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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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:
No
Tail of three people experiencing hardships (well at least two of them) tied together toward. It was an interesting mix of a little fantastical and mostly non-magical. Opaline's storyline hit me hard and was really sad despite it coming to resolution
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy
This is a 1.5 for me.
It was lent to me by my aunt, she read it and described it as "total whimsy." I was intrigued and thought that it would be a quick, fun read to kick off summer. I'd seen it on all kinds of lists and was pumped I didn't have to wait for it to become available at the library. Unfortunately, it was a total disappointment.
I feel like this wanted to be four different kinds of books. There's a historical element that gave me whiplash, a magical element that is so inconsistent it felt like the book was missing entire sections, a romance element between characters that felt forced, and a love letter to books that falls completely flat. Additionally, at over 400 pages, it is entirely too long.
This was a slog, and I can't recommend this to anyone I know.
It was lent to me by my aunt, she read it and described it as "total whimsy." I was intrigued and thought that it would be a quick, fun read to kick off summer. I'd seen it on all kinds of lists and was pumped I didn't have to wait for it to become available at the library. Unfortunately, it was a total disappointment.
I feel like this wanted to be four different kinds of books. There's a historical element that gave me whiplash, a magical element that is so inconsistent it felt like the book was missing entire sections, a romance element between characters that felt forced, and a love letter to books that falls completely flat. Additionally, at over 400 pages, it is entirely too long.
This was a slog, and I can't recommend this to anyone I know.
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It had a promising start and was mysterious and magical but it went downhill fast and at the end it was just underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this book, although there were a couple times something happened or was referenced that I didn't understand. It was almost like the author thought I had more background knowledge of the story than I did. The bookshop was almost a character in a way, and it made me wish I could find a shop like it!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this book! It wasn’t like anything I’ve read before. I couldn’t put it down and found myself getting so lost in the story which in the context of the book’s setting, is lovely. I love the way the characters are described and just an all round warm, interesting, hopeful and intriguing read.
read this with the girls at work but I would have read this on my own also. It's a unique concept with a little bit of mystery. If there wasn't so much talk of abuse, both physical and mental, I would say it's a cozy magical realism. There was quite a lot of abuse talk and that almost made me put down the book. The ending tied everything up nicely without giving everything away and saying it at point blank.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced