betterwithabookinmyhand's reviews
467 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

4.75

Easily one of my favorite reads of the summer! I never wanted this story to end. Justin and Emma’s chemistry is off the charts and the build up emotionally in their relationship is everything I want from a romance story! 

“You're not asking too much," he said. "You were just asking the wrong person. Ask me instead.” 

Guh! The lines in this book!

The story follows Justin and Emma. Justin posts about his curse on Reddit: everyone he dates immediately finds their sole mate after they break up with Justin. Emma finds his post and thinks it’s hilarious, as she seemingly has the same curse. The hatch up a plan to date and break up so they can each find their forever someone. That is until they catch some major feelings and have to navigate if they stay together…doesn’t it mean they’re still cursed? 

What I love about Abby Jimenez is her stories (especially her most recent 3) is that she creates characters you would follow anywhere. I was so invested in Emma and Justin that even if the plot might be hilariously hard to believe in places I could honestly care less. Hours melt away when I read her stories and that’s why she’s one of my top favorite romance authors. 

There are Easter eggs in her stories if you like hunting for those! Characters from past stories will pop up subsequent stories but if you’re like me and are oblivious to them Abby will point them out to you after the story. (Thank you Abby 😂)

I would recommend Part of Your World, Yours Truly, and Just For the Summer to absolutely anyone and everyone. They are GOLD and a gift to anyone looking to be swept away by a romance story. 

4.75 golden, sparkling stars for this read 

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

This is a fast, easy read for anyone looking for a low-stakes, light read.

The plot was fun, a woman who is about to get married finds out her husband is cheating and rather than be the one blamed for calling off the wedding she hires a wedding crasher to object to the marriage and spills her fiancé’s secret. She then goes on to help him pull off some wedding objecting jobs and the two can’t stop thinking about each other.

What I wished this story had was more character development and more chemistry. Theres a bit more showing the characters and saying they’re crazy about each other but I just didn’t feel it. 

Altogether a fine story it just didn’t stick with me like other romcoms.

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.

---

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

4.75

“𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙠𝙣𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜. ‘𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚.’” 

THIS! BOOK! Tea, blood, heists, vampires, revenge, romance—what else could a reader want?? 

A Tempest of Tea gave me elements of what I LOVE about Six of Crows: the bonds within a gang of misfits, secret vendettas, heists, and punchy one-liners. But a tearoom for vampires? Genius. 

There was so much I enjoyed about this story! The two MCs Arthie & Jin are the main leaders of the gang that runs a secret tearoom and their separate backstories and personalities were easy wins for me. Arthie is secretive, cunning, and as blunt as her pistol-whip to the face. Jin is flirtatious, sweet-talker who is Arthie’s counterpart & co-owner of the tearoom. 

Theres’s a third POV, Flint who was adopted into a high place in society but chooses to spend her time forging signatures & documents for coin. I didn’t love Flint’s POV as she’s deeply naive and is one of those: duh you’re in danger, why did you go alone? kind of characters but I trust she’s there for good reason. (Maybe more in book 2?)

But I’m here for book 2! (Have I mentioned fantasy duologies are my FAVORITE??) I will recommend this story again and again. This was the first YA Fantasy to really captivate me since Legendborn. Hafsah  Faizal knows how to hold my interest—I’ll be over here counting down the days until A Steeping of Blood in September 2025. 

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!!