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bookstolivewith's reviews
327 reviews
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed Red, White & Royal Blue so much that I requested One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston on @netgalley without much thought or reading the synopsis. Which means I had so! much! fun! reading! it!
Seriously, I was totally and delightfully unprepared for what I was about to read. I was thrown off from the rom-com vibes I expected (and they are there, of course!) by the appearance of so many sci-fi vibes. I’m not sharing anything more than that because I really want everyone to be as unprepared as I was. I savored my experience reading One Last Stop, because it surprised me and I miss being surprised by books, which bookstagram kind of takes away from on occasion.
One thing that I will say about McQuiston’s books, now that I’ve read both, is that there are always parts where I feel like I’ve missed something. The writing and character development sometimes happens so quickly that something really major will happen, I’ll be confused about how we got there, and then I have to go back and double-check the plot to make sure I’ve kept up. It’s not necessarily a negative thing, just something I’ve noticed. Makes me feel like I need to read closer!
If you’ve read this one, let me know what you think! This is barely a review but I would hate to spoil something joyful for other readers and there are so many gems to discover in this one. One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston is out on June 1!
Seriously, I was totally and delightfully unprepared for what I was about to read. I was thrown off from the rom-com vibes I expected (and they are there, of course!) by the appearance of so many sci-fi vibes. I’m not sharing anything more than that because I really want everyone to be as unprepared as I was. I savored my experience reading One Last Stop, because it surprised me and I miss being surprised by books, which bookstagram kind of takes away from on occasion.
One thing that I will say about McQuiston’s books, now that I’ve read both, is that there are always parts where I feel like I’ve missed something. The writing and character development sometimes happens so quickly that something really major will happen, I’ll be confused about how we got there, and then I have to go back and double-check the plot to make sure I’ve kept up. It’s not necessarily a negative thing, just something I’ve noticed. Makes me feel like I need to read closer!
If you’ve read this one, let me know what you think! This is barely a review but I would hate to spoil something joyful for other readers and there are so many gems to discover in this one. One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston is out on June 1!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Racial slurs
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
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? It's complicated
4.5
Look, it feels like just about everyone has read Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, so I don’t have anything much new to say and I won’t take up y’all’s time pretending to do so: I really enjoyed it! (TW: chronic illness, brief mentions of an abusive relationship)
I can’t comment on the accuracy of Hibbert’s depiction of chronic illness, but it seemed tasteful and well-portrayed. The characters were so lovable, and wow, Red just got big heart eyes all the way around. I was so intrigued by the use of color descriptors from Red’s point of view, as if he saw everything as a possible painting. I found it funny, engaging and serious at the right moments. Overall, it was the perfect read for me right now.
One part that gave me some pause was that I did feel slightly that the “love” part of the story came up really quickly. All of sudden, they went from a flirty potential for a relationship to quite serious, and while I was willing to buy in, it did make me a little confused and feel almost like I missed a scene or line that would have clued me in. It didn’t alter my love for the book in the slightest but it was just something that cropped up in my mind when I was reading!
In summation: I really enjoyed Get A Life, Chloe Brown & I can’t wait to read about the next two Brown sisters!
I can’t comment on the accuracy of Hibbert’s depiction of chronic illness, but it seemed tasteful and well-portrayed. The characters were so lovable, and wow, Red just got big heart eyes all the way around. I was so intrigued by the use of color descriptors from Red’s point of view, as if he saw everything as a possible painting. I found it funny, engaging and serious at the right moments. Overall, it was the perfect read for me right now.
One part that gave me some pause was that I did feel slightly that the “love” part of the story came up really quickly. All of sudden, they went from a flirty potential for a relationship to quite serious, and while I was willing to buy in, it did make me a little confused and feel almost like I missed a scene or line that would have clued me in. It didn’t alter my love for the book in the slightest but it was just something that cropped up in my mind when I was reading!
In summation: I really enjoyed Get A Life, Chloe Brown & I can’t wait to read about the next two Brown sisters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Minor: Emotional abuse
Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: Stories from the Harlem Renaissance by Zora Neale Hurston
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
The Souvenir Museum: Stories by Elizabeth McCracken
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Guncle by Stephen Rowley is a fun, slightly over-the-top take on family, grief and the “coming of age” novel, as a man begins to navigate his own, somewhat stunted life through the eyes of children.
Synopsis: Patrick, lovingly known by his niece and nephew as GUP, is not ready to be single parent, even if it’s just for the summer. For the past few years, he’s been self-isolating, remaining distant and not getting involved unless he has to. But when his family collapses around him and grief overtakes them all, he has no choice but to pick up the pieces. So what will this summer with his family teach him? Well, succinctly, more than he ever imagined. (TW: death, grief, addiction, homophobia)
I wasn’t sold on this one in the first few chapters and I actually found the prologue chapter a bit off putting because it’s a bit “in media res” for my tastes BUT I’m so glad I stuck with it, because it was a really heartwarming story and I enjoyed reading it. I think in places it tried a little too hard to be funny and relevant to pop culture, but overall, it adds to the storyline, since Patrick is essentially an reclusive Hollywood star.
There’s a lot of grief to deal with in this one, both in the present and past of the book, so it’s not a totally light-hearted read despite the cover. There are two particularly heart-wrenching moments that had tears coming to my eyes at the idea of them. But at its core, I think it would be a good summer/beach read!
This one is out in May and I think if you’re already a Stephen Rowley fan or like a slightly heavier beach read, you’ll enjoy this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Addiction
Minor: Homophobia
Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton features Alfie and Alice, who are both receiving care for critical injuries in a long-term recovery unit at a local hospital, learning to navigate their new physical boundaries, opening up new emotional states and forming a true friendship without seeing each other (thus the name of the title).
(CW: traumatic flashbacks, car crash, amputation, burn victim, surgeries, general hospital environment)
It’s a sweet and emotional story, but it’s kinda like a Hallmark movie — enjoyable while it’s happening but really, it’s in one ear and out the other. It was a laidback Friday night read, and I was able to finish it in less than 24 hours, so it is somewhat compelling and keeps you hooked to find out what will happen next, as most hospital dramas do.
I liked the alternating points of view, since each chapter explores different scenes from different perspectives, and I think it does give a huge credence to the fact that physical and mental health are intertwined, which becomes a huge plot point especially for Alfie. Also, if you’re looking for a non-steamy romance adjacent book, this could be for you, since they quite literally have no physical contact other than some hand-holding!
However, I don’t think this is a book that will stick with me or that I will reread. I just wish there had been a bit more actual romance at the end.
(CW: traumatic flashbacks, car crash, amputation, burn victim, surgeries, general hospital environment)
It’s a sweet and emotional story, but it’s kinda like a Hallmark movie — enjoyable while it’s happening but really, it’s in one ear and out the other. It was a laidback Friday night read, and I was able to finish it in less than 24 hours, so it is somewhat compelling and keeps you hooked to find out what will happen next, as most hospital dramas do.
I liked the alternating points of view, since each chapter explores different scenes from different perspectives, and I think it does give a huge credence to the fact that physical and mental health are intertwined, which becomes a huge plot point especially for Alfie. Also, if you’re looking for a non-steamy romance adjacent book, this could be for you, since they quite literally have no physical contact other than some hand-holding!
However, I don’t think this is a book that will stick with me or that I will reread. I just wish there had been a bit more actual romance at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death