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theblushbookworm's reviews
647 reviews
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
dark
tense
medium-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
4.0
I did not see the ending of this one coming. “Hostage” is full of suspense and scared me more than many thrillers do, probably because of the horror of a hijacking event. I liked getting the perspective of passengers in addition to Adam and Mina’s chapters.
The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
The strong main character of Ffion Morgan and the intriguing setting of North Wales were what stood out to me about “The Last Party”. I loved that there were so many characters with interconnected stories the author was weaving as I read. I also loved the class tensions and the tensions between the English and Welsh being highlighted. The main plot twist was shocking and well-executed in my opinion. I really enjoyed this one!
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
dark
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
4.0
This was really well-written and really horrifying. Part of me would’ve preferred the same story as a historical fiction, but I do think the bodily horror and supernatural elements emphasized the point of the horror of how we treated unwed mothers. The found family of the girls at Wellwood House was my favorite part. A weird, witchy, informative read.
Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed reading this, but a big part of the plot ruined the romance and the experience for me. Nick and Sawyer were both unlikable at times, and their actions bothered me. I will say despite a certain trope I felt relaxed reading this and loved the New York City lore.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just absolutely adore this series! I loved getting a look at the world beyond Basgiath and Navarre. The political dealings were really fun to keep up with and had me on my toes. The romance is as wonderful as ever, and there’s less miscommunication than in “Iron Flame”, which I know will be a relief for some readers though I’m not one of them. I love the whole cast of characters, and I would read anything set around Violet and Xaden!
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I did enjoy this book, but it felt rushed at times, and I was much more interested in the contemporary story of Mallory than Hannah’s historical one. On the plus side I think I could have read a whole book on Mallory, Monk Adams, and what happened on Winthrop Island. I was happy to revisit the island, which I’ve read before in “The Summer Wives”. Their relationship really intrigued me. On the other hand, Hannah’s time in Cairo was less interesting to me. I didn’t really connect to her relationship with Lucien Beck, and I wanted more out of her story. I also think I lost out on some more development of Mallory’s story in the pages dedicated to Hannah, which left me a little disappointed. It’s still a good read, but one of those for me where you’re flipping the pages ready to be back on the perspective you’re interested in.
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
challenging
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
4.0
“By Any Other Name” is so well-researched and thought-provoking. I really think it’s worth a read if you have any interest in the works of Shakespeare or should I say Emilia Bassano? The story is told in from two perspectives in two timelines: Emilia Bassano, a writer whose works are credited to Shakespeare, and her playwright descendant, Melina. I could have read a whole book from either perspective, but the dual perspectives build on each other beautifully. I loved exploring the themes of who gets credit for our stories, how our words live on, and how marginalization plays into all of this. Emilia Bassano as a character and historical figure is rich for analysis, and I became absolutely enamored with Picoult’s characterization of her. I did find the book dense and a little hard to pick up at times, but it’s absolutely worth the read.
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
dark
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
4.0
“Middle of the Night” has many good plot twists, and I was consistently curious to know what happened to Billy Barringer. There is a paranormal element, which I didn’t foresee because it wasn’t advertised to me. This isn’t normally to my taste, but it was subdued enough I didn’t mind it. I liked the main character, Ethan Marsh, and I thought the cul-de-sac setting fit the story well. The flashbacks to the day Billy went missing told from different character’s perspectives was my favorite part. A whole lot happens in that one day. Overall a very solid thriller.
Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I didn’t know much about “Tell Me Lies” before starting the audiobook besides the fact it had been adapted into a popular TV series. The synopsis was pretty vague, and with what I had to go on I expected it to be a lot more engaging. In reality I didn’t find it engaging at all, and it almost functioned as background noise. The story follows a toxic relationship, and I feel like 90% of the most important plot points happen at the end. I will say I can see why some people might like this. I think coming of age stories focused on relationship drama don’t often work for me, and that combined with a writing style I found less than engaging resulted in a mediocre reading experience.
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’d seen mixed reviews of this one, and I landed on it being okay but not engaging enough to make me want to read the sequel. I can see why people like it. The plot is pretty interesting and Hunger Games reminiscent. I also think Kai and Paedyn’s chemistry would probably work for some, though it fell pretty flat for me. My biggest problem was that the plot felt underdeveloped. I often felt like the dialogue and events were missing that je ne sais quoi that makes YA fantasy fun to read.