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beatrizdizon_'s reviews
19 reviews
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.5
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
You know in Twilight when Jacob imprinted on Renesmee, and it’s all icky and weird because it was bound to be romantic despite him being a full-grown adult and her a wee baby? I guess this makes me one of the people who doesn’t like how Henry and Clare met in The Timetraveler’s Wife. I didn’t mind that they got together, then I wouldn’t have read the book in the first place — it’s already in the title: WIFE. It just baffles me how they couldn’t just be both kids or at least the same age when Henry time-jumps to her. They meet in the present when Clare is 20 but for her, it has always been Henry. Henry is the person she knows she’ll dedicate her whole life to.
That’s what it felt like. It is as though Clare’s life revolved around Henry. Even in the two years they were apart, she was shattered and messy for him. Everything is for him.
Except the premise of the book had such great potential to make an interesting plot. Instead, we deal with characters I couldn't care less about or at least root for. Clare’s struggles and loneliness with a husband who constantly and unwillingly disappears have an appeal as a subject. That only materialized in the second half, I should not have to fight this much to enjoy a book!
I have a bone to pick with the writing: Ingrid’s ending, Gomez’s character, but specifically Henry’s POV. I hate that he constantly tells us that he knows what will happen and that he’s a time traveler. Like okay? We know too, damn, no need to spell it out. Let the readers be thrilled too and just show us.
Also, there were too many unnecessary mentions of breasts and r*pe. Especially for the latter, as if humans do not commit a plethora of wrongful deeds for a person to cite.
I admit that there were moments I was moved, shedding a few tears here and there, hence 2.75. Still, I had to let that semi-rant out. But to be honest, I would have DNF’ed this if I wasn’t annotating it for my best friend. I have been looking forward to talking to her about this, and I can’t if I only know a small percentage of the material.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, Death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Blood, Rape, Death of parent, Grief, Body shaming, Infertility, Suicide, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Gun violence
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
This is so beautiful. The awkwardness, the innocence, the transition to being young adults. It’s bittersweet that the series is about to end.
Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Gave us kilig at the beginning, then broke our hearts. Dealing with mental health can be tough, especially at a young age. It is not simple to comprehend and articulate. Sure, Heartstopper may be more lighthearted and easy to digest, but it is great material for its target audience.
The extras at the end maybe my favorite among the volumes.
The extras at the end maybe my favorite among the volumes.
Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
More complex than previous volumes. We also get more of Tara, Darcy, Aled, Elle, and Tao!
Oseman’s skills in drawing keep on progressing.
Oseman’s skills in drawing keep on progressing.
Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
I’m just so glad we have Heartstopper in this age. Now all the next generations have this too and see how beautiful love is.
Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Alice… the light green with the white font… just why.
The chasing around with the other’s homework is so Neil-and-Todd type of gay, yeah? It’s adorable. It’s a book you can go back to over and over again for a serotonin boost.
But it’s also calm before the storm.
The chasing around with the other’s homework is so Neil-and-Todd type of gay, yeah? It’s adorable. It’s a book you can go back to over and over again for a serotonin boost.
But it’s also calm before the storm.
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Insurgent had no business being 525 pages long. Just like how I paused reading it years ago, then again last December, the plot of this book is repetitive. Bland as well, which I’m debating if it’s just Tris or the entirety of it. However, other characters are also underdeveloped that I often question their significance to the story.