tayloranne's reviews
405 reviews

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I think this is a book that should be taught in English classes. I can't believe I've never read it before. It's very well written, and I think Anderson did a great job of getting in the head of a teenage girl who is clearly very depressed and struggling with an incredibly difficult thing that happened to her. I hated her parents, and of course her "friends", but mostly her parents. Which means they were well written, in my opinion, and honestly pretty realistic. I loved how Melinda gained the courage to speak through her art, and the writing on the bathroom wall. She knew what happened to her, and she knew it was not her fault but she could really allow herself to realize that and sink into that knowledge when she saw the stories and words that others added about IT in the bathroom. Seeing that she was not alone, that others felt the same way about A.E. gave her courage.
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

While I love Bryce and Hunt and the entire crew of crescent city, and this book was good, it just didn't hit the same as books one and two. I often picked up my phone while reading because I was kind of bored, or I would read just a few pages at a time because it wasn't very fast paced. I think it could be nice to shorten the books too - there are always so many characters and sometimes I wish they just had their own books set at the same time. But it was a good read and a great ending to the story!

I don't think enough was resolved and what was resolved was done in such a poor way. Ithan was annoying and felt pretty unimportant to the story - ESPECIALLY the entire Sigrid plot point. I get it, she is an alpha blah blah blah but he was much too focused on her when the WORLD WAS AT STAKE.  Sathia just disappeared which is fine I guess, but that left Tharion pretty unresolved. 
WHY WAS THE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN RUHN AND RHYS NEVER MENTIONED like even when looking at Rhys Bryce didn't even think for a second how fucking weird it made her feel??? The whole "won't mind read without your consent" thing was such garbage too.
 

I was just disappointed with all the filler and the way it stacks up against the other two. Hunt and Bryce weren't even as exciting as they were in the other books. Where was the banter? 

Where were the stakes????
Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

As someone who has dedicated years to studying classics and getting a degree in the area of study, this was a fantastic read. Haynes is a great writer, passing the knowledge in a way that anyone can understand and learn about these amazing ancient women. I could happily reread this every year.
The Long Game by Elena Armas

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Bored. Didn't care much for the characters and didn't care what happened to them or how the book was going to continue.
Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren

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emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

While I liked the book, it doesn't compare to Mia's story in my opinion. None of them really do, but I wasn't very invested in these characters specifically. I did like that we got to see a redemption arc for a character we knew of but hadn't had the chance to meet before this book, that was well done and I really liked seeing him change throughout.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

I loved this book and the commentary on humans through Marcellus the octopus. He makes great observations despite how sad his life was in his four walls of glass.
Dark Wild Night by Christina Lauren

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

4.0

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

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emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

That's Not My Name by Megan Lally

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dark 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

Great book, but nothing life changing. I liked the characters and how the story progressed, and the little details that eventually added up to the eventual twist a thriller warrants.
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

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emotional inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The most academic one so far from Hazelwood!