bookscoffeehayley's reviews
235 reviews

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

funny fast-paced

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

3.0

This was a silly little short story that gives a little peak into Vero’s life pre-Finlay! 

It gives us a little more context to what Vero was going through that caused her to leave college and run for her sorry sisters. 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-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

A 5 star thriller?! I haven't read a 5 star thriller in AGES!!!!

I really loved this one. It was unlike most thrillers I've read. I've been bored with the current mold of thrillers and this was refreshing to read! I truly couldn’t stop turning the pages!!! 

Definitely recommend to any thriller fans out there that are look for a fast-paced, engrossing thriller!

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

challenging dark emotional informative sad 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

4.0

 Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley was my pick for this month for my IRL bookclub hosted by the amazing @backstagebookreview 

 

Mottley writes a deeply heart-wrenching and extremely realistic fictional story based on true events from the mid 2010s Oakland. This was such an incredible read. I mostly listened to the audiobook, read by one of my fave narrators Joniece Abbott-Pratt, and she does such a great job. 

 

Mottley began writing this debut novel when she was only 17! I’m excited to read more of Leila Mottley’s writing! 

Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I listened to this on audio and I think that bumped it from 2 stars to 3 stars in my world. 

If I had been reading a physical copy I think it would have taken me weeks to get through. The beginning felt so slow to me. It took me a long time to feel any interest in any of the characters. 

However, with the audio I was often getting characters confused because there are SO many of them!! 

I'm not sure that I'll continue with this series, but the end of this book sets up the series really well! The end also throws in a bunch of plot points that leave you feeling a little whiplashed...

I almost would've rather started with the second book? This review is also leaving you with whiplash... But Mara Wilson narrates it and she does a great job!

Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers by Jesse Green, Mary Rodgers

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

If you love theatre, this is a must read. 

The narration is a MUST LISTEN. 

I learned so many theatre tidbits listening to this. It’s like page six for golden age musical theatre girlies. 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

I really didn’t have any expectations about this one going in. I read Hazelwood’s debut ‘The Love Hypothesis’ when it first came out and really enjoyed it! And all of her recent books have been on my tbr forever. Idk why it’s taken me so long to pick up another one of her books!!! 

A friend started reading this and I immediately used that as a push to grab my copy and read along with her! Then I got super busy, she finished, and I had barely started 😅 story of my life with buddy reads….

I love Ali Hazelwood’s writing and her characters! This book was fun and also had a lot of heart! Vampyre of it all was a bit much for my squeamishness at times but it wasn’t too bad! It was the perfect book for me to read over the last week or so while being Uber busy! And it feels like this may be a series??? I’d definitely be excited to continue reading about these characters!!!

Piper Chen Sings by Phillipa Soo

emotional funny hopeful inspiring

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

5.0

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

challenging dark emotional funny tense slow-paced

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

2.0

This book wasn't for me...

I really wanted to like it but I just couldn't get into it. The first 60% dragged. I wanted more depth to each of the first few years of the murder games between Rowan and Sloane. It was hard to root for these characters to be together and then hard to believe how quickly they fell for each other when to me the build-up felt lacking. 

Also, I'm usually not squeamish but wow this book had my tummy churning lol

Definitely read the content/trigger warnings that are included at the beginning of the book!!!!!!

Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

Hey Siri: play ‘Where You Lead’ by Carole King. 

….where Emily Henry leads, I will follow. You’re telling me EmHen wrote a rom-com called ‘Happy Place’ set in MY happy place?! A rom-com that takes place in Midcoast Maine?!?!!!! Say less.

I’ve heard a lot of divisiveness about this particular Emily Henry, and while it wasn’t my favorite one of hers, I had a good time reading it! And I zoomed through it in 2.5 days… 

I’m so excited for Funny Story to come out this month! Again, where Emily Henry leads, I will follow!!!

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

It’s taken me WEEKS to write this review….. 


I’ll preface this with saying I’ve never read Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, and I don’t think having not read it any of this story was lost on me. 

This was a really tough read for me. I know the town this story took place in. I know these characters. I’m related to these characters. These characters were my mom, my biological father. 

I’m not usually a person that gets triggered very easily but this book at times was like holding a mirror up to my life and my family. It was hard to read and also cathartic. This world of addiction from a child’s eyes can feel so lonely, solitary, and even embarrassing. It was a relief to have that burden of society’s views lifted. 

This was also one of the first books I didn’t tandem listen/read… idk why- it just felt like it was material that was best for me to be emerged in the words, not narration.