allisonleora's reviews
281 reviews

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.

Not a bad book, just didn’t feel like finishing right now!

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-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

3.75

This was really a surprising and lovely little read. I wasn’t intending this to be my first book of 2024, but it so Magically happened, and I think I needed it. 

 

I remember owning this book when I was a child, but never got around to reading it. I think I would have loved it, but would have found the Broad Yorkshire challenging. Two decades later and I had trouble even now. 

 

But it was really a beautiful story and one full of hope, which is something I needed at the beginning of the year. I found myself wanting to go back into the story to see how the garden was progressing. 

 

Some of the language did make me uncomfortable, and I think I would need to have a long discussion with my son about the racism and colonialism featured in this novel before he sets out to read it himself. I would for sure recommend it to him when he gets older, though. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Racism

Minor: Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic

Christmas with L. M. Montgomery by L.M. Montgomery

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.25

Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal

informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

3.5

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

3.75

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

Christmas with Louisa May Alcott by Louisa May Alcott

hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

3.75

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0