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theblushbookworm's reviews
642 reviews
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.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
hopeful
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
5.0
Emily Henry’s writing just sucks me in from the get go. Nobody does romance the way she does, and “Funny Story” is a great addition to her collection. Fake dating is probably my favorite trope, and I loved her take on it with Daphne and Miles. Their chemistry is adorable and their banter is everything you’d expect from an Emily Henry book (excellent!). Their struggles with their families of origin and how that’s shaped them added depth to their story, and I loved reading about Daphne’s journey to find who she is outside of her relationships. The small town Michigan setting was lovely, and I’d love to visit Waning Bay if it were real. The found family Daphne finds there is another highlight of this book for me. A perfect book to close out 2024 with.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
These characters elicited strong emotions from me. They made me contemplative, happy, and frequently mad. The Padavano sisters and William Walters don’t make perfect choices. They are messy, and their lives are complicated, and if you’re anything like me, their choices will have you putting the book down in frustration. But their choices are frustrating in a positive way because they illustrate the messiness of family and love. These characters go through a lot, and they put the reader through a lot, making them in my opinion very worth reading.
Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This had what I expected from a holiday romance novella, but it lacked the depth and plot development to make me invested. I also wasn’t a fan of the dialogue, particularly Luke’s dialogue, and cringed at the spicier scenes. I came in with low expectations, leaving this at 3 stars.
Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
lighthearted
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
4.0
For a novella, “Cruel Winter with You” managed to convey yearning beautifully. I love the childhood crush trope, and thought Marc was an adorable MMC. Jamie also had depth to her story with her people pleasing and fear of abandonment due to her parents. I’m guessing this will be my favorite novella in the collection because I adore Ali Hazelwood.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
funny
mysterious
fast-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
4.5
“The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” has the recipe for the ideal Christmas romcom for me. It’s fun and festive, it has a strong romance with lots of flirty banter and chemistry, it’s a book about writers, and it has a well done mystery subplot. Ethan and Maggie live out every reader’s dream as they become embroiled in the plot of their favorite writer at her fabulous home in England in the UK. They had some of the best chemistry I’ve read in a romance all year. I loved how the author added depth with the recurring theme of women being gaslit and the mental gymnastics that leads to. Far and away the best Christmas romance I’ve read!