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stellie_c's reviews
160 reviews
I'll Be There for You: The One about Friends by Kelsey Miller
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
This was a fun read! I love "Friends" and it was really great to read about how the show came to be and other fun facts about the show over the years!
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Starling House is a thriller and fantasy story. I am not a fantasy reader, but I thought I'd try it, and I am not a fan. I thought the main character Opal was very whiny and unlikeable. She just complained about everything. I thought the story of Starling House was very confusing. I mean, Opal was getting "gossip" about Elanore from the people of the town, but I think that made it more confusing. I just didn't understand the whole "underworld" thing. This isn't the book for me.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
This book was fantastic! Malibu Rising was beautifully written, a story about multigenerational characters. The Riva family story was about the importance of family and relationships mixed with the drama of a rich and lavish lifestyle. The story had a lot of emotion to it, and it was great reading from the whole families POV. It was also fun to read about the family in the different eras! I loved how TJR had a little connection with the characters to her other books, The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo (I read) and Carrie Sotto (I now have to read). I think TJK is a fantastic storyteller and really knows how to get you to fall in love with her dynamic characters! This is a great book, I definitely recommend it!
Christmas at Hogwarts by J.K. Rowling
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Christmas at Hogwarts was beautifully written and very nostalgic for me. The artwork is amazing. It really depicts JK. Rowlings words. i loved it. It's a great children's story to accompany the philosophers' stone at Christmas time.
Behind a Closed Door by J.D. Barker
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book had me hooked from the start! Abby and Brendan are having some marital issues, so they decide to go to couples therapy. The therapist suggested downloading an app called "Sugar and Spice" kind of like truth or dare for adults. The app starts out fun, getting them to move out of their comfort zone and connect. Then it gets wild when it asks them to murder someone! Not to mention, bad things happen if you don't follow the rules! This was a crazy ride, very fun and fast-paced. I really enjoyed it! It shows us how dependant are on our apps and social media and how they end up controlling us!
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
I was fully invested in this book! Bright Young Women is true crime fiction retelling of Ted Bundy, but starlights on the female victims of his violent crimes. This book was very emotional, it's about sisterhood, love, determination and tragedy. I loved the Dual POVs and timelines. I loved how you grew with Pamela, and you really feel her struggles dealing with the tragedy in her sorority house and how she overcomes it. Ruth was also a strong character that I enjoyed hearing about her growth and accomplishments. I loved how Knoll ties together all the characters in the story, even throughout the multiple timelines. I really felt for all the victims by the end of the book. What a great read!
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was very excited to read this book as it has been on my TBR list for a while. The story follows Naomi, a Mexican socialite, in the 1950s. She travels to the countryside to rescue her cousin from her new English family, and they are kind of creepy. I was interested in the beginning, reading about High Place, a seemingly haunted mansion, and the isolating family. There were a lot of dark imagery and creepy descriptions as you tried to find out what the family secrets were. The book was a suspense and horror genre, with some supernatural elements. I'm not really fond of supernatural elements in my novels, so I guess that's why I wasn't that interested in the story by the end! I did like how strong of a character Naomi was, so that was plus.
The Resort by Sara Ochs
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The epilogue perfection! The beginning of the story was a bit slow and confusing as 5 a lott of characters introduced, as well as the story being told by two characters, Cass and Brooke, in alternating chapters. However, once I got into the plot, I found it very interesting, and I was hooked until the end. There was much more to this story than expected, and the twist at the end was mindâblowing! I really didn't see it coming! It was very well written, and all the deceit between the characters was well planned out.
The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
It is a very heartwarming story about a child's love for a stuffed toy! I loved Jacks adventures through the land of the lost, and he tried to save his stuffed Pig. It was very entertaining! The beginning when you learn about Jack and DPs relationship, and how his bond with his toy gets him through very difficult times. It pulls at your heartstrings. I think we have all had a favourite toy that we have loved so much. JK Rowling has quiet the imagination! Her detailed description of the different cities in the land of the lost was perfect! Great read! I can see this being a story read every year with my kids!
The Vacation by John Marrs
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I listened to the 2015 version and read the new 2021 published book! John Marrs is one hell of a storyteller. The way he weaves together all the different characters' lives and how they intersect at the hostel. It was really fun comparing both versions of the story. I could see where he cut out some extra bits and then added a different ending for one of the characters, which i thought was great because I felt it was great closure. I love how twisted most of Marrs characters can be, and you don't realize until you are halfway through the book! Really good read. It was a little slow at the beginning, but the twists were worth the wait. Marrs always manages to get me to say "wtf" out loud as I'm reading lmao