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aebaranello's reviews
37 reviews
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
funny
5.0
SO MUCH FUN the plot is ridiculous but the writing isn't flat like you'd think, Tessa Dare does a great job with this, so entertaining, its easily the best old lady paperback that I've ever read
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
medium-paced
4.0
I hated reading this in high school, but teaching it to my students now - so much fun. Everyone in this book is going crazy from the beginning, and it's just massively entertaining to watch. Murder, sword fights, drama, mystery, intrigue, suspense. Could not ask for more. Oh, also the questions about free will and agency and fate and guilt and power and on and on and on
Timeline by Michael Crichton
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
3.25
Fun and unlike most things that I've read. I liked the writing style, though I don't love Crichton's penchant for making side characters sound incredibly important to the reader, leaving me confused when they're tossed off. Overall a fun read, would recommend to others who enjoy time travel, science, and Medieval history.
The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Marina definitely shines in her fiction prose - her short stories were relatively compelling, and the introduction was right - her voice is very sincere, not trying to be any age other than what she is. I skimmed the nonfiction part - her writing is good, but some of the topics just weren't interesting to me. Overall a decent read
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
medium-paced
3.25
This was a weird read. Ali Hazelwood has her niche, and this definitely isn't it. It was enjoyable enough - the style of her writing is vaguely clever and isn't too hard to read, but it felt awkward to be so colloquial given the nature of the book's content. The third act breakup was so dumb and contrived, and made no sense. Also, the whole last third of the book was entirely exposition - there are better ways to explain the plot twists than long paragraphs going on and on. That section was slow, and then it just rushed through the whole ending. The whole first third of the book was BORING boring boring, as well as just incredibly slow, and I almost DNF a few times. Her characterization of the Weres and the Vampyres was just odd - A book set in the year 2024 with two species that have been around for several hundred if not thousands of years - its entirely unbelievable that they're only addressing the concept of possible ~hybrids~ now??? I love Ali and her works, I just think she found her niche with light-hearted romance. I appreciate her willingness to experiment though.
My Killer Vacation: A Novel by Tessa Bailey
fast-paced
2.75
A quick read. Was looking for a nice grumpy x sunshine, but instead got a weird, almost depraved insta-love. The writing was relatively average, if sub-par, and the plot moved too quickly to be compelling. I enjoyed that he was protective, but his inner-monologues about Taylor were just weird. Also, the sex scenes were uncomfortable - the dialogue was awkward and also - why did they have sex IN the murder house? Just so many flaws.
Galatea by Madeline Miller
2.75
Another review wrote "I'm sure the main point of this book flew over my head" - that is exactly how I feel. There was something here that I was supposed to get, and I just didn't. Miller's writing is beautiful as always.
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Soooo cute. I love the whole "loving-from-afar" thing, especially, specifically when it's the guy that does it. SO CUTE. I had the best time reading this.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
One of my yearly rereads, and it just keeps getting better. Comfort and youth and growth...Rowell got everything right with this. Always a 5 star book