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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Not that this book needs more rave reviews, but here we go! π
Genre: Fantasy
Format: π
Pub Date: 5.2.2023
Star Rating: βββββ
Genre: Fantasy
Format: π
Pub Date: 5.2.2023
Star Rating: βββββ
"Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs β on the probabilities."
For starters, I typically shy away from the over-hyped books - 4.7 stars with 28,000+ ratings on Goodreads? It can't be that great.
But, I finally gave in, went to my bookstore, and grabbed their LAST copy. I went home, started reading, and immediately realized all the hype was worth it. I do not doubt that Fourth Wing will be a favorite for 2023, ad I plan to reread it again (and again).
I didn't realize how badly I needed a female fantasy heroine with a chronic illness until I met Violet. Oh, and did you know she's a bookworm? Fourth Wing is Violet's book - it's HER story, and she is a true force. I admired her tenacity from start to finish and genuinely can't wait to be reunited with Violet in Iron Flame (and perhaps a few other characters π).
Usually, I have a hard time with Fantasy world-building - I get lost in the names, places, and history, but Rebecca Yarros created this world and recited its history to her readers in a way that made it easy to follow and feel natural. I was mesmerized.
Then there are the dragons - while I don't want to give anything away, know there are two I love with my entire heart, and I would gladly fight someone to help keep them safe. I can't tell you how many times I read on the edge of my seat, worried something would happen to these two fire-breathing beasts.
π₯° Slow-burn romance
π Dragons that I desperately want to be BFFs with
π₯ Loved the spice
π Found family
π€― That ending
Since finishing Fourth Wing, I have been so let down by my current reads. Once you get a taste of what good writing can be, everything else will pale in comparison. I am not a huge fantasy lover, but Fourth Wing is special. I have already pre-ordered Iron Flame (out this fall).
_
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emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Thank you, St Martinβs Press, for the gifted copy of No Two Persons {partner}
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: π
Pub Date: 5.2.2023
Star Rating: ββββ
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: π
Pub Date: 5.2.2023
Star Rating: ββββ
βIt was a small thing, but wasnβt that what marriages were, in the end? The ability to hear love in exhalation to see frustration in the twitch of a finger, forgiveness in a single let of the alphabet.β
No Two Persons shows the power of words and how one book can influence the world.
Well, if this isnβt the best book for all of us book lovers?? Erica Bauermeister put something for every type of reader in No Two Persons, and it was such an unusual experience! While this is technically one book, it felt like a collection of short stories about a book titled Theo.
Some stories were just meh to me, but others stole my heart. My three favorites were The Diver, the Teenager, and The Caretaker. The reason why these three stories stayed with me is because I saw a little bit of myself in each one. But that is the beauty of reading - what worked for me may not work for you!
π Book about a book
9οΈβ£ Nine readers, nine perspectives
π Felt like a collection of short stories
π₯° Find a little bit of yourself within the pages
If you decide to read No Two Persons, read one reader at a time and then take a break. It helped me to feel like I was reading nine separate books.
_
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challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
The Last Housewife || Sourcebooks Landmark {partner}
Genre: Thriller
Trope: Cult
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 8.16.2022
Star Rating: ββββ (due to content)
Genre: Thriller
Trope: Cult
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 8.16.2022
Star Rating: ββββ (due to content)
βIf only it were always like this. If beauty was purely a power and not a target, a vulnerability that could draw the wolves and put you at their mercy.β
The Last Housewife has been on my reading list for a while, but I hesitated to start it because I knew the content was not something I gravitated towards. I finally decided to give it a go, and here are my thoughts.
From start to finish, the entire book is a pitch-black, terrifying, intense, unsettling, deeply disturbing, raw, and relevant look at one womanβs life and how it has mistreated her along the way. While some could say the book is unrealistic, I donβt believe that. And whatβs shocking to me is that The Last Housewife is written by an author who has penned several romance novels - the contrast in topics is mind-blowing.
I think the reason that The Last Housewife made me so uncomfortable is because of how closely it touched on the reality of the world we live in. There were themes surrounding misogyny, patriarchy, and religion, and all of these tie into those who are leaders in our community, state, and country. We see the men inside the pages of this book given platforms by the media, and so many of us barely bat an eye at their atrocious behavior.
It made me very uneasy, and if I hadnβt listened to the audio, Iβm not sure I wouldβve finished the book, not because itβs terrible, but because of how real it felt and reading is my escape from life.
The ending was realistic as plenty of women face the same future because they got tired of being a victim and watching the predictable outcome of their abuser.
I highly recommend going into this book, understanding that it is dark. The triggers are listed at the beginning of the book. However, they are not mentioned at the beginning of the audiobook, so please DM me for more information if you choose the audio format.
I need something light to read after this - whatβs the last book that gave you the warm fuzzies?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you, Dell Books, for the gifted copy of When in Rome {partner}
Genre: Romance
Trope: Celebrity
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: βββββ
Pub Date: 9.20.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
Genre: Romance
Trope: Celebrity
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: βββββ
Pub Date: 9.20.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
"If you don't intend to walk her down the aisle, then don't go dipping your toes in her pond."
Umm⦠READ THIS BOOK NOW.
I adored every single page of When in Rome by Sarah Adams. It was just the book I needed, and I can't believe it took me this long to read. While I have a copy of the book, I purchased a copy of the audiobook as I needed something light to listen to. The narration was perfection! I flew through the audio in less than a day and found every reason (including pulling weeds) to continue listening.
Lately, I've been disappointed by romance books as the authors tend to take the easy way out when they're concluding their stories. But, get this β When in Rome is a romance without a third-act breakup, but instead, two adults (who love one another) working together to solve a problem impacting their future. What a BRILLIANT idea. (No, this is not a spoiler because, with the romance genre, I think we all expect what we'll find between the pages.)
π€© Noah is a baker who loves his grandmother & reads books - *Boyfriend goals*
π Set in Rome, Kentucky
π₯³ No third-act breakup
π₯° Lovable characters
If you can't tell, I highly recommend reading When in Rome. It deserves so much more attention than it's getting, and Sarah Adams is such a bright light in this genre. I can't wait to start her newest book, Practice Makes Perfect. Do yourself a favor and add When in Rome to your must-read list today.
_
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dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you, St Martin's Press, for the gifted copy of Girls of Summer {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 6.6.2023
Star Rating: βββ
Reviewing books like The Girls of Summer is challenging because the content is so alarming that I struggled to invest in the storyline fully.
I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading this book, but I had a difficult time reading along as 17-year-old travels to Greece (alone), begins seeing an older man who is so blatantly manipulating her, and ultimately unravels the rest of her life.
However, I did appreciate how the author showed Rachel through the years and how her younger years influenced her adult life. The book is a dual timeline, so the reader can put together the complete picture of Rachel's life. While I didn't love Rachel's choices regarding her husband, I also understood the author's reasoning for having the character make those choices.
Trigger warning: grooming, sexual assault, rape, drug use, adultery, and suicide.
I recommend reading The Girls of Summer if you liked reading My Dark Vanessa.
Genre: Fiction
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 6.6.2023
Star Rating: βββ
Reviewing books like The Girls of Summer is challenging because the content is so alarming that I struggled to invest in the storyline fully.
I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading this book, but I had a difficult time reading along as 17-year-old travels to Greece (alone), begins seeing an older man who is so blatantly manipulating her, and ultimately unravels the rest of her life.
However, I did appreciate how the author showed Rachel through the years and how her younger years influenced her adult life. The book is a dual timeline, so the reader can put together the complete picture of Rachel's life. While I didn't love Rachel's choices regarding her husband, I also understood the author's reasoning for having the character make those choices.
Trigger warning: grooming, sexual assault, rape, drug use, adultery, and suicide.
I recommend reading The Girls of Summer if you liked reading My Dark Vanessa.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide, Abortion
adventurous
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
Half Way to You βοΈ
This review is solely one opinion; I am clearly an outlier if you look at the other Goodreads reviews. While this book was not for me, it doesn't mean it won't be for you. I loved the author's last book and wish I had loved this one as much.
Genre: Fiction
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: βββ.5
Pub Date: 4.1.2023
Star Rating: βββ
This review is solely one opinion; I am clearly an outlier if you look at the other Goodreads reviews. While this book was not for me, it doesn't mean it won't be for you. I loved the author's last book and wish I had loved this one as much.
Genre: Fiction
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: βββ.5
Pub Date: 4.1.2023
Star Rating: βββ
"Life isn't made up of starts and endsβit's a series of and thens."
Two things about Halfway to You kept me from DNFing:
1. I loved the author's vivid details about Ann's travels. They were beautiful and transported me to all the places she visited.
2. I wanted to find out who Maggie's mother was. But, unfortunately, once I found out, I was severely disappointed because (in my opinion) it was glaringly obvious.
Halfway to You is supposed to be a sweeping story that spans decades, but, for me, it was reading along as one woman made sacrifice after sacrifice for a man who constantly let herself down. Ann knew who Todd was from the moment she met him, but she spent decades chasing after a man that was not worth her time. I can't imagine wasting many years of my life pining after one man who obviously doesn't know my worth.
π€¬ Todd is the WORST
βοΈ Vivid description of travel
π Way too much drama
βοΈ Needed to be much shorter than it was
Again, this is just my opinion! I suggest grabbing yourself a copy of Halfway to You from your local library and seeing if it's something you enjoy.
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Summer of Songbirds β΅οΈ
Thank you, Gallery Books & UpLit Reads, for the gifted copy of this book {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: π
Pub Date: 7.11.2023
Star Rating: βββββ
Thank you, Gallery Books & UpLit Reads, for the gifted copy of this book {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: π
Pub Date: 7.11.2023
Star Rating: βββββ
"We belong together. Like sand and the ocean. Like flowers and the soil. Like songbirds and the sky."
Leave it to Kristy Woodson Harvey to deliver just the book I needed!
I didn't have the opportunity to attend summer camp as a child, but this book painted the perfect picture of what it must've been like to experience and cultivate friendships like Daphne, Mary Stuart, and Lanier. The characters in this book are the true embodiment of found family. Kristy Woodson Harvey always creates real, relatable characters that I can't help but love (even if they mettle in other's relationships - I'm looking at you, Lanier).
There were additional elements that I particularly loved about this book - broken families and romance. While these are contrasting themes, they added grit to the story I didn't know I needed. Without giving much away, Daphne comes from a family broken by addiction, which Daphne also struggles with during her earlier years. As hard as it was to read some of these chapters, KWH added romance for the older Daphne, which helped soften the darker edges of the book. It was a welcome addition to the story that added a lot of character depth.
π₯° Friendship & found family
β΅οΈ Summer camp setting
π£οΈ Three perspectives (Daphne, June, & Lanier)
ππΌ Relatable characters
π₯ Huff
ππΌ Character growth
π― Perfect ending
I recommend reading The Summer of Songbirds if you're looking for the perfect summer read!
_
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
The Darlings || Atria Books {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Family Drama
Format: π
Pub Date: 5.2.2023
Star Rating: βββ.5
"That's the trouble with family; you could put miles and miles between you, but they always knew your favorite hiding places."
The Darlings will make for the perfect beach read, as it's light but full of enough drama to keep you interested! Who doesn't love a good story about the unraveling of family secrets?
I loved how this book started - it gave me all the Gilmore Girls meets Peachtree Bluff (Kristy Woodson Harvey) feels and had me eagerly flipping the pages as I learned more and more about the Darling family.
Hannah McKinnon puts together an entertaining mix of characters, but I might suggest a character map at first because there are a lot of people to become acquainted with! But, once you figure out who is who, it's easy to keep up with the various shenanigans each person is getting into.
Unfortunately, it felt like an entirely different author wrote the book's second half. As the reader, we are kept out of family meetings and left to imagine what transpired behind closed doors, even though we had previously been privy to everything happening between the Darling family. The ending wrapped up too quickly with open plot points and unresolved conflict, which was disappointing as I had hoped for a different outcome.
There's also the issue of me strongly disliking one of the Darling children due to her immaturity and greediness when it comes to a family home (this might hit a little too close for me, which is why I am holding a grudge against this character).
π€© Fun mix of characters
π€« Big family secret
π£οΈ Three character perspectives
π Too much unresolved conflict
I recommend reading The Darlings if you enjoy character-driven books surrounding family secrets!
_
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Genre: Fiction
Trope: Family Drama
Format: π
Pub Date: 5.2.2023
Star Rating: βββ.5
"That's the trouble with family; you could put miles and miles between you, but they always knew your favorite hiding places."
The Darlings will make for the perfect beach read, as it's light but full of enough drama to keep you interested! Who doesn't love a good story about the unraveling of family secrets?
I loved how this book started - it gave me all the Gilmore Girls meets Peachtree Bluff (Kristy Woodson Harvey) feels and had me eagerly flipping the pages as I learned more and more about the Darling family.
Hannah McKinnon puts together an entertaining mix of characters, but I might suggest a character map at first because there are a lot of people to become acquainted with! But, once you figure out who is who, it's easy to keep up with the various shenanigans each person is getting into.
Unfortunately, it felt like an entirely different author wrote the book's second half. As the reader, we are kept out of family meetings and left to imagine what transpired behind closed doors, even though we had previously been privy to everything happening between the Darling family. The ending wrapped up too quickly with open plot points and unresolved conflict, which was disappointing as I had hoped for a different outcome.
There's also the issue of me strongly disliking one of the Darling children due to her immaturity and greediness when it comes to a family home (this might hit a little too close for me, which is why I am holding a grudge against this character).
π€© Fun mix of characters
π€« Big family secret
π£οΈ Three character perspectives
π Too much unresolved conflict
I recommend reading The Darlings if you enjoy character-driven books surrounding family secrets!
_
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challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
r e v i e w || The Ferryman β΄οΈ
Thank you, Random House, for the gifted copy of The Ferryman {partner}
Genre: Science-Fiction
Trope: Mystery/Dystopian
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 5.2.2023
Star Rating: βββ.5
Thank you, Random House, for the gifted copy of The Ferryman {partner}
Genre: Science-Fiction
Trope: Mystery/Dystopian
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 5.2.2023
Star Rating: βββ.5
"There is power in a name. It is through names that we bring all things into this world, and when they leave, it is names we carry with us so they are never truly gone."
The Ferryman is a melting pot of genres and themes - I can't say for sure that it ever settled on just one. It was a science-fiction, dystopian, mystery, and family drama with themes of health, power struggles, environmental issues, aging, marriage, child loss, and grief. The first 20% of the book reminded me of The Truman Show, and the last 30% reminded me of Inception - I still can't pinpoint what the middle reminded me of, but I'll figure it out one day.
It's one of those books that makes you think - especially with the current climate of our country (and world). But, the author may have tried to tackle too many big ideas, and because of this, the heart of the book was lost on me. I spent a good chunk of The Ferryman very confused about what was happening with the story, and I'm still not entirely sure what transpired, nor am I sure if I enjoyed it or not.
π Eclectic mix of genres & themes
π¬ The Truman Show meets Inception & Westworld
π’ Pacing that ebbs & flows
π Didn't love the twist
I recommend reading The Ferryman if you enjoy Blake Crouch novels!
_
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
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
Thank you, Celadon Books, for the gifted copy of If Weβre Being Honest {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Family Drama
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 4.18.2023
Star Rating: ββββ
What a fun book this was to read! I needed something light, and If Weβre Being Honest delivered that and some! The book is told over one week (between a funeral and a wedding), and a lot of drama ensues, but the ending had me feeling all the feels.
To begin with, I loved all the characters. I even found myself loving the complicated ones because, at the end of it all, there was a reason why they were acting the way they were. Several times throughout the book, I thought, βWow, I wish I had a family like the Williams do,β; especially the cousins. They were the ones who were the closest to the group, and they were all there for one another.
The author covers A LOT through the book (and in one week), but it never seemed like too much. I enjoyed navigating through the drama with the different family members and getting insight into they each handled the situations. Nothing was off the table with this group, making it a refreshing read.
π£οΈ Character-driven
π Family drama
β° Set over one week
ποΈ Small southern town
I recommend reading If Weβre Being Honest for a lighter read that gives you characters to love!
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Family Drama
Format: π§
Audiobook Narration: ββββ
Pub Date: 4.18.2023
Star Rating: ββββ
What a fun book this was to read! I needed something light, and If Weβre Being Honest delivered that and some! The book is told over one week (between a funeral and a wedding), and a lot of drama ensues, but the ending had me feeling all the feels.
To begin with, I loved all the characters. I even found myself loving the complicated ones because, at the end of it all, there was a reason why they were acting the way they were. Several times throughout the book, I thought, βWow, I wish I had a family like the Williams do,β; especially the cousins. They were the ones who were the closest to the group, and they were all there for one another.
The author covers A LOT through the book (and in one week), but it never seemed like too much. I enjoyed navigating through the drama with the different family members and getting insight into they each handled the situations. Nothing was off the table with this group, making it a refreshing read.
π£οΈ Character-driven
π Family drama
β° Set over one week
ποΈ Small southern town
I recommend reading If Weβre Being Honest for a lighter read that gives you characters to love!