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abrunettereads's reviews
221 reviews
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
While the twists weren’t exactly unpredictable, the plot and the characters kept me wanting more.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Alone with You in the Ether: A Love Story by Olivie Blake
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This was an absolute delight to read.
From the moment Regan and Aldo were introduced, I was hooked.
Their love story, while not ordinary or normal in any way, was unique yet somehow a love story that everyone has experienced.
They were two extremely flawed human beings, who meet and fall in love. Their lives don’t change just cause they fell in love, and neither does their mental health issues go away.
They both need a fixing, but neither is there to fix the other.
It was beautiful, rare, extravagant and enchanting.
From the moment Regan and Aldo were introduced, I was hooked.
Their love story, while not ordinary or normal in any way, was unique yet somehow a love story that everyone has experienced.
They were two extremely flawed human beings, who meet and fall in love. Their lives don’t change just cause they fell in love, and neither does their mental health issues go away.
They both need a fixing, but neither is there to fix the other.
It was beautiful, rare, extravagant and enchanting.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.75
This should have been a good book, however I didn’t pick this book up to read about wines and cellars and architecture. I want to know more about the research, the manuscript (which btw was completely forgotton by like 10%).
This wasn’t a dark academia. It isn’t “dark academia “ if you have four scenes in a library and then the remaining in some cellar/dungeon discussing million years old wine and champagne.
Anyway, a complete let down.
This wasn’t a dark academia. It isn’t “dark academia “ if you have four scenes in a library and then the remaining in some cellar/dungeon discussing million years old wine and champagne.
Anyway, a complete let down.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
The jumping back-n-forth between characters and time was more confusing and the thriller aspect felt flat
Close Your Eyes by Teresa Driscoll
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Language and prose feels a little unpolished, and the emotions conveyed for parents who just had their child go missing seemed off.
The Choosing Chronicles: Ryker and Brynleigh's Duet by
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Archer by Dr. Rebecca Sharp
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I had high hopes as this was sold to me as “criminal minds meets small town romance” and while some of the references and characterisations were on the nose, it fell a little flat to me for either tropes.
Archer felt like Hotchener however outside of his personality nothing felt like the brilliant profiler that Hotchener is.
If I read this book without the imagery of CM, it still falls flat. The storyline didn’t work for me as the FMC just didn’t fit. She came off as annoying, which in hindsight is fair and very true to who someone in her shoes would be, but pair that with MMC and it was a lose-lose case.
I also really hate the instalove/instalust and “her being a virgin waiting for him to finally see her” trope. Can we please move on from them?
Archer felt like Hotchener however outside of his personality nothing felt like the brilliant profiler that Hotchener is.
If I read this book without the imagery of CM, it still falls flat. The storyline didn’t work for me as the FMC just didn’t fit. She came off as annoying, which in hindsight is fair and very true to who someone in her shoes would be, but pair that with MMC and it was a lose-lose case.
I also really hate the instalove/instalust and “her being a virgin waiting for him to finally see her” trope. Can we please move on from them?
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
Fractured Souls by Neva Altaj
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Silent Lies by Neva Altaj
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75