anna_curlyquotesediting's reviews
172 reviews

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Never have I felt so seen by a book. I have so many notes and highlights and comments in this one, and I feel like I could read the book again and make a thousand more marks.

Brené Brown is insightful, honest, gentle, and kind. Not a single word in this book is meant to make you feel bad about yourself or your habits, just aware. And then not alone.

Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present by Nick Trenton

informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

Anyone struggling with anxiety and overthinking should read this book at least once. Take notes, try some of the ideas out for a couple weeks, and see if they help you. Even if you require professional help (and so many of us do, and that's okay) to manage your overthinking, spiraling, anxiety, or rumination, the information is useful and eye-opening.

The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

The Art of Asking is a book far more people need to read, especially women. Amanda Palmer's life is an interesting one, sure, but the point of this book is to remind people that it's okay to be vulnerable. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to lean on others. It's okay to mess up. It's okay to feel. It's okay to be human. And it's okay to be told no.

A no isn't a rejection of you, it's just a no for that ask.

This book has been eye-opening for me in many ways, and I'm definitely still processing. Probably will be for a while. But I can say with certainty that more people need to read and internalize the message in this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Terminal illness, Abortion, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Solielle and the Magical Stones by Ron Cisneros

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Don't Say Plan B or Backup Plan to an Aspiring Pro Athlete by Belford Fredrick Williams, Jr.

informative

5.0

The Liminal: Daniel by Michael Padjen

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

5.0

Rethink Impossible by Helene Neville

emotional inspiring reflective

5.0

The Seventh Day by Scott Shepherd

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

I'd give this book 5 stars if it weren't for the lazy ending.

Everything up to the end was fast-paced, made me curious, and I liked the cast of characters. I was so, so interested in the worldbuilding and history of this world, but the author never really gave many answers when the book heavily hinted at giving them. But no answers were given, so the ending of The Seventh Day left me feeling dissatisfied. Too "tied up with a bow" feeling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Kidnapping and Sexual harassment

Circe by Madeline Miller

dark emotional reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

Absolutely fantastic read! The mythology is well-researched and the storytelling is solid and intriguing. Circe was written in a way that I've never seen her before. I didn't want to put the book down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Confinement

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Rape, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.

I usually give books way more time (about 20% or three or four chapters, depending).  But this one just could not keep my attention.