byarielshirley's reviews
81 reviews

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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? No

5.0

The Glow by Jessie Gaynor

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

2.0

The writing alone was very well done. The story itself felt weak and incomparable to the experiences commonly noted in high control groups, rather than a comparison to wellness culture. It didn’t feel like satire, or “Jane Austen on steroids” as is the review plastered on the front cover describes. Cass was definitely an enigma and I would have felt more satisfied if the character development was a little more thought out. Overall, an easy read but incredibly shallow.
The Blue Ruin by Leonie Anderson

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adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

5.0

This is one of my new favourite books. The characters are so lovable and the plot takes you in such an adventure. There are lots of lessons to learn between the excitement and relationships of the characters. A must read for fantasy romance readers.