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aarony_22's reviews
202 reviews
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
I didn't know how much I needed this. It's inspirational and gives the reader hope and a very (in my opinion) realistic, good perspective on life. Nora is a relatable character. (The character development!!!)
The midnight library is a cool idea and has burned itself into my memory as a liminal space with a lot of meaning. I'd love to go there too.
Haig's writing really kept me invested and made it a page turner. Short, sweet and inspirational, a perfect palate cleanser in terms of books.
⭐⭐⭐.75/5
The midnight library is a cool idea and has burned itself into my memory as a liminal space with a lot of meaning. I'd love to go there too.
Haig's writing really kept me invested and made it a page turner. Short, sweet and inspirational, a perfect palate cleanser in terms of books.
⭐⭐⭐.75/5
Slammed by Colleen Hoover
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
cute story, really, loved that she brought poetry into this.
Besides all their fucked up past events in their life and poetry, Layken and Will don't seem to have a lot more personality than that...
Faceless characters in pain just aren't as good as characters in pain that actually have a fleshed out personality.
We don't even know what Layken and Will like doing in their free time or what Layken's aspirations are. There's just a lot missing. The basis was good, it could've used more details, really
Still entertaining though, the pages were going by fast.
⭐⭐⭐/5
Besides all their fucked up past events in their life and poetry, Layken and Will don't seem to have a lot more personality than that...
Faceless characters in pain just aren't as good as characters in pain that actually have a fleshed out personality.
We don't even know what Layken and Will like doing in their free time or what Layken's aspirations are. There's just a lot missing. The basis was good, it could've used more details, really
Still entertaining though, the pages were going by fast.
⭐⭐⭐/5
Stille blutet by Ursula Poznanski
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Eine kontroverse Nachrichtensprecherin namens Nadine Just kündigt ihre eigene Ermordung an, wenige Stunden danach ist sie tatsächlich tot.
Dieses Konzept dieses selbst angekündigten Todes hat für mich besser als erwartet funktioniert. Das Verhalten der Menschen online und auch persönlich kommt sehr authentisch rüber und die Figuren sind nicht so flach und gesichtslos wie in anderen Büchern von Ursula Poznanski.
Fina Plank finde ich sehr sympathisch. Oliver ist natürlich ein sexistisches A****loch, Nadine ein zweischneidiges Schwert.
Die Lösung dieser Morde hat mich zufriedengestellt. Besonders spannend finde ich das Ende nicht, deswegen die mangelnden Sterne, jedoch sind für mich alle Kriterien einer guten Auflösung dennoch erfüllt.
Am besten hat mir aber wahrscheinlich der unbekannte Erzähler gefallen, der immer mal wieder kurze Briefe an den Leser, beziehungsweise den Komplizen schreibt. Dieser ist auch der Grund, wieso ich mir das zweite Buch dieser Reihe zulegen werde. Alles wurde aufgelöst, außer dieser brennende Punkt dieses Erzählers und die damit verbundenen Taten.
Sehr guter Schreibstil, hat mich reingezogen, habe das Buch an einem Tag gelesen.
⭐⭐⭐.75/5
Dieses Konzept dieses selbst angekündigten Todes hat für mich besser als erwartet funktioniert. Das Verhalten der Menschen online und auch persönlich kommt sehr authentisch rüber und die Figuren sind nicht so flach und gesichtslos wie in anderen Büchern von Ursula Poznanski.
Fina Plank finde ich sehr sympathisch. Oliver ist natürlich ein sexistisches A****loch, Nadine ein zweischneidiges Schwert.
Die Lösung dieser Morde hat mich zufriedengestellt. Besonders spannend finde ich das Ende nicht, deswegen die mangelnden Sterne, jedoch sind für mich alle Kriterien einer guten Auflösung dennoch erfüllt.
Am besten hat mir aber wahrscheinlich der unbekannte Erzähler gefallen, der immer mal wieder kurze Briefe an den Leser, beziehungsweise den Komplizen schreibt. Dieser ist auch der Grund, wieso ich mir das zweite Buch dieser Reihe zulegen werde. Alles wurde aufgelöst, außer dieser brennende Punkt dieses Erzählers und die damit verbundenen Taten.
Sehr guter Schreibstil, hat mich reingezogen, habe das Buch an einem Tag gelesen.
⭐⭐⭐.75/5
Layers by Ursula Poznanski
Interessantes Konzept, mit diesen Realität verwirrenden Brillen und den Layers, aber die Ausführung dieses Settings fand ich mangelhaft. Die ganze Situation hat eine gewaltige Lücke. Ohne Stella hätte Dorian sich direkt aus dem Staub gemacht. Und Dorian hat sich nur so mal schnell nach ein paar Tagen in sie verliebt. Ist jetzt nichts, wofür ich persönlich mein Leben riskieren würde.. Ohne diese kleine Romanze, die nicht wirklich gut entwickelt ist fällt die ganze Handlung in sich zusammen.
Die Resolution des ganzen hat mich auch nicht wirklich zufrieden gestellt. Ich habe mir ein episches Finale erwartet, aber es sind doch wieder nur vergraulte Jugendliche die Drahtzieher. Keine Show, kein gar nichts, nur Jugendliche die mit ihren Taten für ihre schlechte Vergangenheit kompensieren wollen.
Die Grundidee hat wirklich potential und der Schreibstil hat mich auch zu gewissen Teilen gefesselt, aber wegen den oben genannten Punkten war es dann doch nicht sooo gut..
⭐⭐⭐/5
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Interessantes Konzept, mit diesen Realität verwirrenden Brillen und den Layers, aber die Ausführung dieses Settings fand ich mangelhaft. Die ganze Situation hat eine gewaltige Lücke. Ohne Stella hätte Dorian sich direkt aus dem Staub gemacht. Und Dorian hat sich nur so mal schnell nach ein paar Tagen in sie verliebt. Ist jetzt nichts, wofür ich persönlich mein Leben riskieren würde.. Ohne diese kleine Romanze, die nicht wirklich gut entwickelt ist fällt die ganze Handlung in sich zusammen.
Die Resolution des ganzen hat mich auch nicht wirklich zufrieden gestellt. Ich habe mir ein episches Finale erwartet, aber es sind doch wieder nur vergraulte Jugendliche die Drahtzieher. Keine Show, kein gar nichts, nur Jugendliche die mit ihren Taten für ihre schlechte Vergangenheit kompensieren wollen.
Die Grundidee hat wirklich potential und der Schreibstil hat mich auch zu gewissen Teilen gefesselt, aber wegen den oben genannten Punkten war es dann doch nicht sooo gut..
⭐⭐⭐/5
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I hate Nora. She embodies "I'm not like other girls" a bit too much. And I don't get the hype, this was boring for me. All the bookish things were way toooo cheesy and every element is more ridiculous than the last. Libby is annoying and the small town stuff was honestly just cringe.
I really wanted to DNF this but I couldn't because I already own the book. I felt nothing overall, this wasn't a good book.
I really wanted to DNF this but I couldn't because I already own the book. I felt nothing overall, this wasn't a good book.
Twisted Lies by Ana Huang
funny
inspiring
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
Christian is a red flag, but I ate it up damn... (not everything) guess I'm a red flag too just like almost every romance reader..
Anyways. Fun book, Christian was the best of all four twisted men. Twisted men is actually a very fitting title. But overall, Alex, Rhys and Christian seemed pretty similar, the only one that doesn't really fit in the picture is Josh. He's so different than the rest wtf. Nevermind that's good. Would've been good to see more variation in men throughout the series. Ana Huang seems to have a thing for pretty, hot, coldhearted men who are honestly assholes.
It was a bit too long and dragged. The first half was meh. Not enough happening for my taste. Then, at around uhhh.... 350? 300? Something around that, it started getting good and in the spicy parts even better. Daaamn if the book would've been like this all along this would've been 6 stars. Better smut than in all the previous books. Just not really that much into something that's more slow-burn I guess. Nevertheless, good entertainment and damn that was hot.
⭐⭐⭐💫/5
Anyways. Fun book, Christian was the best of all four twisted men. Twisted men is actually a very fitting title. But overall, Alex, Rhys and Christian seemed pretty similar, the only one that doesn't really fit in the picture is Josh. He's so different than the rest wtf. Nevermind that's good. Would've been good to see more variation in men throughout the series. Ana Huang seems to have a thing for pretty, hot, coldhearted men who are honestly assholes.
It was a bit too long and dragged. The first half was meh. Not enough happening for my taste. Then, at around uhhh.... 350? 300? Something around that, it started getting good and in the spicy parts even better. Daaamn if the book would've been like this all along this would've been 6 stars. Better smut than in all the previous books. Just not really that much into something that's more slow-burn I guess. Nevertheless, good entertainment and damn that was hot.
⭐⭐⭐💫/5
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
dark
reflective
fast-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
3.5
WTF!
My first thought when finishing this.
The hell is going on in this book.
Can't really say much about it without spoilering it all. A woman that, after traumatizing experiences believes she is an alien after her plushie called Piyyut tells her he's from a planet called Popoposomething, I forgot the name already.
The main characters constantly refer to human society as "the factory" which basically describes humans making money for food and procreating to prevent extinction. Natsuki, not really prone of this system, doesn't wanna live by it. This book basically tells the completely absurd story of her and two others trying to get out of human society and living without the demands of procreating and loving. (Really disturbing actually wtf don't get me started about the ending?) (This is definitely missing a trigger warning)
Quite a fun read even tho it was disturbing. Interesting to see how someone out of their "normal human" mind describes human society and the downsides of it.
Couldn't stop reading, really interesting how the Popoposomething species develops.
⭐⭐⭐💫/5
My first thought when finishing this.
The hell is going on in this book.
Can't really say much about it without spoilering it all. A woman that, after traumatizing experiences believes she is an alien after her plushie called Piyyut tells her he's from a planet called Popoposomething, I forgot the name already.
The main characters constantly refer to human society as "the factory" which basically describes humans making money for food and procreating to prevent extinction. Natsuki, not really prone of this system, doesn't wanna live by it. This book basically tells the completely absurd story of her and two others trying to get out of human society and living without the demands of procreating and loving. (Really disturbing actually wtf don't get me started about the ending?) (This is definitely missing a trigger warning)
Quite a fun read even tho it was disturbing. Interesting to see how someone out of their "normal human" mind describes human society and the downsides of it.
Couldn't stop reading, really interesting how the Popoposomething species develops.
⭐⭐⭐💫/5
Birthday by Meredith Russo
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
This was a cute story...
It was okay, really, a big factor for me was, how much I relate to so many of the topics mentioned.
It's hard to include transgender people in books without stepping over lines.
I, as trans myself, approve this as not controversial. It portrays it realistically, doesn't fetishize it and the thoughts of Morgan are true and not overdramatized in my opinion. It's also the first time I've seen a transgender person in a book that hasn't come out yet. Big plus for that.
The school seems to be a hellhole for anyone that doesn't fit your usual type of person, is that an american thing? I've seen it a bunch of times, that severe mobbing just goes unnoticed. If that's really the case it saddens me quite a lot, the world seems like such a sad place if that's true in so many places.
Anyways. Cute YA story, big big character development and a really light, fast read, despite the heavy topics. Would've been like 3 or 3,5 stars, call me dramatic, but it's too relatable for me not to give it at least 4 stars.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
It was okay, really, a big factor for me was, how much I relate to so many of the topics mentioned.
It's hard to include transgender people in books without stepping over lines.
I, as trans myself, approve this as not controversial. It portrays it realistically, doesn't fetishize it and the thoughts of Morgan are true and not overdramatized in my opinion. It's also the first time I've seen a transgender person in a book that hasn't come out yet. Big plus for that.
The school seems to be a hellhole for anyone that doesn't fit your usual type of person, is that an american thing? I've seen it a bunch of times, that severe mobbing just goes unnoticed. If that's really the case it saddens me quite a lot, the world seems like such a sad place if that's true in so many places.
Anyways. Cute YA story, big big character development and a really light, fast read, despite the heavy topics. Would've been like 3 or 3,5 stars, call me dramatic, but it's too relatable for me not to give it at least 4 stars.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
This is the best piece of historical fiction I've ever read. (Which is a meaningless statement, as this is only my third)
Anyways. This was a bit like a boy in the striped pyjama but better for me.
The thing I probably liked most about this book was the narrator. Death talks about things like he is a stranger to the human race and only figured out how they work a long time after his duty has started. I was hooked when he talked about himself, it was the perfect other "half" of the story of Liesel which it absolutely needed. (In quotation marks because it was significantly less actually)
Out of Liesels perspective, the book wouldn't have been that good to me. The capacity of a child especially in the part where she isn't even 10 yet just isn't enough to capture the whole picture of the brutality of war.
Another big thing was the layout. I absolutely loved the drawings. Especially the word shaker. This meaningful short story deserves 5 Stars by itself already and in this context it was both heartbreaking and philosophical. Also the bold, centered information parts make it a very varied experience to read.
The characters and writing are deep, all the little anekdotes make it vivid and the fact that death goes as far as spoiler the story he's telling himself makes it even more lively.
Such a page turner.
The ending absolutely surprised me, but has my heart.
Anyways. This was a bit like a boy in the striped pyjama but better for me.
The thing I probably liked most about this book was the narrator. Death talks about things like he is a stranger to the human race and only figured out how they work a long time after his duty has started. I was hooked when he talked about himself, it was the perfect other "half" of the story of Liesel which it absolutely needed. (In quotation marks because it was significantly less actually)
Out of Liesels perspective, the book wouldn't have been that good to me. The capacity of a child especially in the part where she isn't even 10 yet just isn't enough to capture the whole picture of the brutality of war.
Another big thing was the layout. I absolutely loved the drawings. Especially the word shaker. This meaningful short story deserves 5 Stars by itself already and in this context it was both heartbreaking and philosophical. Also the bold, centered information parts make it a very varied experience to read.
The characters and writing are deep, all the little anekdotes make it vivid and the fact that death goes as far as spoiler the story he's telling himself makes it even more lively.
Such a page turner.
One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Damn that school really is a shithole huh
HOW can so much mobbing just be ignored, it's making me sad and wonder how realistic this actually is.
As in the first book I adored the character development, it's so noticeable how the people change throughout the book.
Knox is a great character, as well as Maeve and Phoebe, but they wouldn't be, if they weren't in this together, they only become great when they're put together. That's the sense of multiple POVs I guess.
Still, can't give more than max. 3,25⭐, too much high school stuff and not enough detective stuff, that got better in the end but I rate books as a whole (or at least I try to)
Kept me from my phone. Perfect side effect.
⭐⭐⭐.25/5
HOW can so much mobbing just be ignored, it's making me sad and wonder how realistic this actually is.
As in the first book I adored the character development, it's so noticeable how the people change throughout the book.
Knox is a great character, as well as Maeve and Phoebe, but they wouldn't be, if they weren't in this together, they only become great when they're put together. That's the sense of multiple POVs I guess.
Still, can't give more than max. 3,25⭐, too much high school stuff and not enough detective stuff, that got better in the end but I rate books as a whole (or at least I try to)
Kept me from my phone. Perfect side effect.
⭐⭐⭐.25/5