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cath_reads_books's reviews
12 reviews
Finding Perfect by Colleen Hoover
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Short and unbelievably trite novella. This book tackled some very adult concepts in a juvenile, surface-level way. I’m glad I’m done with this series and will never have to come back to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Toxic relationship
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
4/5 stars; now to explain why lol.
A lot of people told me they didn’t like this book. After reading it, I can understand why they might not; it’s a different kind of book when compared to the series. This one (at least in my opinion) was meant to show the softer side of some characters as well as shed light on their mental health struggles. It wasn’t meant to be a fantasy novel. It wasn’t meant to be about a huge buildup, conflict, and resolution. It was meant to show that even fantastical character have struggles. Even High Fae have to deal with the mundane/boring parts of life. The novel was meant to humanize the series, not continue to storyline.
I truly enjoyed getting to know each beloved character better. Everybody’s personality quirks really got their moment to shine! Relationships between a lot of the characters were deepened, some rifts widened in heartbreaking ways, and ALL the characters were addressing some heavy feelings/emotions. A huge thank you to SJM for taking the time to acknowledge, complicated emotions and concepts like grief, guilt, PTSD, and self esteem.
So, 4 of 5 stars for the book this is, not for the series people want it to fit into.
A lot of people told me they didn’t like this book. After reading it, I can understand why they might not; it’s a different kind of book when compared to the series. This one (at least in my opinion) was meant to show the softer side of some characters as well as shed light on their mental health struggles. It wasn’t meant to be a fantasy novel. It wasn’t meant to be about a huge buildup, conflict, and resolution. It was meant to show that even fantastical character have struggles. Even High Fae have to deal with the mundane/boring parts of life. The novel was meant to humanize the series, not continue to storyline.
I truly enjoyed getting to know each beloved character better. Everybody’s personality quirks really got their moment to shine! Relationships between a lot of the characters were deepened, some rifts widened in heartbreaking ways, and ALL the characters were addressing some heavy feelings/emotions. A huge thank you to SJM for taking the time to acknowledge, complicated emotions and concepts like grief, guilt, PTSD, and self esteem.
So, 4 of 5 stars for the book this is, not for the series people want it to fit into.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Solid book; 3 of 5 stars. I had previously read Darcy Coates’ Gravekeeper series and decided to give her one-off books a shot as well.
Addy, upon inheriting her great-aunt Edith’s house, moves to Ashburn in the small town of Ipson. She has some difficulties making friends in the neighborhood and also quickly discovers Ashburn’s haunted, murderous history. Addy believes for most of the story that it’s Edith who’s haunting the property, but it turns out the malevolent presence is Edith’s twin sister Eleanor. Edith was the only thing stopping Eleanor from rising again, and now that she’s gone Addy must take on Eleanor herself.
I found this book to be a fun, engaging read. The pacing was a little slower than what I anticipated, but it didn’t end up being a problem as the slower bits explained the history of the house, the family and the town. Everything mentioned in the book had a purpose and was involved in the final payoff at the end. I couldn’t predict every twist, though I could predict quite a few things from even the beginning of the novel. Overall, recommend this book to anyone looking to dip a toe into the horror/haunting genre. It wasn’t too scary but also had some chilling moments. Perfect for beginners.
I found this book to be a fun, engaging read. The pacing was a little slower than what I anticipated, but it didn’t end up being a problem as the slower bits explained the history of the house, the family and the town. Everything mentioned in the book had a purpose and was involved in the final payoff at the end. I couldn’t predict every twist, though I could predict quite a few things from even the beginning of the novel. Overall, recommend this book to anyone looking to dip a toe into the horror/haunting genre. It wasn’t too scary but also had some chilling moments. Perfect for beginners.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Confinement, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident and Gore
All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I give this book 2.25 out of five stars. Though I feel this is the least toxic, trauma-bonded relationship to be displayed in this particular Colleen Hoover series thus far, the individuals themselves are still practicing toxic behaviors, feed into trauma bonding, and are unbelievably poor communicators. Instead of communicating, they repeatedly hurt their partner.
I am starting to wonder if CoHo has written about any healthy relationships.
I am starting to wonder if CoHo has written about any healthy relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Screaming. Crying. Throwing up. SJM has done it again!
I over-caffeinated myself to stay up reading this and I have not a single regret lmao. It was AMAZING.I cannot tell you how many times this book ripped my heart out, stomped it to pieces on the floor, then put it back together again. An emotional roller coaster in the best of ways!
There’s nothing else I can say that hasn’t already been said. Well done SJM; well done!
I over-caffeinated myself to stay up reading this and I have not a single regret lmao. It was AMAZING.
There’s nothing else I can say that hasn’t already been said. Well done SJM; well done!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
1.25
The downward spiral of toxicity into trauma-bonded hell continues. On to the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Holy Batman; this book was TERRIBLE. I thought Sky/Hope and Holder’s relationship was a toxic, trauma-bonded mess to begin with. After reading Holder’s POV, I think he might legitimately have a personality disorder. Nobody in their right mind would treat Sky/Hope the way he did and think that’s okay. Manipulation, abuse, dishonesty… ugh.
Three more books left in this series. I have legit removed most of the other Colleen Hoover books from my TBR at this point.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Three more books left in this series. I have legit removed most of the other Colleen Hoover books from my TBR at this point.
Warrior of the Wind by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
I really think Colleen Hoover books might not be for me. I found this whole thing to be incredibly twisted and predictable, more so than just what was required by the plot.
It was obvious from the first meeting of Sky and Holden that he knew her from her childhood, from before she was “adopted.” It was obvious that Sky was Hope and that her father was abusive. As the story developed, it became obvious well before it was said that Karen was Sky’s/Hope’s aunt, who had also been abused by her father. The third abuse victim? Obviously Lesslie, who was so tortured by abuse she never disclosed that she took her own life.
What I greatly disliked throughout the whole thing is how romanticized and swept under the rug Holden’s manipulation of Sky/Hope was. Having violent outbursts and then not explaining them? Ghosting her for weeks only to show up and say “everything’s fine but I can’t tell you why I was gone”? Withholding information about Sky’s past and person from her even when she asks? The part where they both use each other for sex later in the book, so they can escape a traumatic experience for a moment? That’s not love; none of it is love. It’s a trauma bond, and what Holden was doing is manipulative and dishonest, even if he “had Sky’s/Hope’s best interest at heart”.
I understand that this book is trying to make some pretty heavy points about abuse, right versus wrong not being so black-and-white, and breaking harmful/toxic cycles. But in my opinion, having the main characters in a trauma-bonded relationship was not the way to illustrate that.
I do know this book is part of a series that I’ve committed to reading and it’s entirety this year, so I may come back and change my review later if some of this is addressed in further series installments.
What I greatly disliked throughout the whole thing is how romanticized and swept under the rug Holden’s manipulation of Sky/Hope was. Having violent outbursts and then not explaining them? Ghosting her for weeks only to show up and say “everything’s fine but I can’t tell you why I was gone”? Withholding information about Sky’s past and person from her even when she asks? The part where they both use each other for sex later in the book, so they can escape a traumatic experience for a moment? That’s not love; none of it is love. It’s a trauma bond, and what Holden was doing is manipulative and dishonest, even if he “had Sky’s/Hope’s best interest at heart”.
I understand that this book is trying to make some pretty heavy points about abuse, right versus wrong not being so black-and-white, and breaking harmful/toxic cycles. But in my opinion, having the main characters in a trauma-bonded relationship was not the way to illustrate that.
I do know this book is part of a series that I’ve committed to reading and it’s entirety this year, so I may come back and change my review later if some of this is addressed in further series installments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Suicide