angelayoung's reviews
336 reviews

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Well-told, well-plotted art-world suspense.
I loved The Portrait Girl. I could see the descriptions of jewellery and paintings, and the evocation of the art world felt so real, as did the names of the galleries, particularly the Ryder Gallery ... it made me think there really must be one. Swengley's writing persuaded me to suspend disbelief and believe in Freya becoming Emily at Ralph’s salons – and it didn’t occur to me ... but I won't say what didn't occur to me because I don't want to spoil such a well-told, well-plotted story for new readers. The parallel stories of Oliver/Freya and Ralph/Emily were subtly done so I could gradually work them out (Swengley always shows and never tells) and I wouldn’t mind having a friend like Brooke to help me through the difficult times.

And So I Roar by Abi Daré

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dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

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Did not finish book.

I couldn't bear reading the parts that featured the white supremacist thug ... I probably should have perservered ... but he was such an ugly insensitive character I didn't believe he'd ever change.

The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

If you believe - as I do - that novels can help heal us, The Book Swap is a novel for you. Through novels the protagonists heal themselves and each other and make their readers believe in the power of hope and love, of finding your path and living well again. Magic.

Open Throat by Henry Hoke

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dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Open Throat is a dream (and sometimes a nightmare) from the point of view of someone you'll never be. But his loneliness, his hunger, his acute observations of humans and his desire to both save and destroy us is poignant ... .

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad

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

4.75

If you love meandering storytelling that also pushes you along like the swell of a tide in a river, read Once upon a River. I LOVED it - it's one of those novels where you slow down towards the end because you don't want it to end. Setterfield is a born storyteller. I wish I was just starting Once upon a RIver ... if you haven't read it you've got a treat in store.

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced