bestja01's reviews
267 reviews

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

4.0

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

I love this series and these characters. I feel so immersed in the universe that Becky Chambers has built for her stories, and her characters are complex and lovable. I was rooting for them the entire time, and it was such a joy to follow them on their journeys. Though I would love to see more from these characters, the ending was excellent and felt like a perfect coda to a delightful story.

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I wanted to throw this book at the wall, it was so frustrating. The unreliable narrator and narration made it so I was frantically reading it to see where the story would lead. It was an interesting storyline with great characters, and I loved getting to unwrap different pieces of the puzzle. The reveals at the end answered most questions but it still left a lot open for the next book. All in all- deeply frustrating but very satisfying read that is a little unclear at the end, but a lot of fun.

Be Not Afraid of Love: Lessons on Fear, Intimacy, and Connection by Mimi Zhu

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

This story was very introspective and I loved the divisions of the chapters and how the story was woven in between these different emotions and states of being. At times it felt very academic, but the concept was strong and there was a lot of beauty in the writing.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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

This book has been on my to-read list for years and I finally picked it up at a bookstore. I LOVED it! What a lovely space adventure- the crew are all complex and lovable, and their adventures were exciting and unique. I fell in love with the characters and the story and didn’t want it to end.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

I love all of Emily Henry’s work, and this is no different. You know exactly where this love story is going the entire time, but that doesn’t make the journey any less fun. The characters are relatable, likable, and personable, and I really enjoyed Harriet as a character and narrator. The book is nothing earth-shattering, but it is lovely, warm, and comforting. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It’s a complicated and unique world, and it took me a minute to understand it and get invested in it- but once I did, I fell in love with the characters and was on the edge of my seat. You learn quickly that no character is safe, which keeps the stakes high throughout. Fascinating plot, very unique world-building, and surprisingly funny prose. I could get bogged down in some of the action scenes (they were sometimes hard to follow) and had some trouble keeping track of the secondary characters (even with the helpful naming systems), but I found myself deeply enthralled by the story.

The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket by Benjamin Lorr

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

Incredibly well-written dive into the massive system that is the grocery industry. It is thoughtful and specific but coming from a place of curiosity instead of contempt. There are a lot of horrifying details throughout the book, all relating to these massive systems that govern our entire existence with us hardly noticing them. It makes you think a lot, makes you feel helpless, makes you feel wonder, and makes you want to find a better way forward. Of course, the point of this book is that a new way forward is a lot bigger than the individual, but there’s always hope.

Trust by Hernán Díaz

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book surprised me and took me on an unexpected ride. I loved the way questions were slowly answered as the picture grew clearer with each section. The fourth section was not the huge reveal it seemed to be intended as, but I thought the writing of that section, and all four sections, was quite beautiful and unique. The third section was the most captivating. I’m all, it was a great story and one that makes us challenge our ideas of what is truthful and the power of a well-told story.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

A beautiful story with engaging and dynamic characters. I’m not a gamer but I was still able to connect deeply with the story, and I loved the writing and the way the relationships developed throughout the book.