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xandriaisreading's reviews
156 reviews
Ride or Die by Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
I loved reading the ebook. Couldn't stop thinking about it and revisiting some chapters so I decided to dive back into the story via audio book.
The story still stands. The pronunciations... This is why I only do audio books of memoirs
The story still stands. The pronunciations... This is why I only do audio books of memoirs
Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
At first the power dynamic (boss/employee) gave me pause. Then the 14 year age difference threw me off.
I was not rooting for Jo one bit. She was selfish and was the reason Emma went through what she did.
The bit with Barry. Jo dismissing Emma. Jo's dad. I was not prepared for any of it. My mouth dropped both times and I was pissed.
Jo was hella hypocritical! "But what's the use of being a former child star Hollywood darling if I can't stand up for people who can't do it on their own?" OH LIKE YOU SHOULD'VE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING? WHEN EMMA WAS VERY CLEAR SHE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH NOT CLEARING UP THE RUMORS? WHEN SHE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WOULD THINK OF HER????
I think the main thing for me here was the unequal power dynamic, J 's selfishness and the miscommunication. How they just assumed what the other was thinking or how they felt. Wanting to talk but being wary of the power dynamic. WHERE WAS THAT CONCERN FROM THE BEGINNING???
It just missed the mark for me.
I was not rooting for Jo one bit. She was selfish and was the reason Emma went through what she did.
Jo was hella hypocritical!
I think the main thing for me here was the unequal power dynamic, J 's selfishness and the miscommunication. How they just assumed what the other was thinking or how they felt. Wanting to talk but being wary of the power dynamic. WHERE WAS THAT CONCERN FROM THE BEGINNING???
It just missed the mark for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
D'Vaughn and Kris snuck up on me! I didn't know what I was in for; never saw a review or a TikTok about it. When my friend suggested reading it I figured it couldn't hurt.
And it didn't! From the very first chapter I loved these characters! As their friends and family were introduced I fell in love with them too! Even Ms. Miller 👀 It took me a minute after her "someone is racist!" remark... Bombastic side eye!
This book had me giggling and grinning like a school girl! Most of the time I had goofy grin with one hand over my heart because I loved them so much! The relationship between D'Vaughn and Kris was so well done. On their own they were great, together they were fantastic! And funny as hell!
I was on the edge of my seat to see how the whole show played out! I didn't know if I was in for a HEA or not! I'm not kidding when I say I went in blindly!
The next bit is about the final chapter so open the spoiler text AFTER you read this book! 😉
I had a good feeling after their joint bachelor/bachelorette party. I started tearing up reading about the beginning of the wedding with the procession 🥹 I even played the song they walked down to as I read! And boy, when it was time to make their decision and D'Vaughn was on her knee I couldn't keep from crying happy tears! Both of their vows! It was a perfect ending 🥰
And it didn't! From the very first chapter I loved these characters! As their friends and family were introduced I fell in love with them too! Even Ms. Miller 👀
This book had me giggling and grinning like a school girl! Most of the time I had goofy grin with one hand over my heart because I loved them so much! The relationship between D'Vaughn and Kris was so well done. On their own they were great, together they were fantastic! And funny as hell!
I was on the edge of my seat to see how the whole show played out! I didn't know if I was in for a HEA or not! I'm not kidding when I say I went in blindly!
The next bit is about the final chapter so open the spoiler text AFTER you read this book! 😉
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Rebecca Serle has become one of my must read authors. As someone who is also very close with their mom, I really resonated with this book and Katy. I've also read this after having watched Barbie twice, so a lot of feelings about my relationship with my mom are being had. The book really solidified my want to talk to my mom about who she was before she was "Mom." To learn and meet her in that time with grace and love.
I really enjoyed all of the characters and the plot was too enticing not to pick up. The twist at the end had me feeling some sort of way. The same way Katy feels when she discovers the twist too.
Over all, I loved this book. It will be one I purchase and come back too regularly.
I really enjoyed all of the characters and the plot was too enticing not to pick up. The twist at the end had me feeling some sort of way. The same way Katy feels when she discovers the twist too.
Over all, I loved this book. It will be one I purchase and come back too regularly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This Blood that Binds Us by S.L. Cokeley
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
2.25
This is a book you read for the vibes. A Lot of the story and plot feels like the earlier seasons of the vampire diaries. It was pretty easy to see where the plot was going and solve who the "rogue" vampire was.
The characters were okay. While this is set in college, the characters didn't feel like they were college students. The brothers especially came off as if they were kids at times. She some of the personalities just seemed to change in a way that was contradictory to how they were described.
My issue is that there were inconsistencies in the story. From where people were in a scene to the male MC's age changing. Some of the sentence structures were off and weren't clear. You'd read a sentence and understand it one way only for it to not make sense with the rest of what was happening. The book also randomly switched from first person to third person for a sentence. Then the book time jumped in a choppy way where you couldn't tell that it actually jumped or if it was something in the past or present. It was hard to read the book straight through when things didn't add up or were changed. Having to constantly stop and reread and adjust what I imagined the scenes looked like, got annoying towards the end.
Will I read the next one? Probably, just to see how it concludes.
The characters were okay. While this is set in college, the characters didn't feel like they were college students. The brothers especially came off as if they were kids at times. She some of the personalities just seemed to change in a way that was contradictory to how they were described.
My issue is that there were inconsistencies in the story. From where people were in a scene to the male MC's age changing. Some of the sentence structures were off and weren't clear. You'd read a sentence and understand it one way only for it to not make sense with the rest of what was happening. The book also randomly switched from first person to third person for a sentence. Then the book time jumped in a choppy way where you couldn't tell that it actually jumped or if it was something in the past or present. It was hard to read the book straight through when things didn't add up or were changed. Having to constantly stop and reread and adjust what I imagined the scenes looked like, got annoying towards the end.
Will I read the next one? Probably, just to see how it concludes.
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I found my way back to this series and I'm glad I did. I connected so much with Anna and her journey. It's not far off from the journey I'm currently on.
While her actions can be frustrating, they're understandable. Masking to the point that you lose yourself and sense of control. To get so low to the point she got before she really started to make a change, my heart ached for her. Especially during the conversations with her sister.
I really enjoyed this book just as I have the others. I wish we got to see more interactions with the previous main characters. To have Anna and Stella interact and have someone who more closely understands her struggle would've been interesting to read.
While her actions can be frustrating, they're understandable. Masking to the point that you lose yourself and sense of control. To get so low to the point she got before she really started to make a change, my heart ached for her. Especially during the conversations with her sister.
I really enjoyed this book just as I have the others. I wish we got to see more interactions with the previous main characters. To have Anna and Stella interact and have someone who more closely understands her struggle would've been interesting to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
Minor: Infertility
In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Reading the book description, it would not be something I would pick. Military stories are just not what I'm into. But then again... I needed some more romance after the dark fantasy I'd been reading. So when this popped on Amazon's First Reads for the month I said, "Why not?"
I'M SO GLAD I READ IT! The characters are so well written that the first conversation between the two MCs had me HOOKED. I was rooting for basically everyone in this book (minus dickface and the parents).
This book had me on the edge of my seat several times! The way the conflicts and action chapters were written, I could not put the book down! And the twist at the end????? I started sobbing! I didn't believe it and had to reread a few pages to make sure I understood what was being said.
UGH I LOVE THIS BOOK! I read this book in two days (usually takes me a week for one book), and I would've finished it in one if I hadn't had other commitments and work.
I'M SO GLAD I READ IT! The characters are so well written that the first conversation between the two MCs had me HOOKED. I was rooting for basically everyone in this book (minus dickface and the parents).
This book had me on the edge of my seat several times! The way the conflicts and action chapters were written, I could not put the book down! And the twist at the end????? I started sobbing! I didn't believe it and had to reread a few pages to make sure I understood what was being said.
UGH I LOVE THIS BOOK! I read this book in two days (usually takes me a week for one book), and I would've finished it in one if I hadn't had other commitments and work.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my favorite Emily Henry book so far! I really loved the whole cast of characters. I enjoyed this book so much, I stayed up until 2 AM to finish it.
A couple of the reveals, I was able to guess early on. So for me, the book was really about the way that Harriet and Wyn interfaced and what happened in their past to lead to their now.
Miscommunication tropes are something that bugs me. While there are moments you'd wish the character would just talk to each other, they do a good job of addressing several things with each other quickly. Each bit they learn from the other helps to shape their past as, not only how they saw it, but also builds nicely to the big conversation.
A couple of the reveals, I was able to guess early on. So for me, the book was really about the way that Harriet and Wyn interfaced and what happened in their past to lead to their now.
Miscommunication tropes are something that bugs me. While there are moments you'd wish the character would just talk to each other, they do a good job of addressing several things with each other quickly. Each bit they learn from the other helps to shape their past as, not only how they saw it, but also builds nicely to the big conversation.