waytoomanybooks's reviews
140 reviews

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

It's books like this that make it evermore apparent that an American "education" is incomplete at best. I didn't know 95% of the events Satrapi described, yet she presented her story in great detail, but in a way that was easy to follow and understand. She is a wonderful storyteller and provides rich details. And her artwork is both simple and evocative. I really enjoyed this graphic novel collection!
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The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

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emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

This is the first romance novel I've ever read, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! I completely understand why it got the praise and hype that it did!
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Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed the unique format of the novel, and each character had a distinct voice and point of view. It really felt like an actual documentary transcript, which I thought wouldn't  come across well, but it was very well-done! It has good flow and pacing. The story kind of stalls out towards the middle and into the end, but then again, so does the band. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

I recommend this book to anyone who loves documentaries, classic rock, celebrity-style tell-alls, strong female characters, and sensitive male characters.
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The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

A harrowing tale with many twists and turns, which keeps you interested and guessing. I was glued to the story up until the last third. I wasn't thrilled with the ending.
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The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.0

Harrow writes beautiful prose and excellently nails the desperate longing for something more that every young  woman feels growing up in a world full of adults who make it their mission to squash their spirits. January, Ade, and Jane are brave and strong in the face of prejudice and heartache, and I can't help but sympathize with them on a rather personal level.

The concept of looking for an escape, a way out, a Door is deeply relatable. There is nothing more appealing to me than a door. Especially when that door is old, secluded, or has a special Something that has drawn me to it. I find it difficult to resist the urge to try to open every door I pass, and then I am left wondering what was behind it, even years after I've passed it by. It was so cathartic to see a character who is just like me in that regard, always asking questions and looking for answers.

If there was anything I'd say against it, it's that descriptions of events, people, places, etc. trailed on for too long until it felt as though I was reading a list of adjectives. She's also quite fond of the words "oil," "greasy," "shush," and "bronze." And the ending was rather abrupt.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. And it hits a lot of bullet points in my reading wheelhouse: female MC, historical settings, time travel, magical realism, secret doors/passages, and women on journies.
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How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing 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

3.0

If you're looking for a cozy read where everyone gets a happily ever after, then this is the book for you. The stakes within it are low, and everyone gets what they set out for. I love the idea of a bookstore being the heart and soul of a community. The concept alone gives me the warm fuzzies.

However...

I'm not a fan of the fact that every single main character ends up with another main character; it comes across as forced and unnecessary. I don't like the idea that happy ending = everyone ends up in a hetero marriage. I liked the first 75% of the book a lot more than the last 25%. It's not a bad book; it just has a sloppy, rushed end.
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The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love a good myth retelling, especially when a voice is given to a woman who has been denied a voice. Margaret Atwood has always been good at giving voices to just such women. This was an emotional read. My heart goes out to Penelope. It's so easy to forget she suffered at home, alone, when you read about Odysseus traveling the world and having adventures. It's unfair to her, and this book reminds you of that and makes you feel what she felt. My only wish is that she had gotten a happy ending after all she went through.
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I Hope This Finds You Well: Poems by Kate Baer

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emotional reflective fast-paced

2.5

It wasn't a ground-breaking or provocative collection, but it was thoughtful and had heart behind it. I  loved Kate Baer’s first book of poetry (What Kind of Woman), so I was disappointed by this book. I know she's more than a capable writer. I wanted more from her than just providing free publicity for some whackos who don't deserve her time or energy.
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

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

2.0

I greatly appreciate stories about the women behind "great" men because women are so often overlooked, discounted, and mistreated, especially the further one looks back in history. These women deserve to be valued and respected, even if they never got acclaim in their lifetimes.

That being said, the book is quite boring and sad. It took me over a month to finish reading because nothing much happens except for fictionalized accounts of Mileva Marić's inner thoughts and feelings. It's a shame she didn't get to be more than a dutiful wife and mother. I appreciate the author's goal, but it didn't earn a place on my bookshelf.
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Hope Rides Again by Andrew Shaffer

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

It's a fun and silly romp, which is exactly the mood I was in search of. I have respect for an author who publishes their fanfiction! 
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