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amelianotthepilot's reviews
819 reviews
One Day by David Nicholls
5.0
i really dont know how to express how much i loved this book. It Crushed Me. and being that it's taken me so long i obviously knew how it was going to end. but oh how crushing of a path to get there.
The story follows Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew who meet at their graduation party from the University of Edinburgh and share a night together. The timing isn't right and they spend the next 30 years as friends and almost lovers, growing apart and together again as they have various jobs and struggles in their 20s and 30s
I loved the way it was formatted, just the concept in general is so interesting. The same day every year for 30 years one chapter per person depicting where they are in life and how it's changed in one year.
what a delicious book (also i did the research the tv show is 10/10 the movie is eh)
The story follows Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew who meet at their graduation party from the University of Edinburgh and share a night together. The timing isn't right and they spend the next 30 years as friends and almost lovers, growing apart and together again as they have various jobs and struggles in their 20s and 30s
I loved the way it was formatted, just the concept in general is so interesting. The same day every year for 30 years one chapter per person depicting where they are in life and how it's changed in one year.
what a delicious book (also i did the research the tv show is 10/10 the movie is eh)
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
3.0
This is the one where Claire and Jamie roam southern US before settling in Fraser's Ridge. Then Brie and Roger follow across the sea, Jamie beats up Roger, Brie has a baby, they're all together at the end.
Still wish they were in Scotland instead.
As good as the others and keeps you thrillingly in your toes. Switched perspectives a lot though which was often unclear who it was speaking from.
Still wish they were in Scotland instead.
As good as the others and keeps you thrillingly in your toes. Switched perspectives a lot though which was often unclear who it was speaking from.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
4.0
im not a romcom girlie and this is my first Emily Henry, but i guess i get the hype. i read this on an airplane and i will say its a great airplane book.
Nora is a cut-throat NYC literary agent who loves books but things romcoms are dumb (haha me too oop). Charlie is a broody NYC editor. In a turn of events Nora and Charlie both end up in a small town in North Carolina. Nora on a working holiday with her pregnant sister who is having a breakdown and Charlie to help out at home after a family crisis. They are rivals, perhaps enemies, but will they be lovers....yes its a romcom.
I thought it was cute, fun even. and i guess i'd read another emily henry
Nora is a cut-throat NYC literary agent who loves books but things romcoms are dumb (haha me too oop). Charlie is a broody NYC editor. In a turn of events Nora and Charlie both end up in a small town in North Carolina. Nora on a working holiday with her pregnant sister who is having a breakdown and Charlie to help out at home after a family crisis. They are rivals, perhaps enemies, but will they be lovers....yes its a romcom.
I thought it was cute, fun even. and i guess i'd read another emily henry
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
3.0
Honestly a fine teen ya fantasy book but sorta boring imo.
Yadriel is a trans teen struggling to find acceptance in his family's dynamics. All the men in the family become brujos (witches) in a ghost summoning ceremony but he was not allowed to. In attempt to prove to his family that he belongs he does the ceremony by himself only for it to go wrong, but not for the transphobic reasons, it goes wrong because the ghost he summoned, Julian a hot cool boy from school, is an odd ghost. Yadriel, Julian, and Yad's cousin Maritza must solve the mystery surrounding Julian's death to complete Yadriel's induction and prove to his family that he is indeed a brujo and a real man.
The concept was really engaging but I think in fact I am not a teen and not the demographic for this story lol so it's only a 3 star for me.
Yadriel is a trans teen struggling to find acceptance in his family's dynamics. All the men in the family become brujos (witches) in a ghost summoning ceremony but he was not allowed to. In attempt to prove to his family that he belongs he does the ceremony by himself only for it to go wrong, but not for the transphobic reasons, it goes wrong because the ghost he summoned, Julian a hot cool boy from school, is an odd ghost. Yadriel, Julian, and Yad's cousin Maritza must solve the mystery surrounding Julian's death to complete Yadriel's induction and prove to his family that he is indeed a brujo and a real man.
The concept was really engaging but I think in fact I am not a teen and not the demographic for this story lol so it's only a 3 star for me.
Down the Drain by Julia Fox
5.0
it is truly so wild to read about the life of someone so different from your lived experiences. She Is Brat.
i also knew 0 about Julia Fox before reading this because i am not that kind of girlie but i am indeed that nosy so here we are and damn 10/10 one of the most wild memoirs i've ever read
i also knew 0 about Julia Fox before reading this because i am not that kind of girlie but i am indeed that nosy so here we are and damn 10/10 one of the most wild memoirs i've ever read
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
this was fascinating.
i know nothing about Spanish history and don't often read historical fiction but I really enjoyed this. I was honestly pleasantly surprised as I love Leigh Bardugo's other fantasy novels to varying degree but for some reason had low expectations for this deviation from her norm.
This is a story about women, women in power, women who gain power, and women who flaunt power to put other women down. Luiza is maid in a dwindling wealthy house who is blessed with magic. But magic is feared and so she keeps her magic and her Judiasim secret. Doña Valentina is the lady of the house that Luiza works in, she has little but is proud and uses what she can to keep the family's status in nobility. Haulit is Luiza's aunt but also a wealthy mistress of Victor de Paredes. She's worked her way up from nothing using her body but through little contact attempts to help Luiza. After discovering Luiza's magic Dona Valentina immediately takes it for granted and flaunts Luiza as entertainment. This results in them catching the eye of the king and sending them on a wild court politic-filled adventure as part of the battle to become close to the king. Luiza must become the King's magician or be killed for witchcraft and heresy.
Overall the story was fascinating and apparently the characters and general concept are all based on real people and historical events, albeit without the magic. I feel my main problems lay with the amount of Spanish woven into the story and my general lack of Spanish knowledge. I know 0 about Spain's history basically and although I was able to mostly follow I think if I knew some base facts going into it I would've been able to follow easier and enjoy it more. (For example, I was confused by the names because I didn't realize Dona and Don are just honorifics like Lady/Dame/Madam and Sir.) The end also felt a bit rushed to me, there was so much build-up of the world and dynamics only for them to get to the tournament and it all happened quite quickly and not as exciting as I would've hoped. I did like the new tournament competitors they were very interesting and I wish we got more of them. I was also quite disappointed in the romance. I didn't love it, it felt icky but I'm not sure if perhaps that was the point...So I guess I wish it was more intentional, or alternatively not there at all.
i know nothing about Spanish history and don't often read historical fiction but I really enjoyed this. I was honestly pleasantly surprised as I love Leigh Bardugo's other fantasy novels to varying degree but for some reason had low expectations for this deviation from her norm.
This is a story about women, women in power, women who gain power, and women who flaunt power to put other women down. Luiza is maid in a dwindling wealthy house who is blessed with magic. But magic is feared and so she keeps her magic and her Judiasim secret. Doña Valentina is the lady of the house that Luiza works in, she has little but is proud and uses what she can to keep the family's status in nobility. Haulit is Luiza's aunt but also a wealthy mistress of Victor de Paredes. She's worked her way up from nothing using her body but through little contact attempts to help Luiza. After discovering Luiza's magic Dona Valentina immediately takes it for granted and flaunts Luiza as entertainment. This results in them catching the eye of the king and sending them on a wild court politic-filled adventure as part of the battle to become close to the king. Luiza must become the King's magician or be killed for witchcraft and heresy.
Overall the story was fascinating and apparently the characters and general concept are all based on real people and historical events, albeit without the magic. I feel my main problems lay with the amount of Spanish woven into the story and my general lack of Spanish knowledge. I know 0 about Spain's history basically and although I was able to mostly follow I think if I knew some base facts going into it I would've been able to follow easier and enjoy it more. (For example, I was confused by the names because I didn't realize Dona and Don are just honorifics like Lady/Dame/Madam and Sir.) The end also felt a bit rushed to me, there was so much build-up of the world and dynamics only for them to get to the tournament and it all happened quite quickly and not as exciting as I would've hoped. I did like the new tournament competitors they were very interesting and I wish we got more of them. I was also quite disappointed in the romance. I didn't love it, it felt icky but I'm not sure if perhaps that was the point...So I guess I wish it was more intentional, or alternatively not there at all.
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
4.0
thought this was gonna be a fun little romcom in Italy...it was not
Katy's mom dies in the first chapter. She was supposed to go on this trip to Italy with her mom to see all the places her mom loved and they had the trip all booked when her mom finally passes. Katy then realizes her whole life is out of axis, perhaps she doesn't love her husband who she married straight out of college. She goes on the trip to Italy by herself, staying in the fancy hotel her mom chose, visiting the places her mom had picked out with stories she never got to tell. But do to some ✨ Italian magic✨ she runs into someone really familiar....her mom at her age.
Needless to say I sobbed on the plane. There is a romcom in there somewhere too but that's not what this story is about honestly and I wish the romance bit was cut. This is a story about a mother and daughter's friendship and inseparable relationship. It's a story about grief and moving forward. It's a story about growing up in your 30s.
Katy's mom dies in the first chapter. She was supposed to go on this trip to Italy with her mom to see all the places her mom loved and they had the trip all booked when her mom finally passes. Katy then realizes her whole life is out of axis, perhaps she doesn't love her husband who she married straight out of college. She goes on the trip to Italy by herself, staying in the fancy hotel her mom chose, visiting the places her mom had picked out with stories she never got to tell. But do to some ✨ Italian magic✨ she runs into someone really familiar....her mom at her age.
Needless to say I sobbed on the plane. There is a romcom in there somewhere too but that's not what this story is about honestly and I wish the romance bit was cut. This is a story about a mother and daughter's friendship and inseparable relationship. It's a story about grief and moving forward. It's a story about growing up in your 30s.
My brilliant friend by Elena Ferrante
5.0
This has been on my list for ages but I kept hoping I'd become fluent in Italian so I could read it in it's original language. Alas that hasn't happened but I did read it in Italy so that counts for something I guess...maybe one day I'll read it in Italian.
You know me I love some drama and I love the mystique surrounding this author. Who is she? Is it an autobiography? Will she ever be revealed (posthumosly maybe)? Should she be? I love the theories of who it could be and the drama of that reporter who tried to expose her.
The story follows Elena and her friend Lila growing up in Napoli to adulthood as wives and mothers. Through their lives, we discover the story of the neighborhood and the different families and their troubles. Lila isn't wealthy and doesn't have the money for school, Elena has only slightly more and is encouraged by teachers while Lila is discouraged and berated for her smarts. The only reason Elena progresses is because she idolizes and follows in Lila's footsteps as far as she can. But the two women grow apart with age and life's disparities. A beautiful story about female friendships and growing up with dreams too big.
You know me I love some drama and I love the mystique surrounding this author. Who is she? Is it an autobiography? Will she ever be revealed (posthumosly maybe)? Should she be? I love the theories of who it could be and the drama of that reporter who tried to expose her.
The story follows Elena and her friend Lila growing up in Napoli to adulthood as wives and mothers. Through their lives, we discover the story of the neighborhood and the different families and their troubles. Lila isn't wealthy and doesn't have the money for school, Elena has only slightly more and is encouraged by teachers while Lila is discouraged and berated for her smarts. The only reason Elena progresses is because she idolizes and follows in Lila's footsteps as far as she can. But the two women grow apart with age and life's disparities. A beautiful story about female friendships and growing up with dreams too big.