alicia_ann_reads's reviews
470 reviews

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

funny lighthearted 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? No

3.5

Well this was cozy! It did drag a little for me about halfway, and then dragons entered the chat and it picked right up and kept on going.

I am interested enough in the egg mystery to read the next book but I think to truly get the cozy vibes you've got to be able to read it fairly quickly.

I had to set this book down for a couple weeks due to illness and I think that affected my enjoyment because the stakes aren't that high I didn't really care as much, in the place I left off, though I am glad I picked it back up. 

The Christmas Catch by Clare Lydon

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This was on track to be excellent. 

The first 60-70% of the book was great, travel mishaps after travel mishap, as two childhood friends can't deny their attraction and try to get home for Christmas.

But after the peak it just slowed down and I didn't remotely care about the end. Hence the 3.75. 

Still a cute read. 

'Tis the Damn Season by Fiona Gibson

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another cute holiday book! 
Not really a rom com here although there's kind of a happy ending? 

We follow a group of middle aged women who have kids, couldn't have kids, are married, divorced and widowed tired of having to do everyday Christmas who leave on. Womb to stay at a b&b the week before Christmas.

All hell breaks loose as we follow the POV of the women and their men and how the relationships evolve or disseminate. 

A Kilt For Christmas by Tricia O'Malley

funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

Perfect little cozy read for the kickstart to holiday season! 

I liked that this had a little magical realism, it made my laugh, AND it valued communication and honesty. ,,

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Loved the audiobook of this! Narrator defitmafenit easier to understand.

This book is written in both the first and second person and the narrator remains the same while the focused MC changes. 

I loved the slow movement and peeking away of the mystery but I don't know if there would have been enough there had the story been told inna different perspective.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this book for the first time 24 years ago in gr 10 English. Going into this read for my bookclub, I only remembered loving this book and having a vague sense of the plot.

I was curious if I'd still love it, and I absolutely do. Minus a few dated phrases from the 30's we wouldn't be using today.

The writing is atmospheric and descriptive and the nonstop thought process of the FMC while I'm sure tough for some felt like how I navigate life.

I felt all the emotions she felt. 
I forgot about the "twist" in Rebecca's death, and all that happened after, except for the fire.

What I love the most is our nameless character, and how we can draw our own conclusions in the end. I do remember discussing this at length in school. 

Providence by Max Barry

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This was a pretty flat book. Flat characters, no arc, boring plot with a terrible ending.

It felt like it was written with Hollywood in mind whereas you could overlook all the lack because of all the cool visual and video sound effects.. without them you get 4 people on an AI ship at war with aliens and absolutely no resolution. 

The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks

adventurous challenging fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was okay, I really like the disability rep, the plot was pretty good, the end didn't really match the tone of the rest of the book, but it was still good lol. 

I don't care enough about any of the characters to want to read the next book. 

The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.0

I don't really love zombie stories, and I chose this to fulfill the letter Z in a reading challenge.

That said, while I disliked the kind of stereotypical descriptions of each queer person, I did appreciate how they used the method of zombification to show current day issues. 

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

I quite enjoyed this quirky book! 

The main character definitely made some seriously questionable choices, but I really appreciated the end.