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bookishpatricia's reviews
54 reviews
Congo by Michael Crichton
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The One by John Marrs
5.0
A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner the one you are genetically made for.
That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance, and love.
Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…
_____
That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance, and love.
Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…
_____
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
3.0
"In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse gets into a helicopter accident. Jesse is gone forever. Years later, Emma falls in love with Sam, an old high school friend, and gets engaged. Just then, Jesse is found.
With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves."
I can't believe I finished another book just before the year ends! But I guess it doesn't come as a surprise - it was that captivating, even the parts that left me feeling devastated.
TJR really has a way with words. I loved the parts where she narrated Emma's grieving process in length and didn't hold back or cut it short. From losing Jesse to (re)finding Sam. How she relearned how is it to be herself and have someone by her side as she changes over the years. From picking up hobbies she didn't think she would do to basing her ultimate decision on the mundane things - which are more significant than the grand gestures when it comes to love. True love.
All three major characters make sense and I understand all their perspectives. They were each given their "moments" so you can see in-depth how they really felt about the whole situation.
I like how Emma's decision wasn't that predictable (to me), especially once Jesse was found. TJR didn't make it easy, and I appreciated that. At the same time, those were the parts that made me emotionally confused. It was hard to keep reading, but I also wanted to know what happens next. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. LOL.
Suffice it to say, my feelings are stronger than my words. I can't even write a proper review right now. I feel like I should be saying something more substantial, but I have none. So I'll leave it at this.
It's a light read with a touch of heavy parts (mostly the emotional burden of making a now-or-never decision). 3 stars because I appreciated it for what it was.
With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves."
I can't believe I finished another book just before the year ends! But I guess it doesn't come as a surprise - it was that captivating, even the parts that left me feeling devastated.
TJR really has a way with words. I loved the parts where she narrated Emma's grieving process in length and didn't hold back or cut it short. From losing Jesse to (re)finding Sam. How she relearned how is it to be herself and have someone by her side as she changes over the years. From picking up hobbies she didn't think she would do to basing her ultimate decision on the mundane things - which are more significant than the grand gestures when it comes to love. True love.
All three major characters make sense and I understand all their perspectives. They were each given their "moments" so you can see in-depth how they really felt about the whole situation.
I like how Emma's decision wasn't that predictable (to me), especially once Jesse was found. TJR didn't make it easy, and I appreciated that. At the same time, those were the parts that made me emotionally confused. It was hard to keep reading, but I also wanted to know what happens next. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. LOL.
Suffice it to say, my feelings are stronger than my words. I can't even write a proper review right now. I feel like I should be saying something more substantial, but I have none. So I'll leave it at this.
It's a light read with a touch of heavy parts (mostly the emotional burden of making a now-or-never decision). 3 stars because I appreciated it for what it was.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
5.0
FIRST IMPRESSION:
The first few pages were good. It was apparent how Eleanor had a straightforward personality that could come off as strange or even satirical at times. But as the story went on, I found it harder to understand what Eleanor is on about and what the book is all about. Though I stopped myself from skimming advanced pages so I don’t spoil myself. I held on to the “fact” that this may be a good book according to Reese Witherspoon, and it’s not just a loose recommendation. There seems to be a mysterious angle about Eleanor, given her scar and how she got it.
So far, I’m liking Raymond’s character. Seems like he has a promising role in the book. Another mysterious angle, which I think encompasses the entirety of the book and explains Eleanor’s odd identity, is her past and her “mummy”.
NOTE:
When I find it hard to tune into the story, I like to imagine what Eleanor would look like. So far the best character I’ve come up with is Amy Fowler from The Big Bang Theory show. I just noticed on the back of the book that it’s soon to be a major motion picture — I’ll try to finish the book by then. I really hope it will be a good one.
IN-DEPTH REVIEW:
Eleanor is so relatable, at least to me, who can be awfully blunt and/or awkward socially. As I progressed into the book, I grew more compassion for Eleanor.
This book by itself is so quotable. I don’t know if Gail Honeyman was deliberate in doing so, but it’s almost as if the first half was witty and funny, and the second half is bursting with lessons and wisdom. Eleanor might not appreciate it (or she might, given her emotional and social glowup), but I just want to give her a hug each time she spewed out a nugget of wisdom. I’m sure she’s impressing no one - she’s being simply herself - but that exactly is the magic of Eleanor - being Eleanor!
Raymond has been likeable from the very start and I’m glad he didn’t go through any drastic character development or 180 deg turn. He remained constant, which is exactly what Eleanor needed at the moment.
The ending was perfect. As I thought, the 10% of the latter part of the book completed the first 90%. The build up to the main conflict was apt. In the end, it all came together and made sense.
All that said, a definite 5/5z Very much looking forward to the film. I hope they do justice with it. Reese Witherspoon wasn’t lying that the book is, indeed, “beautifully written and incredibly funny.” As always, please read the Reader’s Guide at the back.
The first few pages were good. It was apparent how Eleanor had a straightforward personality that could come off as strange or even satirical at times. But as the story went on, I found it harder to understand what Eleanor is on about and what the book is all about. Though I stopped myself from skimming advanced pages so I don’t spoil myself. I held on to the “fact” that this may be a good book according to Reese Witherspoon, and it’s not just a loose recommendation. There seems to be a mysterious angle about Eleanor, given her scar and how she got it.
So far, I’m liking Raymond’s character. Seems like he has a promising role in the book. Another mysterious angle, which I think encompasses the entirety of the book and explains Eleanor’s odd identity, is her past and her “mummy”.
NOTE:
When I find it hard to tune into the story, I like to imagine what Eleanor would look like. So far the best character I’ve come up with is Amy Fowler from The Big Bang Theory show. I just noticed on the back of the book that it’s soon to be a major motion picture — I’ll try to finish the book by then. I really hope it will be a good one.
IN-DEPTH REVIEW:
Eleanor is so relatable, at least to me, who can be awfully blunt and/or awkward socially. As I progressed into the book, I grew more compassion for Eleanor.
This book by itself is so quotable. I don’t know if Gail Honeyman was deliberate in doing so, but it’s almost as if the first half was witty and funny, and the second half is bursting with lessons and wisdom. Eleanor might not appreciate it (or she might, given her emotional and social glowup), but I just want to give her a hug each time she spewed out a nugget of wisdom. I’m sure she’s impressing no one - she’s being simply herself - but that exactly is the magic of Eleanor - being Eleanor!
Raymond has been likeable from the very start and I’m glad he didn’t go through any drastic character development or 180 deg turn. He remained constant, which is exactly what Eleanor needed at the moment.
The ending was perfect. As I thought, the 10% of the latter part of the book completed the first 90%. The build up to the main conflict was apt. In the end, it all came together and made sense.
All that said, a definite 5/5z Very much looking forward to the film. I hope they do justice with it. Reese Witherspoon wasn’t lying that the book is, indeed, “beautifully written and incredibly funny.” As always, please read the Reader’s Guide at the back.
Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
3.0
NOTE: This was bought on impulse based on online reviews. I got into it not knowing much about the book/without any hype. This review was weeks in the making. I finished this end of August, so my thoughts are not as fresh.
FIRST IMPRESSION: Based on the reviews, it's pretty good. I was personally intrigued with the OCD part - it being the main reason for "picking up" this book.
SYNOPSIS: "Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off."
DETAILED REVIEW:
This book focuses on Sam's OCD, which is discussed in great detail. Having intrusive thoughts myself, some parts were heavily relatable for me, though not new or mindblowing. It's a light read, feels like an encounter with a friend and you're seeing things from their POV. There is a huge plot twist that caught me off-guard and gave me a bit of chills, but in hindsight, it was necessary. Otherwise, the book will be for nothing. The pages were more than I expected, so that's a treat if you're a slow reader like me and you have separation anxiety with finishing a book. Lol. According to a friend with OCD, the descriptions are pretty accurate. They don't encompass every experience of a person with OCD or Pure O, but the general thought is there. There's a love interest oozing with green flags, so that's worth looking forward to.
AFTERTHOUGHT:
I highly recommend this to people who want to see a glimpse of OCD or intrusive thoughts in detail, but not to take this as a therapy book. Use this to gain insights or inspiration. Read the author's note. It basically summarizes everything and clears up some things you may overlook.
FIRST IMPRESSION: Based on the reviews, it's pretty good. I was personally intrigued with the OCD part - it being the main reason for "picking up" this book.
SYNOPSIS: "Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off."
DETAILED REVIEW:
This book focuses on Sam's OCD, which is discussed in great detail. Having intrusive thoughts myself, some parts were heavily relatable for me, though not new or mindblowing. It's a light read, feels like an encounter with a friend and you're seeing things from their POV. There is a huge plot twist that caught me off-guard and gave me a bit of chills, but in hindsight, it was necessary. Otherwise, the book will be for nothing. The pages were more than I expected, so that's a treat if you're a slow reader like me and you have separation anxiety with finishing a book. Lol. According to a friend with OCD, the descriptions are pretty accurate. They don't encompass every experience of a person with OCD or Pure O, but the general thought is there. There's a love interest oozing with green flags, so that's worth looking forward to.
AFTERTHOUGHT:
I highly recommend this to people who want to see a glimpse of OCD or intrusive thoughts in detail, but not to take this as a therapy book. Use this to gain insights or inspiration. Read the author's note. It basically summarizes everything and clears up some things you may overlook.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
5.0
One does not simply finish #AThousandSplendidSuns and immediately move on to the next book. An emotional review is in order.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
3.0
NOTE: This is my first CoHo book, and it was heavily influenced by the BookTok community.
It was definitely love-at-first-sentence. I watched reviews on YT while at the earliest chapters and one fan mentioned that the first sentence in every book is intriguing - I completely agree.
For non-fiction, this is an excellent read. I'm glad it's my first CoHo read cos it really set the bar high for me. It was a fairly quick read for me, considering I'm a slow reader. I was always eager to know what happened next, something I don't usually feel. It made me feel happy, giddy, upset, and even angry. As an avid fan said on YT, CoHo knows how to break your heart and put it all back together in the end. For a book with a pretty cover, this one is surprisingly dark and twisty. In hindsight, I’m happy to have this book as my first CoHo read, but I’m afraid there won’t be a next time for me.
WOULD I RECOMMEND IT? Sure, if you like romantic books with 180º plot twists.
WOULD I READ IT AGAIN? Nah. Once is enough, twice would be an unhealthy choice.
It was definitely love-at-first-sentence. I watched reviews on YT while at the earliest chapters and one fan mentioned that the first sentence in every book is intriguing - I completely agree.
For non-fiction, this is an excellent read. I'm glad it's my first CoHo read cos it really set the bar high for me. It was a fairly quick read for me, considering I'm a slow reader. I was always eager to know what happened next, something I don't usually feel. It made me feel happy, giddy, upset, and even angry. As an avid fan said on YT, CoHo knows how to break your heart and put it all back together in the end. For a book with a pretty cover, this one is surprisingly dark and twisty. In hindsight, I’m happy to have this book as my first CoHo read, but I’m afraid there won’t be a next time for me.
WOULD I RECOMMEND IT? Sure, if you like romantic books with 180º plot twists.
WOULD I READ IT AGAIN? Nah. Once is enough, twice would be an unhealthy choice.
Turning Tables by Rose MacDowell
4.0
✱ FIRST IMPRESSION • It gave me the impression of a "Sophie Kinsella" vibe, which it had, but it had its own flair. Definitely a nice and light read, but also relatable in terms of life decisions + the struggles of having a mediocre job.
✦ REVIEW • I was expecting it to be all witty and funny based on the cover, but it turned out to give more life advice and be enlightening. It was also relatable in the sense that you have to wear your big girl pants and toughen it up when the situation calls for it. It's equal parts hilarious and emotional to read. Overall, it's a relaxing book to read at night without any heavy parts to analyze.
✧ BOOKISH AFTERTHOUGHT • Now I'm really intrigued to read more books from Heather & Rose MacDowell. I have no lengthy afterthought about this. It's a good book - period.
✦ REVIEW • I was expecting it to be all witty and funny based on the cover, but it turned out to give more life advice and be enlightening. It was also relatable in the sense that you have to wear your big girl pants and toughen it up when the situation calls for it. It's equal parts hilarious and emotional to read. Overall, it's a relaxing book to read at night without any heavy parts to analyze.
✧ BOOKISH AFTERTHOUGHT • Now I'm really intrigued to read more books from Heather & Rose MacDowell. I have no lengthy afterthought about this. It's a good book - period.
Medusa [Illustrated Gift Edition] by Jessie Burton
5.0
I was looking for a palate cleanser from Neon Gods but within the same genre - greek mythology. I saw a review that mentioned Medusa being better than Stone Blind. Cue: this novel supposedly gave Medusa justice. I trusted that review blindly and went with this choice.
Undoubtedly one of my best reads this year.
Undoubtedly one of my best reads this year.
Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman
2.0
I went back and forth on how to review this book with justice but at the end of the day, I don’t really have much to say save for it being a “light, humorous read.” If you don’t have the same attention span I do, you can probably finish this in one afternoon.
It didn’t really stand out to me as I thought it would. And it definitely wasn’t as funny and memorable like Eleanor Oliphant, as some reviewers claimed. But then I’m biased, so it might be hard to beat that.
I will say though, every character felt like their own. There was clear distinction with their personalities, mannerisms, quirks, and reputation. In my head, I thought it would make a great series.
It didn’t really stand out to me as I thought it would. And it definitely wasn’t as funny and memorable like Eleanor Oliphant, as some reviewers claimed. But then I’m biased, so it might be hard to beat that.
I will say though, every character felt like their own. There was clear distinction with their personalities, mannerisms, quirks, and reputation. In my head, I thought it would make a great series.