alovelymourning's reviews
133 reviews

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional inspiring relaxing 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

4.0

fav character: Gabby (and nurse Hannah)
fav quote: “Life is just a series of breaths in and out. All I really have to do in this world is breathe in and then breathe out, in succession, until I die.”

4⭐️

this book hurt my feelings and gave me anxiety
but also in a good way?
i wasn’t sure if i would enjoy the back and forth between 2 different universes but holy cow…truly, one choice can set multiple worlds into motion and i think this book was so well written for that

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

fav character: Susan
fav quote: “No matter how strong you are, no matter how smart you are or tough you can be, the world will find a way to break you. And when it does, the only thing you can do is hold on.”

3.5⭐️

this book goes DEEP into the five stages of grief. be prepared
i was not a big fan of the constant back and forth between past and present but i understand it was so we got to meet ben and learn to love him more than just that first chapter. overall, this was a very nice read. taylor’s writing, even as her first novel, is delicious. 
my heart hurts but i love how it ended.

String, Volume 1 by Paul Tobin

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

obtained as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review 

fav quote: “The future is nothing more than the result of the present.”

4⭐️

i really wish we got more of a backstory from the main characters but, overall, the story itself was good. the artwork is DIVINE and the writing was nice!

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

fav character: Kit
fav quote: “There was finally enough air within her for a fire to ignite.”

4.25⭐️

as the eldest child, this book really hurt my feelings and made my heart full
while there is a lot of back and forth between past and present, it was tasteful. it really flowed with the plot of the party and gave us the background we needed for our main characters
i definitely cried a bit and i cackled a LOT but, truthfully, this book was more emotional than i let on
TJR’s writing will always wow me and i had so many favorite quotes it was hard to choose just one for this review
i cannot wait to read another of their books

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

fav character: Néstor
fav quote: “be still, be silent, and the storm will pass on.”

4⭐️

i don’t enjoy when the last chapter/epilogue is a time jump. i wish we got more from the time in between 
BUT the writing?? STUNNING
the descriptiveness of this book captured me and had me in a choke hold the entire time. the plot itself? idk how i feel about it totally because it was spooky but not BOO spooky so i enjoyed it as a whole but it didn’t have major “wow” factors for me

The Proposal by T.B. Markinson

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

2.0

fav quote: “Every time I try to see myself with kids, or even my future, I can’t really picture it in my head. It’s more like a contemporary art piece, splotches here and there of color but no discernible images.”

2⭐️

y’all i’m sorry but why was the entire book over the course of a singular day.. where is the flavor? where are other characters? where is the actual romance? 
i am so disappointed but it is a quick read for someone who wants to learn a bit about London and that’s about it 😩

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional 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

fav character: Andarna 
fav quote: “Nothing about war, or the aftermath, is kind.“

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

definitely cried toward the ending of this one. my heart hurts and i HATE that it’s ending on a cliffhanger!! but i’m excited for the next book. 
this one was a little slower for the first half because of the other half of the world building needing to happen basically but overall i loved this as much as the first, if not more than.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

fav character: Rhiannon
fav quote: “Keeping me safe is keeping me from growing, too.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

i had to FORCE myself to go to sleep the last 2 nights instead of staying up to continue reading 😩
this book was SO good and i think i will recommend it to anyone interested in fantasy or for an introduction to romantasy (just a couple of spicy scenes)
the world building was divine and easy to follow, the characters’ personalities were curated to PERFECTION, the plot was excitable, and i am definitely diving into the next one right now

Crystal Caged by Elise Kova

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

fav character: Deneya
fav quote: “What is light without darkness? Or darkness without the light?”

4⭐️

EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE
from the very beginning of air awakens it ALL MAKES SENSE NOW
i do wish the vortex chronicles, overall, was not as spread out BUT i get why it was because there is so much to tie together and GOD am i glad it did
i wish we got more of the aftermath and the differences between worlds but i still enjoyed how this series ended

Failed Future by Elise Kova

adventurous 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

3.75

fav character: Arwin
fav quote: “even the princess who belonged nowhere had never felt so out of place.”

3.75⭐️

i enjoyed this book more than the second in the series but i don’t think i have been anymore confused going into the following book than i am now