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alibookedup's reviews
266 reviews
Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I’m not much of a murder mystery book reader, but this was different than I expected. I really enjoyed the friendships between the fourth years and how it really wasn’t about who dun it. How there relationships evolved was so interesting and magnetic. Obviously them being theater kids made everything tragically poetic and I’m surprised by how much I was here for that.
Raising Lions by Joe Newman
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
So interesting and informative! Definitely going to re-read this when I have kids one day. Would highly recommend for anyone who deals with kids on a daily basis (teachers, counselors, parents, etc.).
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
adventurous
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A good story if you vibe with the history of witch hunting in Salem and "post-slavery freedom". Isobel meets quite a lot of characters in her journey from Scotland to the New World. It's interesting to see how she moves throughout the world as a woman during that time with only her needlework to earn her way. It's also cool how it is based off the Scarlet Letter - if you were/are a fan of the classic, this is another take on how the story came to be and who the story was written about.
Personally, this book was just okay. I'm not sure if I expected more witchcraft or betrayal, but something of the storyline just felt lacking. Isobel was a bit oblivious to everything around her, too gullible, and seemed to speak up/stay silent at the worst times. She was also, in my opinion, too enamored with Nathaniel too quickly to feel believable. There's a bit of a slow burn, however, when your main character is somewhat obsessed from the jump it defeats the point. I also wasn't the least bit surprised with his character development in the story -- when a guy says things like "you intrigue me", I never think it's a good sign. Thank you good sir, but I'm not an item made to intrigue you and I can tell you are only interested for the sake of your own boredom. Anyways, all in all, I felt like Isobel was a very plain character.
However, that's not to the say the story as a whole was not well written and I overall enjoyed most of the book, including the ending. It just didn't blow my mind like I thought it would after hearing so many great reviews.
Personally, this book was just okay. I'm not sure if I expected more witchcraft or betrayal, but something of the storyline just felt lacking. Isobel was a bit oblivious to everything around her, too gullible, and seemed to speak up/stay silent at the worst times. She was also, in my opinion, too enamored with Nathaniel too quickly to feel believable. There's a bit of a slow burn, however, when your main character is somewhat obsessed from the jump it defeats the point. I also wasn't the least bit surprised with his character development in the story -- when a guy says things like "you intrigue me", I never think it's a good sign. Thank you good sir, but I'm not an item made to intrigue you and I can tell you are only interested for the sake of your own boredom. Anyways, all in all, I felt like Isobel was a very plain character.
However, that's not to the say the story as a whole was not well written and I overall enjoyed most of the book, including the ending. It just didn't blow my mind like I thought it would after hearing so many great reviews.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery
Borrow My Heart by Kasie West
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A cute and lighthearted YA romance about Wren, a girl who has a wall around her heart and an extensive list of rues, and Asher, a boy who comes in to knock down that wall and re-write everything. Their meeting is unlike any other as Wren steps in to save Asher from being duped by his online crush (and possible catfisher) by pretending to be her and accidentally becoming a catfisher herself. She gets sucked further and further into the lie as she starts to care about him and begins to wonder how much longer she can keep up the charade.
I would say I liked this one and thought it was cute with its somewhat simple plot line. I liked Wren and Asher - they played off each other well and were actually surprisingly funny together. I also thought the author did a good job at showing conflicting sibling relationships and issues that come along with each of them dealing with a missing/flakey mother. I was actually surprised because Wren and her sister, Zoey, made me tear up because their personalities and their conflicts reminded me of my sister even though our parental situation is nothing alike. Kami was a great best friend and I loved how she dealt with Wren with patience and love even if she disagreed with the whole insane catfish situation.
The entire social media and TikTok storyline was also interesting as I think it is good commentary on how it is affecting current generation's relationships and views of the world. However, I don't think the author fully committed with the full consequences of using social media to gain followers/fame without the person who is being filmed giving explicit permission (no matter how much is meant well by it). I think Asher and Dale were too easily forgiven -- I think it was good for Wren to forgive them and move on, but I felt like the issue was never really discussed past "I'm sorry". Again, I know that Asher and Dale meant well, but never felt the full impact of how social media can hurt people other than Wren being mad at them for a couple of days. This could also be the fact that I'm a millennial so the idea of Wren just jumping in to save a random dude in a coffee shop from embarrassment from his best friend about maybe being catfished (it's his best friend, not the entire school...I think dude would've been okay) is just absolutely crazy and unbelievable to me. Letting the lie on both sides go on so long did also not scream cute to me and gave me more of a "this is a REALLY hurtful lie", but again, I'm in a totally different social media generation so maybe I don't get it and that's what kids have to do nowadays (wow I sound old). I think it would've been better if Wren came clean early on and worked together with Asher in a fake relationship to either keep Dale from knowing Asher had been catfished and/or to find out if he had been catfished by finding the girl online.
All in all, an enjoyable and sweet read that might not blow your socks off, but is definitely entertaining. I would say it is a perfect, light palette cleanser if you are in a book slump and/or just read a long, intense book.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for early access in exchange for an honest review.
(****Spoiler ahead*******-------------------------> I think it was also crazy that Wren said ily directly after what happened and after only knowing Asher for a month. I personally did not think that was the correct ending. Their relationship was perfectly fine without having to throw that in and felt like it was just thrown in because it's a romance book and it has to be said.)
I would say I liked this one and thought it was cute with its somewhat simple plot line. I liked Wren and Asher - they played off each other well and were actually surprisingly funny together. I also thought the author did a good job at showing conflicting sibling relationships and issues that come along with each of them dealing with a missing/flakey mother. I was actually surprised because Wren and her sister, Zoey, made me tear up because their personalities and their conflicts reminded me of my sister even though our parental situation is nothing alike. Kami was a great best friend and I loved how she dealt with Wren with patience and love even if she disagreed with the whole insane catfish situation.
The entire social media and TikTok storyline was also interesting as I think it is good commentary on how it is affecting current generation's relationships and views of the world. However, I don't think the author fully committed with the full consequences of using social media to gain followers/fame without the person who is being filmed giving explicit permission (no matter how much is meant well by it). I think Asher and Dale were too easily forgiven -- I think it was good for Wren to forgive them and move on, but I felt like the issue was never really discussed past "I'm sorry". Again, I know that Asher and Dale meant well, but never felt the full impact of how social media can hurt people other than Wren being mad at them for a couple of days. This could also be the fact that I'm a millennial so the idea of Wren just jumping in to save a random dude in a coffee shop from embarrassment from his best friend about maybe being catfished (it's his best friend, not the entire school...I think dude would've been okay) is just absolutely crazy and unbelievable to me. Letting the lie on both sides go on so long did also not scream cute to me and gave me more of a "this is a REALLY hurtful lie", but again, I'm in a totally different social media generation so maybe I don't get it and that's what kids have to do nowadays (wow I sound old). I think it would've been better if Wren came clean early on and worked together with Asher in a fake relationship to either keep Dale from knowing Asher had been catfished and/or to find out if he had been catfished by finding the girl online.
All in all, an enjoyable and sweet read that might not blow your socks off, but is definitely entertaining. I would say it is a perfect, light palette cleanser if you are in a book slump and/or just read a long, intense book.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for early access in exchange for an honest review.
(****Spoiler ahead*******-------------------------> I think it was also crazy that Wren said ily directly after what happened and after only knowing Asher for a month. I personally did not think that was the correct ending. Their relationship was perfectly fine without having to throw that in and felt like it was just thrown in because it's a romance book and it has to be said.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
4.0
I liked the chronic pain rep and the male being abused in relationship rep. I think this book had a lot of good commentary and representation in general for “just being a romance book”.
I really liked how Red and Chloe played off each other — from cute nicknames like Button, to their abilities to mess with one another, to the perfect amount of spice.
It didn’t get 5 stars bc I am now an annoyingly picky romance reader. I think there could’ve been more side character interaction than there was instead of just Red and Chloe all the time. I get why (because they both were hiding), but still. There was still the breakup moment which is getting old in romances but I did like how Talia Hibbert used this moment to have the characters do some internal retrospective work regarding their traumas —that was actually refreshing. Lastly, sometimes the romance seemed a LITTLE too fast for my taste but still it was enemies to lovers so I’m here for that.
Overall a really cute romance that I found myself smiling and laughing at often. And definitely happy with the amount of spice wow. Definitely going to read about the other Brown sisters
I really liked how Red and Chloe played off each other — from cute nicknames like Button, to their abilities to mess with one another, to the perfect amount of spice.
It didn’t get 5 stars bc I am now an annoyingly picky romance reader. I think there could’ve been more side character interaction than there was instead of just Red and Chloe all the time. I get why (because they both were hiding), but still. There was still the breakup moment which is getting old in romances but I did like how Talia Hibbert used this moment to have the characters do some internal retrospective work regarding their traumas —that was actually refreshing. Lastly, sometimes the romance seemed a LITTLE too fast for my taste but still it was enemies to lovers so I’m here for that.
Overall a really cute romance that I found myself smiling and laughing at often. And definitely happy with the amount of spice wow. Definitely going to read about the other Brown sisters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Physical abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Mental illness
Minor: Racism
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
Super cute! It’s so much more of a book than just “an orc opens a coffee shop”. The author did a great job mixing high fantasy into a simple story. There was magic, tension, and violence. The real stars of the show are our main character, Viv, and the characters she runs into while running her shop — Tandri, Thimble, Cal, Hem, and Pendry. Seeing them from a found family was so precious and sweet without feeling forced.
If Legends & Lattes was a real place, I would definitely be a regular.
Just FYI, it's definitely more high fantasy, low stakes so if that's not your jam this book might not be for you.
Excited to read the next book also!
If Legends & Lattes was a real place, I would definitely be a regular.
Just FYI, it's definitely more high fantasy, low stakes so if that's not your jam this book might not be for you.
Excited to read the next book also!
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Went back and forth between 3.5 & 4 starts so we will just go with 3.75.
Unexpectedly historically cool and enjoyably bonkers. I loved the idea of wronged or just joyful women turning into dragons. It was such an interesting premise with historical accuracy of how women have been treated in comparison to men. You can imagine I was surprised when you find out dragons can still talk and knit and carry purses. Just another fun unexpected twist to the story.
Our main character, Alex, was also interesting especially in relation to her family and Beatrice. Sometimes for being the top of her class, she could be a bit dumb and thick in the head. It drove me crazy and I sometimes found her dull. I think my one con would be that the author focused more on her aunt or mother and sometimes forgot to give Alex more personality the older that she got.
Some things felt generally unfinished and unsatisfying. I feel like the first half started off really strong for me and the second half lost it’s lacquer. But still an interesting book if you’re looking for feminist content and dragons!
Unexpectedly historically cool and enjoyably bonkers. I loved the idea of wronged or just joyful women turning into dragons. It was such an interesting premise with historical accuracy of how women have been treated in comparison to men. You can imagine I was surprised when you find out dragons can still talk and knit and carry purses. Just another fun unexpected twist to the story.
Our main character, Alex, was also interesting especially in relation to her family and Beatrice. Sometimes for being the top of her class, she could be a bit dumb and thick in the head. It drove me crazy and I sometimes found her dull. I think my one con would be that the author focused more on her aunt or mother and sometimes forgot to give Alex more personality the older that she got.
Some things felt generally unfinished and unsatisfying. I feel like the first half started off really strong for me and the second half lost it’s lacquer. But still an interesting book if you’re looking for feminist content and dragons!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Death of parent, and Cancer
Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
I cannot say enough good things about this series and I cannot wait for volume 5. Oseman is queen with keeping everything so cute, but hitting on so many important topics. Keep in mind, this one is very mental health heavy! So happy to see this available for kids growing up!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder and Mental illness
Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
5.0
Third one in and isn’t any less cute than the others. Again, has so many good moments to teach and educate the importance of coming out on your terms. Also super healthy communication between Nick and Charlie which is what I’m here for!!!