a_robin_reads's reviews
1287 reviews

Hani And Ishu's Guide To Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

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emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Information:

  • Library book
  • Magical Readathon for Shapeshifting for Ordinary: read a book with jewellery on the cover 

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Review:

Really liked the fake dating, but romance was too short 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I'm currently reading Hani and Ishu's guide to fake dating by Adiba Jaigirdar. I'm reading a copy from the library. Reading this for the Magical Readathon for Shapeshifting for Ordinary with the prompt: read a book with jewellery on the cover or in the title. This is a young adult contemporary romance book with LGBTQ+ characters.

Enjoying this so far, but not having a chance to read it really, so need to make an effort to finish this one. I really like the set up of the book. The fake dating makes sense, which is great. Both of the characters are very well written. Excited to see where the romance will go.

This could have been a higher rating if it was longer. They were together for like 10 pages. In a romance I also want to see them being together. I also didn't like some communication parts.

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How to Be a Movie Star by TJ Klune

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emotional funny 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? No

4.0

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Information:

  • Kobo Plus ebook
  • Reading Authors
  • Reading Series

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Review:

The diversity of this book is just the absolute best

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I'm currently reading How to be a movie star by TJ Klune. This is the second book in the How to be duology. I'm reading the ebook. Reading this for my Series and Authors TBR. This is a contemporary book with romance elements and LGBTQ+ characters.

I really enjoyed book one and I'm enjoying this one as well. What I especially love about this duology is all the diversity, really fun to read. I do think I'm liking this one a bit less, because of the actor element. So might be a bit of a lower rating, but we shall see. 

No, still 4 stars. Mainly because I appreciate this book, and this duology, so much for the diversity. The ending also just made me really happy. 

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The Keeper by Guadalupe García McCall

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dark 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? No

3.5

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Information:

  • Storytel audiobook
  • Year in Aeldia challenge: scary/dark book. 

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Review:

Good book, but had read this kind of story before

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I'm currently reading The keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall. I'm listening to the audiobook. I'm reading this for the Year in Aeldia challenge with the prompt: scary/dark book. Wasn't in the mood for anything adult, so choose this one. This is a middle grade mystery book (but might be horror? we shall see).

Enjoying this so far. Like the dynamic between brother and sister. The vibes are good, very mysterious. Not very far into it, so can't say much about the story yet. Do think I will enjoy the book overall. 

The ending lost me a little bit, but overall a good book. I have read a book very similar to this one, so that probably also was why I did not enjoy it fully. That book was adult, so went more towards horror, which was more fun than this one. 

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A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

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adventurous hopeful 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

5.0

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Information:

  • Library book
  • Reading Authors
  • Reading Series
  • Buddy read: Jennifer's Discord Group

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Review:

An absolute delight to read!

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read A closed and common orbit by Becky Chambers. This is the second book in the Wayfarers series. I read a copy from the library. This is an adult science fiction book.

This was the absolute best, loved it so much! Felt very much the same as book one, same vibes. I was hesistant at first about us following new characters in this one, but I did not mind in the end. Can't really say much other then that I loved it a lot. 

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A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Information:

  • Kobo Plus ebook
  • Reading Authors
  • Buddy read: Dead good book reviews Discord

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Review:

Least favorite horror from this author

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read A house with good bones by T. Kingfisher. Read the ebook. Read this for the readalong I'm doing for all the books by this author. This is an adult horror book. 

This one was my least favorite Kingfisher horror book unfortunately. It was very funny as always, loved that. Also loved the characters as always. But again with this one, the pace felt off. I also did not think this was scary, only for a small part of it. Still a good read as all of her books are. 

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As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds

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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

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Information:

  • Kobo Plus ebook
  • Reading Authors

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Review:

Fun read with indepth characters 

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read As brave as you by Jason Reynolds. I read the ebook. Read this one for my Authors TBR. This is a middle grade contemporary book. 

This was a good book. A lot of different layers to it. I really like how the author writes the story and also really liked all the characters. 

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The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

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adventurous mysterious medium-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? No

4.5

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Information:

  • Library book
  • Reading Authors
  • Reading Series
  • Buddy read: Jennifer's Discord Group

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Review:

Very unique book

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read The city we became by N.K. Jemisin. This is the first book in The great cities series (duology? trilogy?). I read a copy from the library. Read this for a buddy read and read this for my Authors TBR. This is an adult contemporary fantasy book.

This book is very complex, but I love that about it. The writing is really beautiful. The concept is very cool and very thought provoking. I did think this could have been a standalone, so therefore not the full five stars from me. 

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De pinguïnlessen by Tom Michell

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adventurous inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Information:

  • Library book

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Review:

I love penguins

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read The penguin lessons by Tom Michell. I read a Dutch copy from the library. Read this because I want to read more nature books. This is a memoir with nature and travel themes. 

This book was fun to read, but also had some more difficult parts in it. It was really fun to read about the penguin in this book, absolutely loved him. I do think it could have been a shorter book, because he wasn't in the whole book. Some parts really went indepth with the politics of the country this is set in. I did not really care for that, did skip some parts. Still a very hopeful and inspiring story. 

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In Memoriam by Alice Winn

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dark emotional 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

5.0

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Information:

  • Library book

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Review:

Heartbreaking and beautiful

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read In memoriam by Alice Winn. Read a copy from the library. Read this, because I want to read some books out of my comfort zone and want to read more LGBTQ+ books. This is a historical book with literary and romance elements with LGBTQ+ characters.

Loved this so much! This one was out of my comfort zone, because it is a historical book. But this book is set in World War I which is a time period I am interested in. Horrendous to read about the war. Loved the characters a lot in this book. I also really liked the set up of the book, with letters interwoven into the story and news articles. 

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De schemertuin by Sara Nisha Adams

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

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Information:

  • Kobo Plus ebook
  • Reading Authors
  • Passant book club
  • Buddy read: Jennifer's Discord Group

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Review:

Another great book from this author

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read The twilight garden by Sara Nisha Adams. Read a Dutch ebook. Read this for my in real life book club and for my Authors TBR. This is a contemporary book with historical elements and LGBTQ+ characters. 

I tried to read this last year, but due to a reading slump didn't get to finish it. I'm glad I read it now. It was a good book, with characters I really loved. The story itself was very beautiful and made me feel very warm inside. Would highly recommend this author. 

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