annatl4's reviews
76 reviews

Empty: A Memoir by Susan Burton

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

empty was so beautifully written. although the main theme was regarding eating disorders and overall mental health, Susan did a wonderful job at telling her life story at the same time. as someone who grew up in connecticut and moved to boulder colorado, it was easy for me to picture her teenage years and college years. she described her struggle with such honesty, it was truly a heartbreakingly beautiful read. 
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The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

toni morrison writes honestly and so heartbreakingly well. the complexities of the story and characters highlight the reality of difficult topics. each character was given its own spotlight in order to piece together a tale of generational trauma and served as a vehicle for topics of racism, self-hatred, beauty standards, and resilience. i enjoyed the vignette style of writing and the way morrison wrote with intent for the reader to read between the lines. i believe this is a book not only for the academic setting, but for everyone. 
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The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

a book for class but one i’ve wanted to read. of course the sad undertones make it hard to get through but it’s so raw and the writing is so well done. i love a creative nonfiction piece and i think Sylvia captured that well. i was confused a bit on the timelines but that is really my only complaint. i usually don’t pick these types of books up so i’m glad a class required it. 
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Wildfire by Hannah Grace

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i loved this book. i love how hannah grace writes, like i wanted to when i was 12 and attempting to write a romance novel. there is never more than 3 pages of conflict and it always ends happy. it’s cheesy and spicy but it’s so addicting and makes you kick your feet. i loved russ and aurora. i thought the side characters added a lot as well and enjoyed the inclusion of characters from icebreaker. it wasn’t top tier writing by any means but it made me escape to a world that seemed better than this one and that’s all that matters to me when i read. i could've done without the epilog though.. the spice was really good and the humor made the drama of the story more lighthearted. i enjoyed hannah’s ability to include backstory of characters, it seemed more thought out and detailed than those in icebreaker and made the constant romance a bit less cliche. 
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Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

oh my god. i really never liked fantasy but i loved every word of this book. the characters and the plot and the detail and the friendships and enemies and dragons. i couldn’t even put into words how much i loved it. it was so intricately put together with such thought. the writing was addicting. i thought the use of magic was creative and not too corny. the romance was mature feeling, thank god they could communicate. the side characters were also great even if some were evil. it just had great depth. i’m so excited for the next one. 
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How It Feels to Float by Helena Fox

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this book is so beautifully written. it explains mental illness so well, how it really feels to be alone in a room full of people, to grieve, to celebrate, to think you may be better. it captured how i felt when i was 16. it’s truly heartbreaking but beautiful. jasper and sylvie were lovely, as was biz’s relationship with her mom and the twins. the writing style was unique but at some points confusing. it was a very quick read, although i’d like to read it again more slowly. 
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Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

i wasnt expecting to love it as much as i did. the writing was so mature and everything had so much depth. the characters were fantastic, i love a romance that is heavy on the side characters and friend relationships. nate was a great man. stassie was so mature. lola was a great friend. i loved the hockey team, so cute and sweet. the plot was so good and everything had so much detail. i loved that nate and stas could communicate and help each other be better with the help of their friends. even the smut was good.
the random almost drowning bit seemed a bit corny and forced as a reason for them to say ily.
i was pleasantly surprised to read something with so many layers and description and not just a porno. 
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Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad 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

4.0

definitely a page turner. i liked the different povs and i liked the characters. i wish it wasn’t so quick? the second there was conflict it felt resolved within a few pages. the characters back stories were the main focus but also seemed to be covered quickly or even breezed over when it came time to explain them. there were chapters told from archers younger pov and i wished we could’ve had more of a look into that part of his life. happy ending and good side characters - aside from travis. some things were so cringey i felt like it would’ve been something i’d written when i was 12..
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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i wish i read it sooner. it’s the perfect mix of slow burn, romance, and comedy. the storyline flows so nicely and the characters are so loveable.
Twisted Love by Ana Huang

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

cringe. i feel like 14 year old me would’ve ate this up but 22 year old me who doesn’t support controlling, stalker men felt icky. there was absolutely no plot. it was so predictable. the smut wasn’t even good and it was placed at the worst parts. i’m so mad at ava for allowing alex to act the way he did throughout. everything felt forced and rushed. although i still finished it within a day and somehow enjoyed it??? i don’t know if it’s because it reminded me of books i read freshman year of high school or that i was glad (???) they ended up together or what. i’m still going to read the next one, as i have heard it’s better. idk. maybe just a quick read to increase the stats. 
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