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amalas_bookstop's reviews
52 reviews
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings
I am going to try and explain why this was a 5⭐️ read for me, because this relationship was one of mutual destruction and quite honestly I should hate it, but I don’t.
Our two main characters are Magnolia “Parks” and BJ Ballentine “Beej”. They have pretty much grown up together. Magnolia literally does not remember a time she did not know him. Throughout the whole story you watch them dance around the topic of why they are no longer together. They have created an amazing family of found friends from boarding school. At times when they did not have parents to count on they could count on each other. My absolute favorite relationship was between Magnolia and her sister Bridget (she is my fav). I loved the way they talked to each other so much. Bridget is pretty much our voice of reason in the book, she is constantly calling out Magnolia and BJ on their dysfunction.
Their relationship is absolutely something I would never want a friend/sister/brother to ever go through. They both use other people as objects when they get upset with each other. BJ sleeps around and Magnolia fake dates. However, I can understand how fear can make you go to a level you never thought you reach. Magnolia is so relatable, I can be the exact same way and say things are “fine” when they are so far from it not only does she lie to everyone in that sense, but she also lies to her self and creates this false narrative of how she really is doing. I hope that as I continue to read the series she is able to grow as a woman, find her self worth, and demand that from others.
I would totally recommend this to someone who has experience loss, not just in relationships. I think you would be able to relate to the feeling of not being able to let go. I cannot wait to move on to the next book.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
How is the weather over there, Parks?
I am going to try and explain why this was a 5⭐️ read for me, because this relationship was one of mutual destruction and quite honestly I should hate it, but I don’t.
First off Jessa Hastings writing is absolutely amazing, the way she is able to describe feelings without straight saying them is so buttery smooth to my synapses.” Pine trees of mistakes so tall we can’t see over them and rivers of things we didn't say so wide we can’t get around.” I can hardly believe his is her debut novel, I am going to need to buy more tabs, because I don’t know if I can handle the rest of the series.
Our two main characters are Magnolia “Parks” and BJ Ballentine “Beej”. They have pretty much grown up together. Magnolia literally does not remember a time she did not know him. Throughout the whole story you watch them dance around the topic of why they are no longer together. They have created an amazing family of found friends from boarding school. At times when they did not have parents to count on they could count on each other. My absolute favorite relationship was between Magnolia and her sister Bridget (she is my fav). I loved the way they talked to each other so much. Bridget is pretty much our voice of reason in the book, she is constantly calling out Magnolia and BJ on their dysfunction.
Their relationship is absolutely something I would never want a friend/sister/brother to ever go through. They both use other people as objects when they get upset with each other. BJ sleeps around and Magnolia fake dates. However, I can understand how fear can make you go to a level you never thought you reach. Magnolia is so relatable, I can be the exact same way and say things are “fine” when they are so far from it not only does she lie to everyone in that sense, but she also lies to her self and creates this false narrative of how she really is doing. I hope that as I continue to read the series she is able to grow as a woman, find her self worth, and demand that from others.
This is the first book in a long time where I tabbed and spent time looking up merch. Of course I would love the not romance/romance book. There is just something about the depth of feelings that they have for each other, that is so believable, where they cannot face a reality that they don’t have each other in it.
I would totally recommend this to someone who has experience loss, not just in relationships. I think you would be able to relate to the feeling of not being able to let go. I cannot wait to move on to the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Toxic relationship, Classism, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Death
Finders Keepers by Stephen King
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
5.0
Ummm…all I can say is wow! And I am immediately diving into the third book.
I can’t believe it has taking me this long to start reading Stephen King. After I am done with this trilogy, I am starting at the beginning.
I can’t believe it has taking me this long to start reading Stephen King. After I am done with this trilogy, I am starting at the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Murder, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Gore, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
The easiest 5 stars I have given this year!
This book is a retelling of Huckleberry Finn through the perspective of Jim. From the start Percival Everett writes a Jim that is wise, but also cautious. The books starts with him teaching younger children how to live as slave in this world (how to stay under the radar, how to correct a white person while still making them believe they are right, etc.). From the beginning letting us know that the way they speak around white people is totally different than how they speak normally. Which I am eternally thankful for, because I hated reading Jims vernacular in Huckleberry Finn.
The book kept amazing pace amazingly well and in the end it almost read as a bit of a thriller (it has quite a bit of suspense). While Everett did change events of their adventures this came across as way more realistic to what would would have been for Jim to travel through the South. I saw this as an improvement. It was somewhat needed to give Jim a better character ark as he slowly shed the skin of slave and became James.
“I will not let myself, my mind, drown in fear and outrage. I will be outraged as a matter of course. But my interest is in how these marks that I am scratching on this page can mean anything at all. If they can have meaning, then life can have meaning, then I can have meaning.”
I totally recommend reading this after you read Huckleberry Finn, in fact schools should start recommending this as a package deal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Torture, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I enjoyed Hucks perspective just a little bit more than Tom’s, however the language was still hard for me to read. I am very glad I finished it, I won’t pick it up again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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 mainly read this so I can read the James perspective retelling. Mark twain did a good job of capturing the way a child dreams and can create a whole new alternate reality. Tom and Huck get into plenty of trouble that works out for them in the end. However this book has some pretty awful language about African and Native Americans that I find it hard to believe that people read this book to their children currently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Cursing, Racism, Animal death, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I definitely liked this one better than Lock Every Door. However, this still did not give me the chills, I am always expecting after seeing him recommended so often.
While the plot was a little far fetch for me and I honestly do not enjoy reading Riley Sagers lead female characters. His writing style is quick and easy to read. He did a great job of keeping the pace and tension throughout the whole story.
This was just another ok read for me, nothing ground shattering.
While the plot was a little far fetch for me and I honestly do not enjoy reading Riley Sagers lead female characters. His writing style is quick and easy to read. He did a great job of keeping the pace and tension throughout the whole story.
This was just another ok read for me, nothing ground shattering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Murder, Suicide, and Violence
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The setting of this book is a gritty southern town in Virginia. You have a newly elected sherif who is black. He was voted in from the black community and the new residents that are moving in. The other side of the county is white and they are apart of a group called the sons of the confederacy. As if the racial tension was not enough. You also have the backdrop of a serial killer running amuck in the town.
Please read trigger warnings before diving into this one.
S. A. Cosby does a wonderful job describing the town and the tension that Titus (sheriff) has to navigate through. However, there were a few plot holes for me on this one. He introduces tons of characters some who do not have anything to do with the major crime that is being investigated. I also wanted to know more about the connection of the actual criminals once they were uncovered. He left too many loose ends for me.
Regardless I felt this book was just ok.
Please read trigger warnings before diving into this one.
S. A. Cosby does a wonderful job describing the town and the tension that Titus (sheriff) has to navigate through. However, there were a few plot holes for me on this one. He introduces tons of characters some who do not have anything to do with the major crime that is being investigated. I also wanted to know more about the connection of the actual criminals once they were uncovered. He left too many loose ends for me.
Regardless I felt this book was just ok.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Blood, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Murder, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Torture, Child death, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Gore, Grief, and Death of parent
Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up by Charish Reid
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.0
This was a cute and fluffy relationship. It was pretty much love at first sight. This was a bit too spicy for me, but I enjoyed the characters quite a bit.
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Solid 3.5⭐️ rounded up.
Quick summary about this dystopian world. Imagine a reality where prisoners are given a pathway to total freedom. Catch is they have to fight to the death on a program called Criminal Action Penal Entertainment program, CAPE for short. I will warn this is a pretty violent book. From the first chapter to the last you are in battle whether in the ring or as a protestor.
There were some total wins, that I loved.
1. This book will open up tons of thought and conversation when it comes to capital punishment and our current criminal justice system.
2. I really enjoyed the footnotes in this book. The author used them to explains laws, codes, facts about the prison facilities, and extra anecdotes about a murderd prisoner. It was really well done.
3. The book really reads like you were watching the games on tv. I could really see this book becoming a movie someday. It was a very entertaining read.
Some things that were missing in my opinion.
I wanted more back story or dialogue on the main characters in this book. While this book is very violent and heart wrenching at times, I had a hard time connecting all the way through. I think it was because the author focused more on the world and the message, that he did not give me enough about the characters. Some of the chapters were really short and hard for me to keep up sometimes. I read somewhere that the author started with short stories and that is evident in the book. Some of these chapters definitely read like a short story.
I would still totally recommend this book especially if you are someone who enjoys a dystopian read. I did have a good time reading this and the author did a really good job getting his message across.
Quick summary about this dystopian world. Imagine a reality where prisoners are given a pathway to total freedom. Catch is they have to fight to the death on a program called Criminal Action Penal Entertainment program, CAPE for short. I will warn this is a pretty violent book. From the first chapter to the last you are in battle whether in the ring or as a protestor.
There were some total wins, that I loved.
1. This book will open up tons of thought and conversation when it comes to capital punishment and our current criminal justice system.
2. I really enjoyed the footnotes in this book. The author used them to explains laws, codes, facts about the prison facilities, and extra anecdotes about a murderd prisoner. It was really well done.
3. The book really reads like you were watching the games on tv. I could really see this book becoming a movie someday. It was a very entertaining read.
Some things that were missing in my opinion.
I wanted more back story or dialogue on the main characters in this book. While this book is very violent and heart wrenching at times, I had a hard time connecting all the way through. I think it was because the author focused more on the world and the message, that he did not give me enough about the characters. Some of the chapters were really short and hard for me to keep up sometimes. I read somewhere that the author started with short stories and that is evident in the book. Some of these chapters definitely read like a short story.
I would still totally recommend this book especially if you are someone who enjoys a dystopian read. I did have a good time reading this and the author did a really good job getting his message across.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Death, Police brutality, Body horror, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Racism, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Gore, and Murder
Traction by Gino Wickman
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
This book explained the EOS system really well. This was required reading for work as we are implanting this system. It has been working great for us so far.