bestja01's reviews
303 reviews

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Love the show, liked the book.

Who Ate the First Oyster?: The Extraordinary People Behind the Greatest Firsts in History by Cody Cassidy

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.5

Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

3.5

Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

It's a book about parking lots and it's FASCINATING. 

Babel by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.75

Loved these characters, and couldn't put the book down. Lots to think about, and a fascinating way to explore colonialism and exploitation through a framing device of historical fantasy, and also a fascinating deep dive into the power of language. The last third broke my heart a bit, but I'm glad I read it.

The Flames by Sophie Haydock

dark emotional informative mysterious slow-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

3.75