bookobsessedmommy's reviews
1072 reviews

Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

Zoe was getting on my nerves, and so was her dad.

Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz

emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed going on this journey with Liyah and Daniel, from frenemies to lovers. Rachel addresses some tough topics in an honest way without making the overall feel melancholy. These characters feel very real, including the side characters. While this is clearly a romance novel, the romance isn't all consuming of the characters lives. There's lots of therapy (YAY!), conversations about grief and healing from trauma, and tons of great banter. (I also appreciate that these characters KNOW when they're holding their breath. 🙃) I'll definitely pick up more from this author.

Negroes with Guns by Robert F. Williams

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

The recounting of armed resistance in Monroe NC was eye-opening. It is mindboggling and stomach churning just how much white people did/do hate us. I was  furious the entire day i read this, and listening to white man use a hard 'R' did not help. (Who make that decision!?) As we head into at least four years of struggle, I'm going to have this quote in the back of my head. Time out for being timid and scared.

Why do white liberals ask us to be nonviolent? We are not the aggressors; we have been victimized for over 300 years. Yet nobody spends money to go into the south to ask the racists to be martyrs or pacifists.

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Wow. Just...wow. I don't read many thrillers, but this overall story had me itching to know what would happen next. I didn't see that ending coming. Some parts were repetitive, or jumped to strange conclusions, but mom guilt and curated social media content made this feel real while also being batshit crazy. Y'all better stop underestimating people, or you gon get got! 👁

The Story Collector by Evie Woods

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

I think this book may have been doing a bit too much. Both time lines are filled with characters, conflict, trauma, and each has a romance of sorts.  There's just a lot going on. All the fairy talk was creepy but interesting.  The past time line had the higher stakes, and i was more invested in it. I wanted more development from the current timeline. It felt a bit sparse and I was always a little disappointed to go back there. Overall, it was a decent book. I might try another from the author, but I'll definitely look for the audiobook. I need help with the Irish pronunciations.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

I've put off reading this for years because the movie is so iconic, and while there is quite a bit of overlap, this is a distinct story that still had my jaw on the floor. Celie's revelations about God and the way her relationships shift was oddly relatable. She not only recognizes the lies she's been sold, thanks to Sug, but develops a more honest rapport with the God inside her. I loved seeing her relationship develop with Sug, and getting to quote some of the most famous lines from the movie with the narrator. I was excited for Nettie's letters at the start, but they got a bit boring at times. The description of what happened to the village broke my heart, especially cause it's still happened today. A lot of this stuff is still happening today, and I honestly wish it wasn't still so relevant. 

Wrapped Up in You by Talia Hibbert

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

This was a really sweet Friends to Lovers holidy romance. Our MC's grew up next door to each other and they work through their fears to find their HEA. I stan a meddling granny, and even though she doesn't get much stage time, you can tell she's pulling some strings. Will is such a Golden Retriever and Abby is more reserved, but he takes the time to see beyond the surface. Love that! There is some spice in the epilogue, but the rest of the story is pretty chaste. I would love to read stories about Abby's brothers. This family is fun.

Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

Emma is 1 year sober and expecting things to finally start falling into place, but each step forward feels like 2 steps back. Emma goes on a journey of not just being sober, but learning to 'human' while sober. All she wants to be is 'normal', but with so many sober first, instead she feels awkward and weird. Ben is so sweet, and while I thought the resolution of their fight needed more flushing out, I'm glad he was patient with her. The narrative that her AA group sells reminds me a LOT of Western Christianity. "Just give up your will and God will work it all out." It's initially very attractive, particularly when we feel lost and out of control, but over time the concepts ring hollow. I was thrilled when she shared how she was feeling and found group that was a better fit for the next leg of her journey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent

Where We Found Our Home by Natasha Bishop

adventurous emotional tense 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

4.25

This is my first romantic suspense novel, and I can see the appeal. The romance and thriller elements are just about 50/50, which allows the majority of the tension to be external to the relationship.

When Nevaeh gets kidnapped my gut was in my throat.  I am so glad she was found perfectly safe, but it was weird sort of let down. Like we were waiting for the absolute worst, the  things are just fine, but not really of course.

The final showdown was super quick, but it definitely delivered what I was hoping for. I would have liked a bit more insight on the stalker, but I'm thrilled with their HEA. The epilogue is clearly setting up the next book, and while I enjoyed the writing style, I'm not sure if romantic suspense is my cup of tea. It definitely kept me turning the pages though!

Saga, Vol. 10 by Brian K. Vaughan

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Vaughan really knows how to snatch your wig man. Just when you think things are settling, WHAM! Meteor, jellyfish, fire, kidnapping, MURDER!!!! I'm trying to take my time and not binge this since I'm catching up with publication dates, but I'm too invested to slowdown.