betterwithabookinmyhand's reviews
427 reviews

Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee

adventurous informative mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.75

Thank you Penguin Teen & Penguin Random House Audio for the free hardcover & complimentary audiobook.

This book transported me right away. I had a long drive ahead of me and I sunk into the audiobook and the Chow sisters’ lives in LA’s 1930s Chinatown during the Great Depression. When they find their childhood friend turned movie star murdered headlines twist the story as another reason to tear down Chinatown for a railway stop. The Chow sisters must solve their friend’s murder and do everything in their power to save their town.

What I enjoyed most about this story were the historical and cultural perspectives. Chinese turns of phrase and idioms are sprinkled throughout the story and they always drew my attention to them. I hadn’t considered what the Great Depression was like for various cultures in America and the stigma against Chinese citizens in the media were heartbreaking to discover.

Where I struggled was in the murder mystery aspect. I did lose interest in the whudunit mid-way through the book. I could have used a little more action or romance overall to keep my interest but all that said this book has a lot to offer.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

The Fallbacks: Bound for Ruin by Jaleigh Johnson

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

This was a fun read to brainstorm ideas for my D&D group! The party was entertaining, chaotic at times, and had quite the  adventure in the end!

Thank you Penguin Random House audio for the complimentary audiobook!

This story was pretty far outside of my wheelhouse but I’m glad I read it! I really connected with the Bard and his character gave me ideas for how to role play my Bard in my campaign.

But because I don’t know all the races in D&D it was harder for me to keep track of characters’ appearances and who’s who. Like the D&D movie and book it was based on that this author wrote I think I would LOVE this story the most in a movie form. That being said—paying customer here movie producers, I’m ready for more D&D movies!

Would recommend for diehard D&D fans and fantasy readers that can track species & a group of characters well!

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

While this book was a bit slow for me and wasn’t exactly my cup of tea there was a lot I did appreciate about it. 

It delved into women’s rights, the trauma of sexual assault, not  believing a woman’s assault. While this is a YA book and it has small fae elements the win of this story was the MC regaining her voice and standing up against male injustice.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.25

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense 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? N/A

4.25

I’m going to miss the letters between Iris and Roman!! I was living for their interactions, honestly I forget it’s a fantasy world most of the time because I’m so locked in on their love story!

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

This was a book SO good I could easily turn back to page 1 and start reading it all over again. I actually just might.

Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for the complimentary audiobook.

What I personally was missing in the last Emily Henry book was a relatability to the characters. Not everyone person is your cup of tea and that group felt like acquaintances rather than close friends. 

But Funny Story had EV 👏 ERY 👏 THING I was looking for. The MCs were quirky and relatable and the humor just hit again and again. The misery loves company storyline of two freshly brokenhearted strangers who become roommates because their exes decided to get together? Genius. There’s hilarious forced dating, top tier Emily Henry banter, and MCs you’ll riot over if they don’t get together—and soon!

The audiobook was magical, seriously.

Transportive and heart wrenching and  amusing. I seriously do love the narrator Julia Whelan, they’re the voice of Emily Henry’s books and they’re a perfect match. I love the voices for the various characters and the emotion that comes through in the somber parts. Like are they crying when the characters are crying? It’s like listening to an Oscar-level performance. I’ve listened to all of the Emily Henry books as audiobooks and they’re some of my very favorite audiobooks to recommend!

This book is currently tied for first place in my favorite Emily Henry books line up. I just cannot WAIT until everyone can read it. Do yourself a favor, preorder it stat. It hits shelves April 23rd!

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

Can Heartstopper do me wrong? Nope. Pretty sure it’s just perfect in every way! I love sitting down and reading each volume in one sitting. The artwork is so expressive and cohesive and beautiful. The plot line always takes on something daring that many high schoolers struggle with all woven within the sweetest queer teen love story! I’m rooting for Nick & Charlie!!