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tangerinegem's reviews
18 reviews
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
3.5
If you’re looking for a swoony romance, this is not that. It is a very true to life romance that did a great job of encompassing all the ups and downs of falling in love. It’s not all roses and ridinf off into the sunset. There are anxieties about one thing or another, there are logistical concerns about living arrangement and jobs, and sometimes it involves overcoming deep-seated fears.
This book was very cleverly written and I loved the parts in the beginning that were basically a look into the background of an SNL style show. The middle got a little long winded for me, but also still felt like fun banter.
A fair warning, the second half of this book all takes place during peak pandemic time. It is not something that I could have read probably even two years ago without being triggered in some sort of way, but it felt distant enough for me now. We’re all different, so if reading about COVID and the different effects it had on the world, and people is a sensitive subject for you, I would recommend skipping this book.
Otherwise, this was a solid romance and I enjoyed it :)
This book was very cleverly written and I loved the parts in the beginning that were basically a look into the background of an SNL style show. The middle got a little long winded for me, but also still felt like fun banter.
A fair warning, the second half of this book all takes place during peak pandemic time. It is not something that I could have read probably even two years ago without being triggered in some sort of way, but it felt distant enough for me now. We’re all different, so if reading about COVID and the different effects it had on the world, and people is a sensitive subject for you, I would recommend skipping this book.
Otherwise, this was a solid romance and I enjoyed it :)
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Started as 5⭐️, then realized as I was writing this review that I had some qualms! 🙃
This was a very sweet coming of age romance with some gut wrenching elements to it. I was invested the whole time, but there were just a couple of things that made it not the perfect read for me.
The whole book you are waiting and wondering what the big thing is that was keeping them apart, and after you find out what it is, it’s like all the tension instantly dissipates. Am I wrong for not wanting it to be wrapped up in a perfect tidy bow at the end? Maybe. This is a romance, so that is definitely what is expected. But I have read other romances that have handled difficult subject matter and didn’t just sweep it under the rug at the end.
*Spoiler Below!*
I also LOVED Elliot for the first 80% of the book, but got the ick at the way he was acting towards the end of the book? Particularly at his brother’s wedding when Macy just needed a minute to gather her thoughts and he just walked away and started downing champagne like that was a huge problem? And I’m sorry but I just completely didn’t buy his excuse for sleeping with the other girl. What do you MEAN you thought it was Macy? Drunk is drunk, but that just felt so far fetched to me.
Still loved the book! I think everything leading up to the ending was so well written and evoked such sweet imagery, I just didn’t LOVE the way it ended.
This was a very sweet coming of age romance with some gut wrenching elements to it. I was invested the whole time, but there were just a couple of things that made it not the perfect read for me.
The whole book you are waiting and wondering what the big thing is that was keeping them apart, and after you find out what it is, it’s like all the tension instantly dissipates. Am I wrong for not wanting it to be wrapped up in a perfect tidy bow at the end? Maybe. This is a romance, so that is definitely what is expected. But I have read other romances that have handled difficult subject matter and didn’t just sweep it under the rug at the end.
*Spoiler Below!*
I also LOVED Elliot for the first 80% of the book, but got the ick at the way he was acting towards the end of the book? Particularly at his brother’s wedding when Macy just needed a minute to gather her thoughts and he just walked away and started downing champagne like that was a huge problem? And I’m sorry but I just completely didn’t buy his excuse for sleeping with the other girl. What do you MEAN you thought it was Macy? Drunk is drunk, but that just felt so far fetched to me.
Still loved the book! I think everything leading up to the ending was so well written and evoked such sweet imagery, I just didn’t LOVE the way it ended.
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
What a good book for a people pleaser like me who has a tendency to try to manage other people’s emotions.
The Let Them Theory seemed so simple that I wasn’t sure how she could fill up a whole book with things to say about it, but each chapter provided a new perspective and application for different areas of life.
I particularly appreciated the chapters on making friends as an adult, loving difficult people, and dealing with someone else’s emotional reactions.
This book felt conversational and was so easy to read and digest. I think time spent in these pages would be time well spent for anyone.
The Let Them Theory seemed so simple that I wasn’t sure how she could fill up a whole book with things to say about it, but each chapter provided a new perspective and application for different areas of life.
I particularly appreciated the chapters on making friends as an adult, loving difficult people, and dealing with someone else’s emotional reactions.
This book felt conversational and was so easy to read and digest. I think time spent in these pages would be time well spent for anyone.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
I think I will be thinking about this book for the rest of my life. It was as brutal as the Alaskan winter but as beautiful as the Alaskan summer, which are both things I knew nothing about until I read this book.
I cared so much about Leni and Cora. I felt like they were real people that I know. I just wanted them to be ok. I kept hoping that each struggle they faced would be their last and it never was. 😢
This book is definitely about struggle. Although it is a work of fiction, it feels so true to life in that humans are capable of overcoming (or at least getting through) extreme hardship and loss. We are capable of coming out on the other side stronger. And often times there are really good things on the other side of struggles, although there is still grief and pain.
Kristin Hannah’s writing style is so balanced. She moves the plot forward, describes the setting and the characters thoughts and feelings at the perfect pace. I’ve never been a historical fiction girlie, but for her? I think I am.
I cared so much about Leni and Cora. I felt like they were real people that I know. I just wanted them to be ok. I kept hoping that each struggle they faced would be their last and it never was. 😢
This book is definitely about struggle. Although it is a work of fiction, it feels so true to life in that humans are capable of overcoming (or at least getting through) extreme hardship and loss. We are capable of coming out on the other side stronger. And often times there are really good things on the other side of struggles, although there is still grief and pain.
Kristin Hannah’s writing style is so balanced. She moves the plot forward, describes the setting and the characters thoughts and feelings at the perfect pace. I’ve never been a historical fiction girlie, but for her? I think I am.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Still Life by Louise Penny
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a fun little audiobook to listen to while doing chores around the house. Small village murder mystery with fun characters
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
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
This book is everything I’ve been wanting in a Sarah J Maas book! Even though it was long af, the pacing and the action was so much better than most of the others. It was such a satisfying book to read. So many questions were answered and connections were made. It left me eager for what’s to come, and also made me want to revisit some of the older books.
Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My favorite so far! I loved getting Celaena’s backstory! It made a lot of the moments from the first two books more meaningful and it really built the anticipation for what could happen next in the rest of the series.
How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent
dark
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.0
I read this book so you don’t have to. Great concept, terrible execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Blood
Minor: Eating disorder
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
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