annalenawrites's reviews
340 reviews

Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King

inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.75

This is incredibly well-written and fascinating. The characters feel very real and alive even though the stories are so short and every story is unique and really made me think. Lily King is a great writer and her stories are impressive, would definitely recommend!

The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

This was beautiful. I feel like I truly went on a journey across the British countryside, from bookshop to bookshop, during Christmas time while getting to know these characters and falling in love with their story and the book they're searching for. I would recommend this to anyone who loves books, it's a beautiful story. My favorite characters were, of course, Violet and June. 

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Don't understand why the characters liked each other all of a sudden, overall very unrealistic and too fast-paced

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This was really cute! Definitely my favorite of this Christmas novella series!

All by My Elf by Olivia Dade

lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

This started off pretty slow and was kind of predictable but I enjoyed the characters' dynamic.

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.75

This was cute but not that Christmas-y and I didn't love some of the tropes. 

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is beautiful. Exactly what a book should be. It made me forget that it's November right now and instead transported me to French and Italian beaches and towns in the summer. It made me think about love, sex, gender, food, wine. It's the sexy European summer holiday of my dreams wrapped up with profound romance and stunning quotes and it gave me so much to think about. It's really beautiful. Casey McQuiston has outdone themself! This was probably my favorite book of their which says a lot because I adored the previous ones and read them both multiple times.

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Not my favorite. This felt weird, the romance read more like an unhealthy obsession than love.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was cute and I really enjoyed it even though it wasn't quite what I had expected. I think some of the side characters could have been fleshed out more, I would have especially liked to see more of Chloe but otherwise it was great and I loved Kira and Bennett!

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this. I love how it talks about mothers and daughters, marriage, friendship, New York City, the aids pandemic... it's a beautiful, thoughtful, wonderful book and I adore Elizabeth Strout's writing style. I always wonder how much of this is based on her own life because I just can't imagine anyone being able to come up with a fictional story like this, with so many details. I'm amazed. I devoured this in a day and I'd love to read more of her books.