smillas_tales's reviews
412 reviews

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was everything I didn’t know I needed, and I loved everything about it! More than anything, I adored all of the characters, and I loved getting to know them.

While the book does have an overarching plot, it’s structured as a series of vignettes, each showing just a glimpse into the lives of the crew aboard the Wayfarer! The story structure worked so well, and I loved how Chambers uses each of these moments to explore both ethical questions and a number of important societal issues. The way she explores these themes by drawing parallels between the stereotypes about and cultural differences between various alien species is just brilliant!

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

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informative fast-paced

Even though this book was written two decades ago, it remains a great and very easily digestible introduction to the history of scientific discoveries! It is short, and therefore uncomprehensive, but it covers many major discoveries across many fields of science, including physics, chemistry, geology, cosmology, genealogy, and biology.

My only (but quite significant) gripe with this book is that it mostly, if not exclusively, covers scientific discoveries made by white Europeans and Americans.

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This was a super fun reimagining of The Holiday, and a great Christmas-time read with wonderful queer representation, but it didn’t quite blow me away.

To me, both of the two romantic plotlines felt rushed and under-developed, as there just wasn’t enough time given to each couple. I’ve seen other reviews describe it as a slow burn romance, and I don’t agree. The book takes place over just a few weeks, and I didn’t feel that I got to see what any of the characters actually liked about each other, other than physical attraction. To me, that doesn’t come close to slow-burn, no matter how late into the books the main couples get together.

While the romance itself left me a little disappointed, it was still a sweet read, and I loved all of the Christmas-joy, so I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a quick lighthearted holiday romance!

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

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mysterious tense fast-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

3.5

This was a fun YA mystery with a dual timeline, and while I enjoyed the parallels between the two mysteries, I didn’t think either of the two plots were quite well developed enough. Because of the many characters introduced, it was difficult to properly get a grasp on any of them or their motivations, except for the main character Marlowe, and because of this, some of the twists and reveals fell a little flat.
That being said, I thought the writing was excellent, and I loved how distinct and humorous Marlowe’s voice was. It reads like she’s telling the story back to the reader, and it made the reading experience so much more fun!

Set the Record Straight by Hannah Bonam-Young

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hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? No

2.5

This was a super cute and very lighthearted holiday romance with a bit of spice! I wish there’d been a bit more build-up to the romance, and I felt that the fake-dating element could have been used to add a bit more tension and excitement to the story, but overall it was an enjoyable and quick read!

I also found that Evan’s autism was portrayed really well, and I appreciated that it was incorporated without being used as a plot device for creating conflict!

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

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dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I read this through audio, and I feel that I’d have to read it physically to properly rate and review it. I loved how interconnected the lives of the many protagonists were, but with only one narrator for so many POVs it became difficult to keep track of the individual characters and it greatly influenced my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

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tense medium-paced