bestja01's reviews
304 reviews

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous mysterious medium-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

3.75

Still rolling my eyes a bit at some of the characters and plot points, but I’m having a great time reading this series. Interesting character development, and it was nice to dive into the wider plot instead of the competition that framed most of the first book.

Wired for Culture: Origins of the Human Social Mind by Mark Pagel

challenging informative slow-paced

2.5

I just didn’t click with this book- it could have been half the length and said exactly the same thing. And interesting concept with some interesting examples, but it took me months to get through. 

Bossypants by Tina Fey

4.0

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

lighthearted 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? Yes

3.75

Fun book, and I enjoyed the placement of the conflict in the world of academia. I related to the main character a lot, and enjoyed her journey. The story was predictable, but a fun ride nonetheless

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective 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

4.0

I loved Elizabeth’s journey in this book- her struggle felt realistic and I cared for her even when she acted in blunt or caustic ways. It was an interesting look into a hypothetical life of a brilliant woman in the 50s, without being too heavy-handed or preachy. Great characters and great story.

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.75

Another slam dunk for the Wayfarers series- I just adore the universe Becky Chambers has created. It was cool that none of the characters in this book were human- I enjoyed learning about the races that were only slightly referenced in her other books. And I loved getting to know Pei! All in all, a very fun book and a lovely conclusion to the series.

On the Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed how this story was told from the viewpoint of the mother and all of the sisters- it made every character sympathetic, even when their choices seemed ruthless or stupid. I grew to care for the characters and wanted them all to find a happy ending- while the book ended on a melancholy note, it also managed to not sink completely into pessimism. All in all, a compelling story with compelling characters. 

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.