aebaranello's reviews
38 reviews

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

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

emotional fast-paced

5.0

First of all, if you're going to read this book, get a copy with the illustrations. It's so much more moving with them. 

I don't normally enjoy sad books, but this is the only exception. Connor is a 7th grade boy with a mom who is dying. He's struggling with it all - his anger at the situation and at the world, the impending grief, acceptance, being honest with himself. A monster comes to guide him through the journey, but not in the ways Connor expects. This book is technically a middle grade novel, but the writing is not immature by any means. The content is handled delicately and with sensitivity, but also with a sort of firmness that forces the audience to acknowledge whats going on. There's not a single person out there who couldn't find a piece of themselves in this novel. Simply written but so effective. 

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

Picked it up and I couldn't put it down. Compelling and extensively beautiful writing from Madeline Miller. Circe goes through a harrowing journey, but her growth is stark - despite her ageless nature, there's a significant change from how she began the book as a girl, and ended it as a woman. Miller weaves the different myths and gods into the story without it feeling tacky or contrived...she really made these myths her own. Absolutely a 5-star read. I'm recommending this to everyone. 

Night Shift by Annie Crown

lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

Enjoyable enough...wildly fast plot, almost no actual substance to the book. The main character disavows miscommunication and then proceeds to make the same mistake three times in a row, leaving the audience frustrated. This could have been a really cute novel, were it not for the lack of character depth or even development (though there were attempts). Vincent is a likable male lead, and Kendall could be, with just a little more depth. The book itself is just an excuse to write smut, which to be fair, is really well written. The story begins with Kendall being "ravished" in the bookshelves of her college library, which could have been cute, but with virtually no information or depth to Vincent's character (and it being within the first 10 minutes of them meeting), it just felt uncomfortable and unrealistic. It was an enjoyable read overall, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it. 

Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Lighthearted, whimsical, sweet romance. Funny and comical without being obnoxious, and it stayed modern without being tacky. Well done all around. There was a minimal amount of spice, but most was left to the imagination, which I really appreciate. I like when the male lead is kind - I'm happy to stray away from the tsundere-type. Refreshing read, would definitely recommend! 

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

A delightful little read - I'm discovering that I dislike enemies-to-lovers in most cases, and this book had a refreshing lack of that. Jack was a very kind and good-natured celebrity, - I'm glad that Center didn't take the spoiled diva actor route. Hannah was fun but not obnoxious or childish, and their bond was believable. Also, the fade-to-black for any ~adult~ content was very refreshing. The writing was solid, and needed no editing. Cute, fluffy little read. Will definitely be checking out her other works. 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

I put off reading this for several years, despite the massive hype and several friends telling me to try it. I was so wrong - this was a massively compelling and intricate story, and it gets you hooked right off the bat. I love the way Holly Black writes - her world-building is convincing and complex, and Jude is an incredibly compelling main character. I've seen reviews saying that there's little character development - that is wrong. Black doesn't spell everything out for the audience, diverting from the trend of "all tell and no show" writing that's popular currently. Jude is a complex, pithy, spirited character, but still unique in her own right. Delightful read. Can't believe I waited so long to pick it up. 

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Writing a review for the series as a whole: I LOVE this series. It's simply delightful. Fluffy to the nth degree, lighthearted and silly, frivolous and fun. I blew through all 8 books in just a few weeks - they're quick reads. This is a series that could have fallen so flat if it were written by any other author, but Kinsella strikes an amazing balance in her prose. Becky Bloomwood is a dazzling main lead - she's frivolous, vain, materialistic, but she's also tenacious, kind, and incredibly loving. I know this series gets a lot of flack for stereotyping women, but I disagree. Becky is an incredibly strong main character - she has morals and a conscience, and while she might be vain and impressionable, she also always does what's right in the end. This series is also a refreshing change - in the face of the "I'm not like other girls" trope, Becky is unadulteratedly like other girls, and is all the better because of it.  

These Broken Stars by Meagan Spooner, Amie Kaufman

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A delightful sci-fic with large elements of romance. Thorough and effective world-building, compelling dynamic between leads. I reread this at least once a year. 

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes
Did not finish book. Stopped at 74%.

Writing was novel and bland. No appeal to main character, attempted magic and family connections fell flat. Very little depth, despite attempts. Weird characterization, insta-love, and several plot holes. DNF @ 74%