose was trying to accomplish. 'Dirty Laundry' felt unfinished, jumbled, and very simplistic with the writing. There were certain parts of the book where it just didn't make sense what the characters were saying. I feel like Bose fell into the issue many emerging writers find themselves in - telling us every single action, word, and feeling instead of writing in a way that makes us as readers feel the emotion and actions of the characters. I hate being told what the characters are doing, I want to experience what the characters are doing. On top of that, there's a lot of timeline jumping, character perspective jumping, and just plain mushiness when we start looking at who is who and what they mean to the storyline. I didn't hate 'Dirty Laundry' but it wasn't one of the more enjoyable books I've read lately. At this point, I wouldn't recommend it, but I wouldn't be opposed to trying something from Bose in the future after they have had a chance to find themselves a bit more as a writer.
Reader's Note: For any audiobook readers, if you have issues with noises, specifically mouth noises and the clicks, smacks, and breaths that can often come with audio recordings, there are portions of this book (at least in the version I read narrated by Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan) that are incredibly triggering. I nearly DNF'ed about a third of the way through because the tiny soft smacks drove me up a wall. It does get better as the book goes on, but definitely something to be aware of if you're reading this in audio. It's also quite bad near the last 60 minutes of the audio recording.
What made me pick it up: I don't even remember how I stumbled upon 'Dirty Laundry.' I think I was looking at a list of top-rated or new debut books from AAPI authors.
Overall rating: I'm going to be honest, I don't understand what Bose was trying to accomplish. 'Dirty Laundry' felt unfinished, jumbled, and very simplistic with the writing. There were certain parts of the book where it just didn't make sense what the characters were saying. I feel like Bose fell into the issue many emerging writers find themselves in - telling us every single action, word, and feeling instead of writing in a way that makes us as readers feel the emotion and actions of the characters. I hate being told what the characters are doing, I want to experience what the characters are doing. On top of that, there's a lot of timeline jumping, character perspective jumping, and just plain mushiness when we start looking at who is who and what they mean to the storyline. I didn't hate 'Dirty Laundry' but it wasn't one of the more enjoyable books I've read lately. At this point, I wouldn't recommend it, but I wouldn't be opposed to trying something from Bose in the future after they have had a chance to find themselves a bit more as a writer.
Reader's Note: For any audiobook readers, if you have issues with noises, specifically mouth noises and the clicks, smacks, and breaths that can often come with audio recordings, there are portions of this book (at least in the version I read narrated by Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan) that are incredibly triggering. I nearly DNF'ed about a third of the way through because the tiny soft smacks drove me up a wall. It does get better as the book goes on, but definitely something to be aware of if you're reading this in audio. It's also quite bad near the last 60 minutes of the audio recording.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Suicide
Kaleidoscope by Cecily Wong
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Type of read: Commuter read.
What made me pick it up: I think the cover and title initially caught my attention and then the description truly sucked me in.
Overall rating: There is something eerie and beautifully poetic about 'Kaleidoscope' that sucks you in. I enjoyed the thought that was clearly put into Kaleidoscope. A group of people all coming back from tragedy in their own way. Finding what makes them human and whole again. There were some portions of the book that felt a bit forced or superficial and as an audio reader, some of the POV changes were slightly confusing and it took me a minute to process that we were changing perspective. Although this usually happened at the section breaks, it still took me a bit to pivot. But overall, I'm happy I had a chance to read 'Kaleidoscope' and I do think I would recommend it to the right audience. The rawness and detail of some of the scenes would make me cautious of who I openly suggested the book to.
Reader's Note: 'Kaleidoscope' includes detailed descriptions of a medication abortion taking place and what the individual having the procedure and their support system saw, felt, and experienced during that procedure. There are also themes of death, death of a child, and grief.
What made me pick it up: I think the cover and title initially caught my attention and then the description truly sucked me in.
Overall rating: There is something eerie and beautifully poetic about 'Kaleidoscope' that sucks you in. I enjoyed the thought that was clearly put into Kaleidoscope. A group of people all coming back from tragedy in their own way. Finding what makes them human and whole again. There were some portions of the book that felt a bit forced or superficial and as an audio reader, some of the POV changes were slightly confusing and it took me a minute to process that we were changing perspective. Although this usually happened at the section breaks, it still took me a bit to pivot. But overall, I'm happy I had a chance to read 'Kaleidoscope' and I do think I would recommend it to the right audience. The rawness and detail of some of the scenes would make me cautious of who I openly suggested the book to.
Reader's Note: 'Kaleidoscope' includes detailed descriptions of a medication abortion taking place and what the individual having the procedure and their support system saw, felt, and experienced during that procedure. There are also themes of death, death of a child, and grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Type of read: Commuter Read.
What made me pick it up: One of the Tennessee R.E.A.D.s prompts for June is to read a book by or about an artist. 'The Goldfinch' has been on my TBR for a while and it was finally available at my local library and seemed to be the right time.
Overall rating: DNF @ 35%
Holy buckets, let's get this out of the way first, 'The Goldfinch' is a honker of a book. I'm talking lead weight, unnecessarily overpacked, TMI, engorged honker. I always get so torn with books like this because it's not my style. I'm not a slow-paced book girly. I wanted to get into the action, and having Tartt so dutifully explain every intricate detail had me almost DNFing nearly every five minutes. To be honest, I kept waiting for 'The Goldfinch' to get better, but it just didn't and I didn't feel like I wanted to keep slogging through the mundanity of Theo's life. I made it to 35% and we still hadn't made it over a year past the incident. To me, there was truly nothing brilliant or enthralling about 'The Goldfinch,' there was however boredom and wishes for Tartt to simply get to the point.
Reader's Note: 'The Goldfinch' includes themes of domestic terrorism, death, abandonment, drug and alcohol use - including use by minors, and child abuse.
What made me pick it up: One of the Tennessee R.E.A.D.s prompts for June is to read a book by or about an artist. 'The Goldfinch' has been on my TBR for a while and it was finally available at my local library and seemed to be the right time.
Overall rating: DNF @ 35%
Holy buckets, let's get this out of the way first, 'The Goldfinch' is a honker of a book. I'm talking lead weight, unnecessarily overpacked, TMI, engorged honker. I always get so torn with books like this because it's not my style. I'm not a slow-paced book girly. I wanted to get into the action, and having Tartt so dutifully explain every intricate detail had me almost DNFing nearly every five minutes. To be honest, I kept waiting for 'The Goldfinch' to get better, but it just didn't and I didn't feel like I wanted to keep slogging through the mundanity of Theo's life. I made it to 35% and we still hadn't made it over a year past the incident. To me, there was truly nothing brilliant or enthralling about 'The Goldfinch,' there was however boredom and wishes for Tartt to simply get to the point.
Reader's Note: 'The Goldfinch' includes themes of domestic terrorism, death, abandonment, drug and alcohol use - including use by minors, and child abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Type of read: Commuter Read.
What made me pick it up: BookTok made me do it.
Overall rating: Comically horrible. I don't understand what Huang was trying to accomplish with 'Twisted Love.' There's so much going on and so little actual substance.
If you're looking for...
-A man who has a taste for vengeance.
-A woman with a messed up past who sees everything through rose-colored glasses.
- Dead families.
-An uncle with a thick, Eastern European accent.
-A best friend who is a princess.
-A stalker ex-boyfriend.
-Suppressed memories and a broken family.
- Paternity gone wrong.
-One of the weakest enemies to lovers I've ever read.
-Random swimming lessons.
-A mysterious man who has all of the connections, funds, and intelligence - oh yeah, and he's had it since he was a preteen when he created his company and just willy-nilly handed it over to his uncle (yeah, that one with the accent) for safe keeping until he "came of age."
-Tax evasion and corporate fraud.
-Spicy scenes you're supposed to believe are not vanilla. Alex has absolutely nothing on the Bat Boys - I would go so far as to say the scene in ACOFAS is spicier, or at least much more awkward to read than anything Alex and Ava do.
-A MMC with highly superior autobiographical memory aka REMEMBERS EVERYTHING and a FMC that doesn't remember anything from her childhood.
-Not-so-secret martial arts skills.
...then be my guest and waste a few days of your life with 'Twisted Love.' It's binge-able, mainly because it's so comically bad. It feels like Huang took all of the ideas they ever had for a book and put it into this single storyline, not caring if it actually made sense or just possibly sounded the teeny tiniest bit cool.
Reader's Note: 'Twisted Love' includes themes of sex, death, torture, attempted murder, drowning, kidnapping, stalking, and illegal activity.
What made me pick it up: BookTok made me do it.
Overall rating: Comically horrible. I don't understand what Huang was trying to accomplish with 'Twisted Love.' There's so much going on and so little actual substance.
If you're looking for...
-A man who has a taste for vengeance.
-A woman with a messed up past who sees everything through rose-colored glasses.
-
-An uncle with a thick, Eastern European accent.
-A best friend
-A
-Suppressed memories and a broken family.
-
-One of the weakest enemies to lovers I've ever read.
-Random swimming lessons.
-A mysterious man who has all of the connections, funds, and intelligence -
-
-Spicy scenes you're supposed to believe are not vanilla.
-A MMC with highly superior autobiographical memory aka REMEMBERS EVERYTHING and a FMC that doesn't remember anything from her childhood.
-Not-so-secret martial arts skills.
...then be my guest and waste a few days of your life with 'Twisted Love.' It's binge-able, mainly because it's so comically bad. It feels like Huang took all of the ideas they ever had for a book and put it into this single storyline, not caring if it actually made sense or just possibly sounded the teeny tiniest bit cool.
Reader's Note: 'Twisted Love' includes themes of sex, death, torture, attempted murder, drowning, kidnapping, stalking, and illegal activity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
dark
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.25
Type of read: Commuter Read.
What made me pick it up: I stumbled across the Black Dagger Brotherhood in early 2024 with Darius (Book 0) and I got sucked into this crazy, cracked-out world of sexy, throwback feeling, world of vampires fighting something more evil than themselves.
Overall rating: I love that we get a look into Zsadist and what makes him the vampire he is. I feel like Ward did a good job going back and forth from the present-day storyline to the past storyline with Zsadist's time as a blood slave and how that shaped who he is and how he's approaching the journey with Bella. I also enjoyed seeing more character development of John and how he's coping with this new version of his life with the Brotherhood (and how he'll fit in as the series continues). I do think this is probably one of the darker, more serious books so far in the series. It explores Zsadist's history and self-hatred, including graphic depictions of what was done to him as a blood slave. So be prepared for a bit of heaviness and self-loathing, especially when it comes to Zsadist and Bella finding their sexual chemistry and acting upon it . Honestly, there was a lot going on in 'Lover Awakened.' We meet quite a few new characters - including Rehvenge, there's a lesser regime change , we learn more about the vampire traditions and customs, and just overall start to see more of the interconnectedness of the world Ward is building for the Brotherhood.
I know I've said it before in previous reviews for this series, but I feel like I just have to say it again, this is just a good escape read. You don't have to think too much about it, you don't have to try and keep things straight (Ward does a great job dropping little reminders at the beginning of each book and throughout so you keep the characters and their traits straight), and you can just dive into a (slightly dated) world of sexy vampire warriors. I'm here for it.
What made me pick it up: I stumbled across the Black Dagger Brotherhood in early 2024 with Darius (Book 0) and I got sucked into this crazy, cracked-out world of sexy, throwback feeling, world of vampires fighting something more evil than themselves.
Overall rating: I love that we get a look into Zsadist and what makes him the vampire he is. I feel like Ward did a good job going back and forth from the present-day storyline to the past storyline with Zsadist's time as a blood slave and how that shaped who he is and how he's approaching the journey with Bella. I also enjoyed seeing more character development of John and how he's coping with this new version of his life with the Brotherhood (and how he'll fit in as the series continues). I do think this is probably one of the darker, more serious books so far in the series. It explores Zsadist's history and self-hatred, including graphic depictions of what was done to him as a blood slave. So be prepared for a bit of heaviness and self-loathing,
I know I've said it before in previous reviews for this series, but I feel like I just have to say it again, this is just a good escape read. You don't have to think too much about it, you don't have to try and keep things straight (Ward does a great job dropping little reminders at the beginning of each book and throughout so you keep the characters and their traits straight), and you can just dive into a (slightly dated) world of sexy vampire warriors. I'm here for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Book Love by Debbie Tung
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Type of read: Commuter Read.
What made me pick it up: I read Tung's book, 'Everything is OK,' as part of one of the TN R.E.A.D.s prompts and I saw 'Book Love' during my search. As a fellow bibliophile, it seemed like a must-read. :)
Overall rating: "But above all, I read to escape from the real world." Yup, that. That right there. That's why I liked this book. 'Book Love' perfectly describes, in both words and illustrations, what it feels like to be a book lover. Such a simple, beautiful book on how escaping into the world between pages brings so many emotions and adventures. I especially liked the pages with 'some amazing books.' That was a fun way to see some of the books Tung enjoys.
What made me pick it up: I read Tung's book, 'Everything is OK,' as part of one of the TN R.E.A.D.s prompts and I saw 'Book Love' during my search. As a fellow bibliophile, it seemed like a must-read. :)
Overall rating: "But above all, I read to escape from the real world." Yup, that. That right there. That's why I liked this book. 'Book Love' perfectly describes, in both words and illustrations, what it feels like to be a book lover. Such a simple, beautiful book on how escaping into the world between pages brings so many emotions and adventures. I especially liked the pages with 'some amazing books.' That was a fun way to see some of the books Tung enjoys.
Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
What made me pick it up: One of the Tennessee R.E.A.D.s prompts for June is to read a comic book, manga, or graphic novel. There was just something about 'Everything is OK' that I was drawn to and it was a nice change from the pace and content of the other books I'm currently reading.
Overall rating: 'Everything is OK' was a beautiful read. The illustrations and the words are simple but perfect. If you ever needed something to not feel so alone in this big wide world of ours, especially if you're feeling alone with thoughts of existential dread, 'Everything is OK' is a great recalibration.
Reader's Note: 'Everything Is OK' talks about anxiety, depression, mental health stigmas, and includes mentions of suicide and eating disorders.
Overall rating: 'Everything is OK' was a beautiful read. The illustrations and the words are simple but perfect. If you ever needed something to not feel so alone in this big wide world of ours, especially if you're feeling alone with thoughts of existential dread, 'Everything is OK' is a great recalibration.
Reader's Note: 'Everything Is OK' talks about anxiety, depression, mental health stigmas, and includes mentions of suicide and eating disorders.
Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Type of read: Lunch/Weekend Read.
What made me pick it up: I have zero self-control and my friend finished 'Storm and Fury' and let me borrow their copy. I only had four other books going, so it seemed logical. 😆
Overall rating: I had no huge expectations going into 'Storm and Fury.' I had heard some about Armentrout through BookTok and how their books were a must-read for those who enjoy romantasy. Here's the thing, I think I kept comparing 'Storm and Fury' to The Revelation Series and how that series represented gargoyles/wardens. I also feel like Armentrout needed to take one thing out of the book. I don't know what it would be, but it's just a lot with wardens, angels, demons, spirits, ghosts, humans, clans, magic powers, shifting forms, FMC vision loss/character flaws, and all that. Some parts of 'Storm and Fury' come off as a cross between character development and author word vomit that needs a swift kick with a red pen. Am I mad I read it? No. Would I 100% recommend it? Also no. But if you're looking for a perfect lunch read with an overall alright story and simple but enjoyable characters, 'Storm and Fury' is a good option.
Reader's Note: There are mentions and brief experiences of sexual assault (FMC kicks his ass afterward) as well as bloody depictions of violence and aggression. I did have an extended reading time as I went on a weeklong trip and didn't want to travel internationally with one of my friend's books.
What made me pick it up: I have zero self-control and my friend finished 'Storm and Fury' and let me borrow their copy. I only had four other books going, so it seemed logical. 😆
Overall rating: I had no huge expectations going into 'Storm and Fury.' I had heard some about Armentrout through BookTok and how their books were a must-read for those who enjoy romantasy. Here's the thing, I think I kept comparing 'Storm and Fury' to The Revelation Series and how that series represented gargoyles/wardens. I also feel like Armentrout needed to take one thing out of the book. I don't know what it would be, but it's just a lot with wardens, angels, demons, spirits, ghosts, humans, clans, magic powers, shifting forms, FMC vision loss/character flaws, and all that. Some parts of 'Storm and Fury' come off as a cross between character development and author word vomit that needs a swift kick with a red pen. Am I mad I read it? No. Would I 100% recommend it? Also no. But if you're looking for a perfect lunch read with an overall alright story and simple but enjoyable characters, 'Storm and Fury' is a good option.
Reader's Note: There are mentions and brief experiences of sexual assault