allthereads_neverthetime's reviews
109 reviews

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

Okay, I am definitely not a classic reader, but I’m trying. I found this one a bit hard to get into, as with most classics for me, but once I figured out who everyone was, it was so good. I also find it so hard to “review” classics. But this one, a coming of age story about a little girl named Scout, growing up in the south, in the 30’s, had my heart. If you haven’t read it, do! I’m glad I joined a little buddy read for this one for sure, love hearing everyone’s thoughts!

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

 This book at first seems like it's all about hockey, and while it is, it's also so much more. Based in a small town, where hockey is everything, the story goes through the lives of people on and off the team. When a tragic event happens, it pins the town against each other and this is where you see everyone's true colours! Coming from a small "hockey" town myself, I was completely drawn into the story of everyone. Thankfully nothing this bad ever happened, but I can totally see how the "team" lives their lives and feels like nothing can stop them. Like I said, this isn't just about hockey, it's about the treatment of the players, owners, family members, and even the fans! This was my first Backman book, but I'll definitely be picking more up, starting with Us Against You.  

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

 I loved this book! The story told between timelines of WWII grandparent and current day grandchild trying to find the truth of what when went on during the war! It flowed so perfectly, I was always excited when it switched timelines, as each little section left me hanging and wanting more. This book is 100% a love story, but in many ways! Best friends love and strength for each other, grandparent / grandchild love, and real true love that we all dream about and some are lucky enough to experience! The synopsis details this book with a fashion element, but I'll say it didn't take the front seat for me. So if you're expecting a straight fashion book, I wouldn't pick this, but a love story that has heartache, drama and some fashion, then yes! read this!! 

Dark August by Katie Tallo

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Quick Thoughts...
I enjoyed the pace of this book, and loved how each chapter represented a new person or place. It was done well enough that I didn't find it confusing or overwhelming the amount of people that were part of this story. I had a love / hate relationship with the main character, but ended up really liking her at the end. Favourite character though was Levi. What I didn't enjoy, was the main character had 3 names, I get the shortened version, but no need for 3, it was too much, especially at the beginning. 
I would definitely recommend this to any mystery/thriller reader. 

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Quick Thoughts:
- enjoyed the homage to thriller books, but there are spoilers to so many books, which I thought was odd. 
- I didn't guess the killer, I like not knowing.
- I wasn't really invested in the characters or the story but I'm not sure if it was because of the audiobook, and I just got distracted, or if it was the story itself.
- Felt there were too many characters, it wasn't a very long book, so I'm not why we were introduced to so many people, that I thought were irrelevant. 

Our Darkest Night: A Novel of Italy and the Second World War by Jennifer Robson

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

I've been wanting to read more historical fiction this year, and this was a great book to start with! It's set near the end of WWII in Italy, and tells the tail of a Jewish woman who was living a modest life with her father who and is learning the medical profession through him, in secrecy of course. When Italy becomes occupied more my the Germans, the father arranges a safer life for his daughter with an Italian gentleman and his family. She'll be posing as his wife, which means he has to give up his schooling, in which he was studying to become a priest. And that's just the first part of the book! Needless to say things get heavy as the Germans start to expect something isn't right about this wife... 
The story is full of hardship, family and perseverance! I know it's a historical fiction but you know damn well people went through this and it breaks my heart! Thank you Jennifer Robson for writing such a beautifully told story and showcasing another country and its turmoil throughout the war. 

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Wonderfully written, but some serious slow spots. Took a bit to get used to the classic style of writing. I’ll definitely keep reading Daphne’s books!

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

funny mysterious fast-paced

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

2.0

I found the storyline quite cheesy, didn’t like half of the characters, and won’t be continuing on with this series. 

Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow

challenging dark informative medium-paced

3.75

 Couple point form comments on this book...
- I had no idea who this author/narrator was, heard the story of his family, didn't know his name...
- He voice the different people he interviews, I enjoyed that.
- The middle and end slow down quite a bit, but there are interesting facts through out about different "famous perverts" as I refer to them as...
- I can't believe the lengths companies, businesses, and people will go to to protect a name... it angers me.