audreading's reviews
18 reviews

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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? No

4.75

A little dense in the beginning, so I was worried, but I ended up loving this a lot more than I expected to. Well researched in the historical aspect with a clear respect and appreciation for the mixed cultures. Beautifully written characters and relationships. The way the ending worked out confused me a little, but I’m not mad at it.
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I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I loved the introspective nature of the book with such a unique perspective from the narrator. I feel I could reread this a few times and glimpse new little sparks of meaning. It’s not often we get to imagine what we’d do with ourselves without any real “purpose” to guide us, as that’s so often our obsession as humans. While the concept is scary, I found comfort in the familiar ways women work together to handle grief and difficulty. I also found peace in the narrator’s self-sufficiency and never-ending curiosity. This book is not supposed to be about what caused their situation. It was clear from early on that we wouldn’t know. From my perspective, it was about how the women handled it and the stark contrast in the narrator’s open view of life versus the women who remembered their original purpose.
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Beach Read by Emily Henry

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing tense slow-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

4.5

Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater

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adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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

4.75

Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana

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adventurous 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? Yes

3.75

Loved this book all the way up until the end, which made me almost not even want to read the sequel I anticipated so highly up until then.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Very cool idea but needed a lot more time in my opinion. Felt so surface level, and as someone who experiences true depression, honestly a little insulting. It trivializes the concept and portrays such an outdated idea of what depression looks and feels like. I found the book entertaining and enjoyed the short chapters. About 3/4 of the way through I did kinda feel like I got it at was ready to wrap it up. I enjoyed the choices made in the end. Overall, though, it didn’t blow my mind or really change my perspective.
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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? Yes

5.0

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

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

5.0

My first Agatha Christie book and I absolutely loved every second of it! From the moment I picked it up I could not put it back down. She gave me exactly what I hoped for in her writing without a single dull moment. Brb while I add every Agatha Christie book to my TBR.
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