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aspineline's Reviews (412)
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Listened to the audiobook for Book Club. There’s nothing wrong with this book, I’m just not the target audience! I don’t know enough about Dolly to find such an in depth look at her style to be that interesting. But it was a short and easy listen that Dolly (mostly) narrates. Who, by the way, I want to learn more about!! I wish the book went into her backstory and career because she is fascinating. So smart, (and love that it’s ‘contrary’ to her blonde-hair-big-boobs persona), savvy, charitable, and unapologetically herself. She also gives some great advice at the end of the book. TBH I probably should give another one of her memoirs a try haha.
dark
mysterious
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:
No
⭐️⭐️ I have seen the commentary on TikTok and Goodreads about how troubling people have found this book. Maybe I am a masochist, but since I do love dark Romantasy with imbalanced power dynamics *coughTheAuctioncoughRoseInChainscough* —I thought this was worth a shot. Plot twist: it was not. In order for this dynamic to work you need the romance to be expertly crafted with high stakes, tension, secret feelings, and slow burn (thank you Julie Soto). You guessed it—Firebird had none of that. So not only was the consent between the MMC and enslaved FMC questionable, but this was just poorly executed. TLDR, not only is this problematic, it’s just not very good. How you fumble such a cool premise like dragons in Ancient Rome is beyond me. Please skip this one.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An enjoyable but predictable summer read ☀️ This book is not really anything new; however, Fortune always does a great job transporting her readers to the dock of a lakehouse. Fans of Ever Summer After will enjoy returning to Barry’s Bay and the Florek boys. One Golden Summer is fairly predictable, toes the line of cringey, and the pacing felt a bit off at times, but it serves its purpose (aka a quick beach read). A good reminder that you never know what someone is experiencing—
‘I think about the boy from my photo. How sunny he seemed. How perfect I thought his life must be. How easy. How golden.’
‘I think about the boy from my photo. How sunny he seemed. How perfect I thought his life must be. How easy. How golden.’
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you liked The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, you will love this book!
A sprawling tale told from three perspectives about ‘toxic lesbian vampires’ (VE Schwab’s words), this story is poignant and gripping. There is so much gorgeous writing in this book. Schwab is a master of her craft. I’m in awe of how her writing can be so beautiful and also so introspective (her sentences do run on, but that doesn’t bother me).
Schwab has so much to say here. Similarly to TILOAL, she tackles themes like identity, loneliness, and the roles women have been forced to play throughout history. The vampires in this story are chilling and ANGRY. But who is responsible for their female rage? Are they simply murderous monsters? Or have they been created by a patriarchal society that forces them into certain boxes? And if so, who is to blame when women are given unending freedom and have no limit to their hunger? There is so much to unpack!!!! This would be the perfect book for a book club discussion.
I was completely enthralled reading this. It did not feel like a 500+ page book. Yes, it is long, but every chapter of the text has purpose. We get to know the characters so well, and it was so cool around 50% of the way through to see how everything weaves together!
I’m thinking it’s time for me to read Schwab’s back catalogue. She has become an auto-read author for me!
A sprawling tale told from three perspectives about ‘toxic lesbian vampires’ (VE Schwab’s words), this story is poignant and gripping. There is so much gorgeous writing in this book. Schwab is a master of her craft. I’m in awe of how her writing can be so beautiful and also so introspective (her sentences do run on, but that doesn’t bother me).
Schwab has so much to say here. Similarly to TILOAL, she tackles themes like identity, loneliness, and the roles women have been forced to play throughout history. The vampires in this story are chilling and ANGRY. But who is responsible for their female rage? Are they simply murderous monsters? Or have they been created by a patriarchal society that forces them into certain boxes? And if so, who is to blame when women are given unending freedom and have no limit to their hunger? There is so much to unpack!!!! This would be the perfect book for a book club discussion.
I was completely enthralled reading this. It did not feel like a 500+ page book. Yes, it is long, but every chapter of the text has purpose. We get to know the characters so well, and it was so cool around 50% of the way through to see how everything weaves together!
I’m thinking it’s time for me to read Schwab’s back catalogue. She has become an auto-read author for me!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ TJR is BACK! I have been so-so on her last two releases, but I loved this book. Atmosphere is a sapphic love story set in the backdrop of 1980s space program. I read somewhere that Reid called this her ‘Titanic’ and I see the comparison. Joan and Vanessa, NASA trainees, must deal with the grueling challenges of training to become astronauts along with the sexism and homophobia that was (sadly, is) rampant in the organization and the overall culture of the 80s. The story has dual timelines—one on a present day mission and one that goes back several years to tell a love story, both of romantic love and familial love.
What I loved:
🪐 I always find the punchy structure of TJR’s books to be so easy to read. I fly through her books!
🪐 The current timeline had my heart pounding. My adrenaline was sky high lol
🪐 There were religious undertones in some deeply poignant passages—they really resonated with me
🪐 TJR writes characters and character growth so well. She made me HATE Barbara (honestly FUCK her). Joan was so easy to love and root for. And Frances!!! Oh my goodness, her relationship with Joan (and the scene at the diner with the PB&J and strawberry smoothie) made me tear up.
🪐 So many wonderful descriptions of falling in love. It was beautiful (and gut punchingly heart wrenching) to read about Vanessa and Joan’s story.
I did take off half a star because there were a lot of characters thrown at the reader in the first few chapters, which I found confusing. I also skimmed some of the astronaut jargon when my eyes started to glaze over. Props to TJR for such a thoroughly researched work, however; you could tell she spent so much time to get the nuances of the program. I just personally don’t find that as interesting.
Overall I’m so happy to have read this book, especially during Pride month 🏳️🌈 I will leave you with this—
‘Happiness is so hard to come by. I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it’ 🌈
What I loved:
🪐 I always find the punchy structure of TJR’s books to be so easy to read. I fly through her books!
🪐 The current timeline had my heart pounding. My adrenaline was sky high lol
🪐 There were religious undertones in some deeply poignant passages—they really resonated with me
🪐 TJR writes characters and character growth so well. She made me HATE Barbara (honestly FUCK her). Joan was so easy to love and root for. And Frances!!! Oh my goodness, her relationship with Joan (and the scene at the diner with the PB&J and strawberry smoothie) made me tear up.
🪐 So many wonderful descriptions of falling in love. It was beautiful (and gut punchingly heart wrenching) to read about Vanessa and Joan’s story.
I did take off half a star because there were a lot of characters thrown at the reader in the first few chapters, which I found confusing. I also skimmed some of the astronaut jargon when my eyes started to glaze over. Props to TJR for such a thoroughly researched work, however; you could tell she spent so much time to get the nuances of the program. I just personally don’t find that as interesting.
Overall I’m so happy to have read this book, especially during Pride month 🏳️🌈 I will leave you with this—
‘Happiness is so hard to come by. I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it’ 🌈
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Choosing to listen to an audiobook like this was soooo nerdy of me, and I really enjoyed it 🧙 It’s also a way to interact with the HP world that does not ultimately benefit JKR, who has turned into the problematic villain she wrote about. The amount of thought and research that went into this book is astounding. I thought my Harry Potter knowledge is pretty extensive, but Khaytman is on another level. The book reads like an incredibly in-depth essay on Dumbledore’s timeline and motivations throughout all seven books, complete with footnotes and quotes pulled from the text. Many of the connections he made had my jaw on the floor; the way he could infer and extrapolate what was going on behind the scenes of the book was astounding. There were a few times where I felt like he was explaining things he felt JKR did on purpose when IMO she was likely explaining things/showing scenes for the readers benefit; but either way, the theories were interesting. This is dense, at times dry, got a bit repetitive at times, and clearly only suited for dedicated fans (read: dorks like me). But I got a lot out of it. ⚡️
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Choosing to listen to an audiobook like this was soooo nerdy of me, and I really enjoyed it 🧙 It’s also a way to interact with the HP world that does not ultimately benefit JKR, who has turned into the problematic villain she wrote about. The amount of thought and research that went into this book is astounding. I thought my Harry Potter knowledge is pretty extensive, but Khaytman is on another level. The book reads like an incredibly in-depth essay on Dumbledore’s timeline and motivations throughout all seven books, complete with footnotes and quotes pulled from the text. Many of the connections he made had my jaw on the floor; the way he could infer and extrapolate what was going on behind the scenes of the book was astounding. There were a few times where I felt like he was explaining things he felt JKR did on purpose when IMO she was likely explaining things/showing scenes for the readers benefit; but either way, the theories were interesting. This is dense, at times dry, got a bit repetitive at times, and clearly only suited for dedicated fans (read: dorks like me). But I got a lot out of it. ⚡️
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ When I finished this I stood up and clapped. I accept ZERO criticism; this was everything! The easiest five stars I’ve given a book this year!!
I will admit that I found One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig to be good, but not a standout favorite. So it knocked me over with how much I loved this book! The Knight and the Moth is a hauntingly atmospheric gothic fantasy with a beautiful romance subplot. Sybil, a Diviner (think of a seer) teams up with a small ragtag group—including a brooding Knight—for a quest to find her missing cohorts and unite several long-lost relics. I could go on and on about how much I loved this but here are some things I adored 💕 Slight spoilers below!
🗡️ This story was so fun to read because it is UNIQUE. It is so refreshing to read a different fantasy plot instead of the same rinse and repeat stories that frequently blow up in BookTok 😒 Also, Gillig creates a complex and solid magical system here though excellent world building and storytelling.
🗡️ This book is teeming with transportive imagery. The vibes are so eerie and lush, reminiscent of Ava Reid. And while the prose is quite literary, it also remains accessible for readers.
🗡️ Speaking of literary, there is so much gorgeous symbolism in this book! The way Gillig uses the moth to tackle feminity, death, metamorphism, change, loss, and grief…not to mention Sybil’s shroud and her transformation…
🗡️….Sybil. I LOVED her. She is a fantastic main character. Strong, sharp, and capable, yet carrying so much. The story arc of her learning to take up space and let go of others expectations tugged on my heartstrings. The line ‘People who love you for your usefulness don’t love you at all’ Speaking to eldest daughters everywhere!
🗡️The gargoyle. The big reveal at the end of the book made me sob while reading in my car in a parking lot 😭 Protect this character at all costs. He’s giving an obnoxious yet loveable Disney sidekick like Mushu from Mulan. The comedic timing and levity he brought to the story honestly read like a movie script at times. He was one of my favorite things about this story.
🗡️Last but certainly not least, the romance plot. Roderick Myndacious the man that you are!!!! Bring back men who yearn like Rory!! The sexual tension and banter here is TOP TIER. This is how your properly do enemies to lovers. The slow burn and intimacy that was crafted here was incredible. The wax scene!! And let’s not forget, Gillig created all this chemistry with very minimal smut!!! This story didn’t even need smut to be amazing (but we do thank her for the minimal amount we get 👀)
This also hit so many amazing tropes including ‘who did this to you’, touch her and die, fighting as foreplay, one horse…
An incredible read. How could she leave us with that ending!?!!? I am already itching for book two! Shoot this up your TBR everybody!
I will admit that I found One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig to be good, but not a standout favorite. So it knocked me over with how much I loved this book! The Knight and the Moth is a hauntingly atmospheric gothic fantasy with a beautiful romance subplot. Sybil, a Diviner (think of a seer) teams up with a small ragtag group—including a brooding Knight—for a quest to find her missing cohorts and unite several long-lost relics. I could go on and on about how much I loved this but here are some things I adored 💕 Slight spoilers below!
🗡️ This story was so fun to read because it is UNIQUE. It is so refreshing to read a different fantasy plot instead of the same rinse and repeat stories that frequently blow up in BookTok 😒 Also, Gillig creates a complex and solid magical system here though excellent world building and storytelling.
🗡️ This book is teeming with transportive imagery. The vibes are so eerie and lush, reminiscent of Ava Reid. And while the prose is quite literary, it also remains accessible for readers.
🗡️ Speaking of literary, there is so much gorgeous symbolism in this book! The way Gillig uses the moth to tackle feminity, death, metamorphism, change, loss, and grief…not to mention Sybil’s shroud and her transformation…
🗡️….Sybil. I LOVED her. She is a fantastic main character. Strong, sharp, and capable, yet carrying so much. The story arc of her learning to take up space and let go of others expectations tugged on my heartstrings. The line ‘People who love you for your usefulness don’t love you at all’ Speaking to eldest daughters everywhere!
🗡️The gargoyle. The big reveal at the end of the book made me sob while reading in my car in a parking lot 😭 Protect this character at all costs. He’s giving an obnoxious yet loveable Disney sidekick like Mushu from Mulan. The comedic timing and levity he brought to the story honestly read like a movie script at times. He was one of my favorite things about this story.
🗡️Last but certainly not least, the romance plot. Roderick Myndacious the man that you are!!!! Bring back men who yearn like Rory!! The sexual tension and banter here is TOP TIER. This is how your properly do enemies to lovers. The slow burn and intimacy that was crafted here was incredible. The wax scene!! And let’s not forget, Gillig created all this chemistry with very minimal smut!!! This story didn’t even need smut to be amazing (but we do thank her for the minimal amount we get 👀)
This also hit so many amazing tropes including ‘who did this to you’, touch her and die, fighting as foreplay, one horse…
An incredible read. How could she leave us with that ending!?!!? I am already itching for book two! Shoot this up your TBR everybody!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️ This just wasn’t for me, but that’s okay! I’m learning that I prefer more adult stories and themes. It was too juvenile for me, like a sitcom from the Disney channel 🫣 Pros: there is representation for Korean main characters and I was able to read it in less than 3 hours. If you like cheesy (bordering on trite), this is for you.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes