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carley's reviews
263 reviews
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow tells the story of two childhood friends, Sadie and Sam, who bonded over games as children and later reconnect to create video games together. Part contemporary/coming-of-age, part fictional tech company origin story, this book jumps back and forth in time to tell the story of the creative and intimate lives of two best friends turned business partners.
The writing in this book was very strong. This was my first experience with Gabrielle Zevin's writing and I was really impressed. There were some chapters written almost in prose and others written within the game worlds the characters created, which I felt was a really cool choice. I made it easy to understand that the perspective had shifted, even if it wasn't blatantly stated. I saw other reviewers mention this isn't as good as other novels Zevin has written, and that honestly makes me excited to read more of her work.
I don't know anything about video game creation and programming, but I didn't feel isolated or lost by my lack of expertise. The heart of the story is in the relationships, not so much the specifics of game design and references. There are also little moments in this book that I didn't initially catch on to, but later realized were bits of foreshadowing that pulled me into the story. There were definitely some slower chapters, but overall I was invested in the characters and how their experiences colored their relationship.
The writing in this book was very strong. This was my first experience with Gabrielle Zevin's writing and I was really impressed. There were some chapters written almost in prose and others written within the game worlds the characters created, which I felt was a really cool choice. I made it easy to understand that the perspective had shifted, even if it wasn't blatantly stated. I saw other reviewers mention this isn't as good as other novels Zevin has written, and that honestly makes me excited to read more of her work.
I don't know anything about video game creation and programming, but I didn't feel isolated or lost by my lack of expertise. The heart of the story is in the relationships, not so much the specifics of game design and references. There are also little moments in this book that I didn't initially catch on to, but later realized were bits of foreshadowing that pulled me into the story. There were definitely some slower chapters, but overall I was invested in the characters and how their experiences colored their relationship.
The Heart of the Deal by Lindsay MacMillan
reflective
slow-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
2.0
The Heart of the Deal centers on Rae, a woman in her mid-twenties working in the all-consuming world of Wall Street finance but who dreams of one day becoming a published poet. The book follows her from her 25th birthday as she attempts to hold on to her very structured timeline for the future while navigating love and relationships as a young adult.
I agree with other reviews that while this feels like it would be a rom-com of sorts, it absolutely isn’t. There are charming moments, but it’s a more serious take on love in your twenties. I enjoyed and related to her struggles to take the jump and dive into her dream career when she had the stability, however draining and soul-crushing, of her Wall Street job.
I wanted to like this book. I think if I was younger and not weeks from turning 30, I may have had more empathy and understanding for Rae’s fears of being unwed at 30. It feels like a very immature view on love, but maybe that was a very conscious choice on the part of the author. I also struggled with the way depression was handled in this book. It sometimes seemed to be somewhat romanticized and at other times trivialized or completely misunderstood. Again, I’m unsure if this was a purposeful choice by the author to show Rae’s naïveté about the subject, so I can’t fault the book for the parts that didn’t connect with me. It could very well be a case of me being the wrong audience for The Heart of the Deal.
I agree with other reviews that while this feels like it would be a rom-com of sorts, it absolutely isn’t. There are charming moments, but it’s a more serious take on love in your twenties. I enjoyed and related to her struggles to take the jump and dive into her dream career when she had the stability, however draining and soul-crushing, of her Wall Street job.
I wanted to like this book. I think if I was younger and not weeks from turning 30, I may have had more empathy and understanding for Rae’s fears of being unwed at 30. It feels like a very immature view on love, but maybe that was a very conscious choice on the part of the author. I also struggled with the way depression was handled in this book. It sometimes seemed to be somewhat romanticized and at other times trivialized or completely misunderstood. Again, I’m unsure if this was a purposeful choice by the author to show Rae’s naïveté about the subject, so I can’t fault the book for the parts that didn’t connect with me. It could very well be a case of me being the wrong audience for The Heart of the Deal.
End of the World House by Adrienne Celt
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
End of the World House centers on Bertie, a corporate cartoonist, and her close but fractured friendship with Kate. The friends travel to Paris during the middle of the end of the world, amidst climate disaster and worldwide terrorism. But something is off. It begins to feel like Bertie is stuck in a loop, living the same day over and over again.
I really enjoyed the concepts that were brought in End of the World House. It was a really new experience for me and held its cards close to the chest for more than half of the novel. The book was a mix between Groundhogs Day without the comedy and an intensive on the multiverse theory. As a reader, you begin to understand that something weird is going on, but the jumps back and forth and time bury the lead for a while so it is a very slow build.
I can't say that I fully understand the culmination of the book, but I think that was probably the point. All in all, it was a very captivating read and I am really excited to see what else this author has in store.
I really enjoyed the concepts that were brought in End of the World House. It was a really new experience for me and held its cards close to the chest for more than half of the novel. The book was a mix between Groundhogs Day without the comedy and an intensive on the multiverse theory. As a reader, you begin to understand that something weird is going on, but the jumps back and forth and time bury the lead for a while so it is a very slow build.
I can't say that I fully understand the culmination of the book, but I think that was probably the point. All in all, it was a very captivating read and I am really excited to see what else this author has in store.
How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
If you're a fan of The Good Place or Mike Schur in general, this is a must-read! This book is very approachable introduction to the complex philosophical concepts Schur touches on in the show. Imbued with his wit and humor, he is able to serve up a kind of Cliffs Notes version of philosophy that doesn't feel pretentious but also isn't "dumbed down" to the point of underestimating his readers. It feels more like a conversation than a lecture. I don't tend to read a lot of nonfiction, but being a fan of The Good Place, I really enjoyed exploring these concepts further.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lease on Love by Falon Ballard
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a very cute story about following your passion and opening yourself up to new people and experiences, especially after trauma.
Lease on Love centers on Sadie, a twenty-something working in finance in New York City, who has just been passed over for a well-deserved promotion. Looking for something new (while a little more than tipsy), she mistakes a roommate-finding app with a dating app and ends up matching with Jack, a quiet nerdy man with a stunning Brooklyn brownstone. As the new roommates get to know each other, they start to realize what it is they really want and need from life.
This was a really sweet contemporary romance. There wasn't much conflict throughout, but the characters were really endearing and the friendships in the novel felt really honest and supportive. I think there were moments when some of the more serious topics could have been explored more deeply, but I don't think that took away from how the book ended.
This book was exactly the hopeful, romantic read I needed after one too many climate change/dystopian novels.
Lease on Love centers on Sadie, a twenty-something working in finance in New York City, who has just been passed over for a well-deserved promotion. Looking for something new (while a little more than tipsy), she mistakes a roommate-finding app with a dating app and ends up matching with Jack, a quiet nerdy man with a stunning Brooklyn brownstone. As the new roommates get to know each other, they start to realize what it is they really want and need from life.
This was a really sweet contemporary romance. There wasn't much conflict throughout, but the characters were really endearing and the friendships in the novel felt really honest and supportive. I think there were moments when some of the more serious topics could have been explored more deeply, but I don't think that took away from how the book ended.
This book was exactly the hopeful, romantic read I needed after one too many climate change/dystopian novels.
Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Lockdown on London Lane centers on a block of flats in London that have been forced to quarantine for a week in the early days of the Covid pandemic. Very Love Actually/Valentine's Day-esque, the book is broken up into the days of the week and chronicles the lives of the inhabitants (and sometimes guests) of five different flats and the ways in which their lives intertwine throughout the quarantine. The book is marketed at short stories, but I would categorize this a multi-perspective novel.
The concept was really interesting. A little on-the-nose for the current climate, it was kind of the perfect setting for book like this. There were definitely characters and stories that were more intriguing than others, but that seems like par for the course for most multi-perspective novels.
However, I do think it could have used another pass or two in the story-building and editing phase. There were times when I felt reordering the different flat perspectives within each chapter would have helped the story to flow and create more organic connections between the characters. I also found that some of the grammar and formatting choices weren't consistent throughout the novel. This may have been a mindful choice to differentiate characters and story lines, but it took me out of the story at certain moments.
All in all, if you're looking for a light and quick romantic read, this fits the bill.
The concept was really interesting. A little on-the-nose for the current climate, it was kind of the perfect setting for book like this. There were definitely characters and stories that were more intriguing than others, but that seems like par for the course for most multi-perspective novels.
However, I do think it could have used another pass or two in the story-building and editing phase. There were times when I felt reordering the different flat perspectives within each chapter would have helped the story to flow and create more organic connections between the characters. I also found that some of the grammar and formatting choices weren't consistent throughout the novel. This may have been a mindful choice to differentiate characters and story lines, but it took me out of the story at certain moments.
All in all, if you're looking for a light and quick romantic read, this fits the bill.
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The High House by Jessie Greengrass
challenging
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
The High House is a quick contemporary read set in the not-too-distant future in the midst of the climate crisis. This book did a really great job of encapsulating both the anxiety of climate change but also our ability as humans to turn our heads and dismiss the signs around us. This was a really beautiful novel about family, circumstances beyond out control, and the choices we make to keep those we love safe.
I will say that this book made me feel anxious about the climate crisis, knowing that the events in this book could and likely will happen in our future. But I also think this book gives voice to that anxiety we all face and forces us to confront the moments we try to ignore, the signs the earth is trying to give us. It has invigorated me to educate myself and do my part to give life on earth the best chance at survival.
I will say that this book made me feel anxious about the climate crisis, knowing that the events in this book could and likely will happen in our future. But I also think this book gives voice to that anxiety we all face and forces us to confront the moments we try to ignore, the signs the earth is trying to give us. It has invigorated me to educate myself and do my part to give life on earth the best chance at survival.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0