Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

42 reviews

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-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

This book suffered from Main Character Syndrome. Somehow, everything always worked out, and the main character was always the most popular, beautiful, and lusted-after girl in the whole Universe. I understand that this book is an opportunity for the author to create an idealized world, but it was a little too convenient how things worked out. It felt like I was reading a fanfiction a lot of the time. Everything was really trope-y and predictable.
Also, I did not like the war aspect. It was so lazy and not fleshed out. It felt like a plot device to create tension rather than an actual conflict. Lastly, her being turned into a deity at the end to stay in Hell was so dumb and too convenient. I was left going “Of course” because why wouldn’t it work out for her when everything else in the book did?

Despite my criticisms, I did like the representations of healthy relationships and communication between partners and parents/guardians and children. That was a highlight of this book that improved my rating.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

This book suffered horribly for its lack of editing. It could have been more effective at half its length and often read more like a slice of life fanfic.   Difficult themes were often addressed with a very didactic tone that didn’t feel at all organic to the stories or the characters.  Having  said that, the central friends to lovers trope was compelling with an excellent slow burn! The narrators were fabulous and there were many times I didn’t want to stop listening.  I didn’t love the ending which was disappointing after such a lengthy book. Overall a fun listen. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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: Complicated

I want to start off by saying I am incredibly stingy with my 5 star reads. It’s very hard for me to justify it. But man….this book was 5 stars practically from the beginning!! I stopped reading bc I didn’t want to finish it, I didn’t want it to end! I’ve had some religious trauma and still struggle with it. I struggle a lot with my family as well and the way they treat me. Not only can I relate to Lily so incredibly well, but I get comfort from how she grows and accepts and deals with her own mental illnesses!! This book was so good at showing HEALTHY communication and healing and boundaries!! I cried so much, in the best way. It was so funny too, I was busting out laughing. And the spice???? 5/5 for that too, SO GOOD. Just, read this book, for real. My new favorite!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad 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: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

If I could give this book 6, stars I would!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book healed something within me.
The unique take on the Afterlife presented with mixed mythologies, an insecure but lovable main character, Lily, a ridiculously nerdy MMC Bel, and a whole lot of found family wrapped up in this book of finding every aspect of love when you didn’t get to get it when you were alive, including for yourself. There was a lot of character development, which I loved, and the Hellp Desk, the reason Lily becomes so well-known to all those in the Afterlife, even outside of Hell, isn’t as prominent as I expected it to be within the book, but this wasn’t actually a hindrance, just a surprise as someone who is familiar with the skit series. However, I loved being able to see more of a story behind these characters and I cannot wait to see what the author comes up with next.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings