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chaptersofmay's Reviews (319)
“You only need one day of light to chase all the shadows away.”
This is the kind of book I read because it was so highly recommended. And in the beginning, I can’t lie, I didn’t love it. I thought Ove was a grumpy old man, with a serious issue when it comes to being polite. He’s arrogant, small-minded and unnecessarily mean. He had his old-fashioned ways which were to be expected, but some things just really irritated me.
The book slowly unravels different aspects of Ove’s life, which has defined much of the person he is today. He’s actually a really strong and bold person. I started the book disliking him, and ended it having the upmost respect for him. All I wanted was for this man to get his happy ending.
Over time, more and more of Ove’s neighbours, human and feline, grew closer to him and get to know the man beneath the attitude. If anything, Ove has one of the kindest hearts I’ve ever read about. I started to agree with the way he was, a completely different vibe from the beginning.
His neighbours are a charming part of this novel. Parvaneh in particular, is a new neighbour and has no time for Ove’s old ways. She’s heavily pregnant when the book begins and sets Ove straight, invites herself inside, and always seems to appear at the right time. Every time she spoke I was laughing, and she really helped make the book. Her friendship with Ove was incredibly sweet.
Overall, I really liked this book. It’s a heartwarming read and shows you really can’t judge a person unless you’re in their shoes. There are many factors in life that shape a person, and every journey is different.
One thing I didn’t understand was the issue with the BMW. But then again, some people understand it and some people do not.
This is the kind of book I read because it was so highly recommended. And in the beginning, I can’t lie, I didn’t love it. I thought Ove was a grumpy old man, with a serious issue when it comes to being polite. He’s arrogant, small-minded and unnecessarily mean. He had his old-fashioned ways which were to be expected, but some things just really irritated me.
The book slowly unravels different aspects of Ove’s life, which has defined much of the person he is today. He’s actually a really strong and bold person. I started the book disliking him, and ended it having the upmost respect for him. All I wanted was for this man to get his happy ending.
Over time, more and more of Ove’s neighbours, human and feline, grew closer to him and get to know the man beneath the attitude. If anything, Ove has one of the kindest hearts I’ve ever read about. I started to agree with the way he was, a completely different vibe from the beginning.
His neighbours are a charming part of this novel. Parvaneh in particular, is a new neighbour and has no time for Ove’s old ways. She’s heavily pregnant when the book begins and sets Ove straight, invites herself inside, and always seems to appear at the right time. Every time she spoke I was laughing, and she really helped make the book. Her friendship with Ove was incredibly sweet.
Overall, I really liked this book. It’s a heartwarming read and shows you really can’t judge a person unless you’re in their shoes. There are many factors in life that shape a person, and every journey is different.
One thing I didn’t understand was the issue with the BMW. But then again, some people understand it and some people do not.
4.5 stars.
This book is wild. There’s no two ways about it, it’s scarily realistic, and definitely on of those books that feels more like a life story that a work of fiction. Everything felt so authentic, from the way the characters interact with one another, to the way their stories intertwine and become more of a mess. And let’s be honest, life is a mess.
I loved the honesty Marcy Dermansky really pushes in this novel. Everyone feels hurt at some point in time. We all have experiences, friendships and relationships that cause us pain. It’s the sad part about being imperfect humans and this was captured really well.
The complex web of love and relationships is explored really well throughout the book, and the dark humour just adds to the story.
The only reason this didn’t make a 5-star story is simply because some of the characters really irritated me. I found myself getting annoyed by them, rather than finding the characters your supposed to hate at least a little bit interesting.
This take on modern life also really made me laugh, and smile as the plot kept taking new turns. And I adored the end! Very Nice is an original, intelligent and amusing book, and perfect for the realists of the world.
This book is wild. There’s no two ways about it, it’s scarily realistic, and definitely on of those books that feels more like a life story that a work of fiction. Everything felt so authentic, from the way the characters interact with one another, to the way their stories intertwine and become more of a mess. And let’s be honest, life is a mess.
I loved the honesty Marcy Dermansky really pushes in this novel. Everyone feels hurt at some point in time. We all have experiences, friendships and relationships that cause us pain. It’s the sad part about being imperfect humans and this was captured really well.
The complex web of love and relationships is explored really well throughout the book, and the dark humour just adds to the story.
The only reason this didn’t make a 5-star story is simply because some of the characters really irritated me. I found myself getting annoyed by them, rather than finding the characters your supposed to hate at least a little bit interesting.
This take on modern life also really made me laugh, and smile as the plot kept taking new turns. And I adored the end! Very Nice is an original, intelligent and amusing book, and perfect for the realists of the world.
2.5 stars.
Firstly, this book is described as “Jojo Moyes meets Eleanor Oliphant” and I just can’t understand this comparison. Majority of Moyes books and Eleanor Oliphant were five star reads for me, but I didn’t get a similar vibe from this book at all.
As soon as I started the book, I didn’t like the main characters. David is a selfish, narcissist who doesn’t understand the meaning on loyalty. I can’t comprehend how Grace, a seemingly intelligent and self-respecting woman, would bother with someone for 8 years, especially when they give you nothing but empty promises and half (or actually, a third) of their heart. I found her frustrating, because I just wanted her to wake up and realise this relationship was a waste of time.
Grace is talented, but has faced a lot of trauma in her life, some of it unimaginable, which moved me. I felt for her in certain chapters, but in others she was irritating. But, that means she has flaws which is what makes her more realistic.
Nadia and Mr Williams are the real winners of this tale, and their friendship with Grace is what saved the book for me. It wasn’t until I was around 70% through that I found the story to be interesting, which was a shame.
Nadia is a typical teen, maybe a little extra, but nonetheless, a good person at heart. She deals with the struggles of growing up in a broken household, which trying to navigate friendships and her talent. Mr Williams is a wise man, and has such a gentle giant personality. I loved him! As Grace says, “I cannot believe so much compassion can come from one lonely old man. I want to tear out my heart and give it to him.”
I did find myself wanting to skip bits. A lot of the detail felt unnecessary and fell flat. The frustration built up in the beginning just annoyed me. The fact that Grace wasted so much of her life didn’t seem to make sense. While the story was “meh” for me, the description of music, the unlikely friendship between lonely people, and the uplifting idea of real triumph is what managed to earn this book a few stars.
Firstly, this book is described as “Jojo Moyes meets Eleanor Oliphant” and I just can’t understand this comparison. Majority of Moyes books and Eleanor Oliphant were five star reads for me, but I didn’t get a similar vibe from this book at all.
As soon as I started the book, I didn’t like the main characters. David is a selfish, narcissist who doesn’t understand the meaning on loyalty. I can’t comprehend how Grace, a seemingly intelligent and self-respecting woman, would bother with someone for 8 years, especially when they give you nothing but empty promises and half (or actually, a third) of their heart. I found her frustrating, because I just wanted her to wake up and realise this relationship was a waste of time.
Grace is talented, but has faced a lot of trauma in her life, some of it unimaginable, which moved me. I felt for her in certain chapters, but in others she was irritating. But, that means she has flaws which is what makes her more realistic.
Nadia and Mr Williams are the real winners of this tale, and their friendship with Grace is what saved the book for me. It wasn’t until I was around 70% through that I found the story to be interesting, which was a shame.
Nadia is a typical teen, maybe a little extra, but nonetheless, a good person at heart. She deals with the struggles of growing up in a broken household, which trying to navigate friendships and her talent. Mr Williams is a wise man, and has such a gentle giant personality. I loved him! As Grace says, “I cannot believe so much compassion can come from one lonely old man. I want to tear out my heart and give it to him.”
I did find myself wanting to skip bits. A lot of the detail felt unnecessary and fell flat. The frustration built up in the beginning just annoyed me. The fact that Grace wasted so much of her life didn’t seem to make sense. While the story was “meh” for me, the description of music, the unlikely friendship between lonely people, and the uplifting idea of real triumph is what managed to earn this book a few stars.
3.5 stars.
This is the most frustrating romance I have ever read, it's very sweet, but there were so many moments I just wanted to scream, I couldn't deal with it. Nevertheless, this rom-com style story was a really fun read.
Our Stop has a You've Got Mail vibe, with modern and diverse characters and plenty of charisma. Nadia and Daniel are the meant-to-be couple who just seem to keep missing each other, no matter how many times they're destined to meet. I really liked them as characters, and although Daniel seemed to perfect to be true, he was a great central character.
I also think Romeo, the security guard working in Daniel's building was such a cool supporting element to the narrative. He was kind, caring, open-minded and just all-round chill. I would have enjoyed learning more about him than Daniel's other friend, Lorenzo.
My main issue with the book is the desperation to be relevant. From beginning to end I got a "How Do You Do, Fellow Kids?" feel and it was just irritating. It was a little bit like BuzzFeed got their hands on this before it was published and just threw in a few ~woke~ comments and millennial stereotypes for humour.
I was really tempted to skim through with this book too. It's something that's common with slow burners, but if they're done just right, they can keep you hooked. This, for me, unfortunately didn't keep me hooked and I just wanted to characters to actually meet so there could be some real romance. One thing I will add though, is that the wait does feel worth it, and Nadia and Daniel's final meeting is very cute and charming. By that point in the book, you feel like a friend looking in, and find yourself grinning along with the conversation.
Overall, I loved the city aura and the meet cute moment. I really liked the characters and idea behind the story, but the repetitiveness and constant missed opportunities started to take away from the romance.
This is the most frustrating romance I have ever read, it's very sweet, but there were so many moments I just wanted to scream, I couldn't deal with it. Nevertheless, this rom-com style story was a really fun read.
Our Stop has a You've Got Mail vibe, with modern and diverse characters and plenty of charisma. Nadia and Daniel are the meant-to-be couple who just seem to keep missing each other, no matter how many times they're destined to meet. I really liked them as characters, and although Daniel seemed to perfect to be true, he was a great central character.
I also think Romeo, the security guard working in Daniel's building was such a cool supporting element to the narrative. He was kind, caring, open-minded and just all-round chill. I would have enjoyed learning more about him than Daniel's other friend, Lorenzo.
My main issue with the book is the desperation to be relevant. From beginning to end I got a "How Do You Do, Fellow Kids?" feel and it was just irritating. It was a little bit like BuzzFeed got their hands on this before it was published and just threw in a few ~woke~ comments and millennial stereotypes for humour.
I was really tempted to skim through with this book too. It's something that's common with slow burners, but if they're done just right, they can keep you hooked. This, for me, unfortunately didn't keep me hooked and I just wanted to characters to actually meet so there could be some real romance. One thing I will add though, is that the wait does feel worth it, and Nadia and Daniel's final meeting is very cute and charming. By that point in the book, you feel like a friend looking in, and find yourself grinning along with the conversation.
Overall, I loved the city aura and the meet cute moment. I really liked the characters and idea behind the story, but the repetitiveness and constant missed opportunities started to take away from the romance.
This book went straight onto my TBR after I heard about its release, mainly because The Hating Game is one of my favourite romance books ever.
Sally Thorne’s humour is ever-present in this novel, and there were many laugh out loud moments that I liked. The dialogue between the characters was engaging, a great blend of intelligence and levity.
The protagonist, Darcy, is very intense. She’s nothing like the characters from The Hating Game, she’s brass, quick-witted, over-confident and intimidating when she wants to me. Although it put me off in parts, I did occasionally like this quality in her. She’s independent, even if she has absolutely no control over her emotions and is in need of a good hug.
Tom, her crush, is basically the dream man. He doesn’t want to be seen as perfect, but he kind of is. Open-minded, secure, romantic, humble, hard-working, generous, loving, kind and funny. By the way he’s described in the novel, he doesn’t sound real. His relationship with the Barrett family is a little confusing, he’s like their pet, but also their child, but also their slave.
There were a few cringe moments in this novel, and at times Darcy would frustrate me. While I would self-combust in many of the situations Darcy was in, her reaction to them just made me laugh. Her charming side shone through in the beginning, and the sweet moments between Darcy and Tom are what made the story great.
However, the problem for me was the sluggishness. I had to push myself to keep reading and the romance side took way too long to get going. The dynamic between Darcy and Tom just seemed plain weird until they actually got together. She was almost harassing him and there were a few eye rolls from me when reading.
There were some parts that were hard to follow. I didn’t think the bond between the twins made much sense, it was a little all over the place. The story was so slow in the beginning and then ended in 20 pages. You began with this strong set of characters, with the story being narrated by Darcy, and then it all goes downhill.
While I did enjoy the romantic bits and I made me laugh, this did fall flat for me. In comparison to The Hating Game which I can read over and over, I can’t see myself picking this up again.
Sally Thorne’s humour is ever-present in this novel, and there were many laugh out loud moments that I liked. The dialogue between the characters was engaging, a great blend of intelligence and levity.
The protagonist, Darcy, is very intense. She’s nothing like the characters from The Hating Game, she’s brass, quick-witted, over-confident and intimidating when she wants to me. Although it put me off in parts, I did occasionally like this quality in her. She’s independent, even if she has absolutely no control over her emotions and is in need of a good hug.
Tom, her crush, is basically the dream man. He doesn’t want to be seen as perfect, but he kind of is. Open-minded, secure, romantic, humble, hard-working, generous, loving, kind and funny. By the way he’s described in the novel, he doesn’t sound real. His relationship with the Barrett family is a little confusing, he’s like their pet, but also their child, but also their slave.
There were a few cringe moments in this novel, and at times Darcy would frustrate me. While I would self-combust in many of the situations Darcy was in, her reaction to them just made me laugh. Her charming side shone through in the beginning, and the sweet moments between Darcy and Tom are what made the story great.
However, the problem for me was the sluggishness. I had to push myself to keep reading and the romance side took way too long to get going. The dynamic between Darcy and Tom just seemed plain weird until they actually got together. She was almost harassing him and there were a few eye rolls from me when reading.
There were some parts that were hard to follow. I didn’t think the bond between the twins made much sense, it was a little all over the place. The story was so slow in the beginning and then ended in 20 pages. You began with this strong set of characters, with the story being narrated by Darcy, and then it all goes downhill.
While I did enjoy the romantic bits and I made me laugh, this did fall flat for me. In comparison to The Hating Game which I can read over and over, I can’t see myself picking this up again.
This is my first Tessa Bailey novel and I went in with high hopes. I get why people would love this, but Fix Her Up just wasn’t for me, I wish it was!
Georgie is a 23 y/o party clown with dreams of running her own entertainment business. She spent most of her life in love with Travis but always being seen as the youngest Castle kid. And I could understand why people thought of Georgia as the kid sister, she often behaved like one of the kids. She has a determination to fix herself into a Woman of the World like most of us do, but seems to be easily distracted by anything else.
Travis is a 28 y/o ex-baseball rookie who was forced into retirement after a career-ending injury. He had a difficult childhood, and seems to feel nauseous at the sound of commitment. There was way too much emphasis on this player persona for Travis, it got annoying after chapter 2.
The story takes way too long to get going. While I understand that the author is trying to establish the characters and their personalities, the beginning was just a little dull. There was conversation happening but it felt like the story stayed in the same place until the wild scheme begins. I really had to push myself to keep reading, and it wasn’t until 11 chapters in that I found myself mildly interested.
There was one thing I liked. I thought the Castle family dynamic was interesting, it felt very realistic. They’re not picture-perfect people and there’s an element of sibling rivalry there. The relationships between Georgia, Bethany and Stephen, as well as the small town setting is what grounded this story for me.
As for Travis and Georgie’s relationship, it was sweet but occasionally lacked substance. There wad a lot of focus on their intimate moments and they felt like the only times they had conversation lasting more than a page. The dialogue was seriously lacking, and I found myself wanting to scan the huge chunks of story that just described their movements and feelings.
Also, Travis’ nickname for Georgie made me crying every single time it hit my eyes.
Fix Her Up just didn’t land right for me. I was looking forward to it, thinking it would be a funny contemporary romance but I lost interest early on. There was potential for really interesting characters and great storylines including the Just Us League but overall it fell flat.
Georgie is a 23 y/o party clown with dreams of running her own entertainment business. She spent most of her life in love with Travis but always being seen as the youngest Castle kid. And I could understand why people thought of Georgia as the kid sister, she often behaved like one of the kids. She has a determination to fix herself into a Woman of the World like most of us do, but seems to be easily distracted by anything else.
Travis is a 28 y/o ex-baseball rookie who was forced into retirement after a career-ending injury. He had a difficult childhood, and seems to feel nauseous at the sound of commitment. There was way too much emphasis on this player persona for Travis, it got annoying after chapter 2.
The story takes way too long to get going. While I understand that the author is trying to establish the characters and their personalities, the beginning was just a little dull. There was conversation happening but it felt like the story stayed in the same place until the wild scheme begins. I really had to push myself to keep reading, and it wasn’t until 11 chapters in that I found myself mildly interested.
There was one thing I liked. I thought the Castle family dynamic was interesting, it felt very realistic. They’re not picture-perfect people and there’s an element of sibling rivalry there. The relationships between Georgia, Bethany and Stephen, as well as the small town setting is what grounded this story for me.
As for Travis and Georgie’s relationship, it was sweet but occasionally lacked substance. There wad a lot of focus on their intimate moments and they felt like the only times they had conversation lasting more than a page. The dialogue was seriously lacking, and I found myself wanting to scan the huge chunks of story that just described their movements and feelings.
Also, Travis’ nickname for Georgie made me crying every single time it hit my eyes.
Fix Her Up just didn’t land right for me. I was looking forward to it, thinking it would be a funny contemporary romance but I lost interest early on. There was potential for really interesting characters and great storylines including the Just Us League but overall it fell flat.
This book is so important! Such a current YA story that I would encourage everyone to read. From the moment I learned about this book, I knew it was going to break my heart. I knew it was going to pull out every emotion I’m capable of and I was so ready for it. This hit hard, there were so many quote worthy moments that every single person should have to read, just to get an understanding of someone on the receiving end of prejudice.
“I hate how the world kept trying to bully me into believing that I was the problem.”
Shirin is a wonderful, beautiful and inspiring character. She’s subject to stupidity, ignorance and regular xenophobia. She’s just a teenager trying to keep her head down, do what makes her happy and count down the days until she gets out of high school and into the wide world.
She’s is a bookish character and I have so much love for the fellow bookworms for the world. She has a whole bunch of hobbies that make her a really interesting character. She is into journaling, breakdancing, designer fashion and books. She loves her culture, her religion and her headscarf, even if it means being subject to stares and even more racist absurdity.
“Sorry if I pronounce this wrong it’s a strange name”, “go back to where you came from”, “don’t make yourself a target”, “do you speak English?” and the general mocking of stereotypes are everywhere in the world. For Shirin, it would have been 10 times more intense, as the book takes place only a year after the 9/11 tragedy. Her bravery, even after being attacked for something she had no involvement in, was really impressive.
“I could no longer distinguish people from monsters.”
“I saw nothing but the potential for pain and the subsequent need to protect myself, constantly.”
Shirin is so angry at the world. She has faced so much prejudice, and at only 16 she is immediately irritated with anyone outside her family. She builds gigantic walls around herself, because she’s too scared to feel exposed, especially to those who could potentially hurt her.
One thing I think the author highlighted perfectly was the fact that you really can’t be angry all of the time. Yes, people are horrible. Yes, people are ignorant. Yes, people are racist. And while it’s so unfair it’s something the oppressed have to deal with, being angry at the entire world will not make you feel any better. I felt like the author had a really balanced view of judgement, racism and injustice, and this came through in the book. It was made clear that generalisations can go both ways. While you should never stop fighting, it’s not necessary to start fires everywhere you go.
“Just try to be happy. Your happiness is the one thing these assholes can’t stand.”
Our main character develops through the novel. She’s very hard-hearted in the beginning and it’s clear to me why. However, she has a level of humility to her that allows her to think about the way she acts and speaks to people. Of course, she can still be a moody teen and a little bit scary at times but she does have a softer side. It was really nice to learn more about Persian culture: food, poets, traditions and even some Farsi.
I immediately took a liking to Ocean James. There’s something endearing about him. He stumbles over his words, but has an open-minded attitude and genuinely cares for Shirin. Their love is as intense as first love can be. For me, the romance between them was cute but super cheesy. It was typical YA romance - unrealistic, hyperemotional and corny - and while they had a genuine connection I have to admit, I found my self “awww”-ing at the clichés.
“If the decision you’ve made has brought you closer to humanity, then you’ve done the right thing.”
The author clearly distinguished the difference between Shirin’s world and Ocean’s world. Shirin has the ideal family life, her parents and brother love and care about her, she is happy to be at home and spend time with them. But anything outside of her home is a living nightmare. Ocean on the other hand is happier away of his home, spends most his time away from his mother and is very disconnected from her. Yet, he faces no racial issues or attacks like Shirin does. In fact, he’s at the very top of the high school hierarchy.
Mafi’s writing is so beautiful! One of my favourite quotes from the book is: “The pain became a drumbeat; a rhythm I could write a song to. It was always there, stark and steady, rarely abating. I learned to drown out the sound during the day, but at night it screamed through the hole in my chest.” Her choice of words brought this story to life.
This beautiful book not only exposes you to the realities of the world we live in, but also makes you think twice about the people living in it. If there’s a YA story that’s going to open your mind that little bit more, it’s A Very Large Expanse of Sea.
“I hate how the world kept trying to bully me into believing that I was the problem.”
Shirin is a wonderful, beautiful and inspiring character. She’s subject to stupidity, ignorance and regular xenophobia. She’s just a teenager trying to keep her head down, do what makes her happy and count down the days until she gets out of high school and into the wide world.
She’s is a bookish character and I have so much love for the fellow bookworms for the world. She has a whole bunch of hobbies that make her a really interesting character. She is into journaling, breakdancing, designer fashion and books. She loves her culture, her religion and her headscarf, even if it means being subject to stares and even more racist absurdity.
“Sorry if I pronounce this wrong it’s a strange name”, “go back to where you came from”, “don’t make yourself a target”, “do you speak English?” and the general mocking of stereotypes are everywhere in the world. For Shirin, it would have been 10 times more intense, as the book takes place only a year after the 9/11 tragedy. Her bravery, even after being attacked for something she had no involvement in, was really impressive.
“I could no longer distinguish people from monsters.”
“I saw nothing but the potential for pain and the subsequent need to protect myself, constantly.”
Shirin is so angry at the world. She has faced so much prejudice, and at only 16 she is immediately irritated with anyone outside her family. She builds gigantic walls around herself, because she’s too scared to feel exposed, especially to those who could potentially hurt her.
One thing I think the author highlighted perfectly was the fact that you really can’t be angry all of the time. Yes, people are horrible. Yes, people are ignorant. Yes, people are racist. And while it’s so unfair it’s something the oppressed have to deal with, being angry at the entire world will not make you feel any better. I felt like the author had a really balanced view of judgement, racism and injustice, and this came through in the book. It was made clear that generalisations can go both ways. While you should never stop fighting, it’s not necessary to start fires everywhere you go.
“Just try to be happy. Your happiness is the one thing these assholes can’t stand.”
Our main character develops through the novel. She’s very hard-hearted in the beginning and it’s clear to me why. However, she has a level of humility to her that allows her to think about the way she acts and speaks to people. Of course, she can still be a moody teen and a little bit scary at times but she does have a softer side. It was really nice to learn more about Persian culture: food, poets, traditions and even some Farsi.
I immediately took a liking to Ocean James. There’s something endearing about him. He stumbles over his words, but has an open-minded attitude and genuinely cares for Shirin. Their love is as intense as first love can be. For me, the romance between them was cute but super cheesy. It was typical YA romance - unrealistic, hyperemotional and corny - and while they had a genuine connection I have to admit, I found my self “awww”-ing at the clichés.
“If the decision you’ve made has brought you closer to humanity, then you’ve done the right thing.”
The author clearly distinguished the difference between Shirin’s world and Ocean’s world. Shirin has the ideal family life, her parents and brother love and care about her, she is happy to be at home and spend time with them. But anything outside of her home is a living nightmare. Ocean on the other hand is happier away of his home, spends most his time away from his mother and is very disconnected from her. Yet, he faces no racial issues or attacks like Shirin does. In fact, he’s at the very top of the high school hierarchy.
Mafi’s writing is so beautiful! One of my favourite quotes from the book is: “The pain became a drumbeat; a rhythm I could write a song to. It was always there, stark and steady, rarely abating. I learned to drown out the sound during the day, but at night it screamed through the hole in my chest.” Her choice of words brought this story to life.
This beautiful book not only exposes you to the realities of the world we live in, but also makes you think twice about the people living in it. If there’s a YA story that’s going to open your mind that little bit more, it’s A Very Large Expanse of Sea.
This book has a great synopsis and sounds like a fun read, but definitely didn’t play out the way I wanted it too. I felt like I kept waiting for it to get better but it never delivered.
The one thing this book did well was the diversity. Rhiannon is a dark-skinned black woman running her own empire. Samson is a Samoan ex-footballer with a heart of gold. Many of the other characters were from different backgrounds too, such as Lakshmi and Jia.
For me, this book read like a fanfic from 2008. I just wanted to skim the pages in search of the good bits. The conversation was basic and didn’t hold my attention. When it comes to romance in a chick lit, it’s the connection between characters that really makes the book but the conversations were boring. Their relationship was physical and had no depth. Their interactions didn’t move the plot along and grew repetitive. Then I reached the end and it was over.
Rhi and Samson had absolutely no chemistry, they seemed to clash more than connect. I admired Rhi’s strong personality, understood the reason for her personal walls and appreciated her loyalty to her loved ones. Samson is a gentle giant, caring, patient all while trying to deal with his retirement and losses. Together they just didn’t make a great match. Rhiannon often judged Samson too harshly and came off rude instead of guarded. Samson was obsessed with chasing her, like he didn’t have much else to do.
The romance was lacking in this novel. Seriously lacking! I had high expectations as the basis for the book is dating apps but there was no love! A few intimate but mediocre paragraphs were thrown in every so often. There was no excitement for the relationship, and the plot focused more on the business world than the romance between the main characters. I was expecting sweet moments but it felt stale; instead I ended up reading pages and pages of Rhiannon trying to buy a business, but no real outcome coming from that.
This book did teach me about CTE, which is a neurodegenerative disease I had never heard of. I like that the author raised some awareness about this, as well as it’s symptoms and affect on others. The author also glossed over traumatic or emotionally abusive relationships, but it wasn’t as hard-hitting as I had hoped. It would have been nice to see Rhiannon searching for some form of therapy or assistance for her anxieties following her relationship.
Overall, The Right Swipe didn’t deliver. The synopsis builds the idea of an exciting and adventurous plot, and while I loved Aunt Belle, the rest of the characters, the romance and the story fell flat.
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The one thing this book did well was the diversity. Rhiannon is a dark-skinned black woman running her own empire. Samson is a Samoan ex-footballer with a heart of gold. Many of the other characters were from different backgrounds too, such as Lakshmi and Jia.
For me, this book read like a fanfic from 2008. I just wanted to skim the pages in search of the good bits. The conversation was basic and didn’t hold my attention. When it comes to romance in a chick lit, it’s the connection between characters that really makes the book but the conversations were boring. Their relationship was physical and had no depth. Their interactions didn’t move the plot along and grew repetitive. Then I reached the end and it was over.
Rhi and Samson had absolutely no chemistry, they seemed to clash more than connect. I admired Rhi’s strong personality, understood the reason for her personal walls and appreciated her loyalty to her loved ones. Samson is a gentle giant, caring, patient all while trying to deal with his retirement and losses. Together they just didn’t make a great match. Rhiannon often judged Samson too harshly and came off rude instead of guarded. Samson was obsessed with chasing her, like he didn’t have much else to do.
The romance was lacking in this novel. Seriously lacking! I had high expectations as the basis for the book is dating apps but there was no love! A few intimate but mediocre paragraphs were thrown in every so often. There was no excitement for the relationship, and the plot focused more on the business world than the romance between the main characters. I was expecting sweet moments but it felt stale; instead I ended up reading pages and pages of Rhiannon trying to buy a business, but no real outcome coming from that.
This book did teach me about CTE, which is a neurodegenerative disease I had never heard of. I like that the author raised some awareness about this, as well as it’s symptoms and affect on others. The author also glossed over traumatic or emotionally abusive relationships, but it wasn’t as hard-hitting as I had hoped. It would have been nice to see Rhiannon searching for some form of therapy or assistance for her anxieties following her relationship.
Overall, The Right Swipe didn’t deliver. The synopsis builds the idea of an exciting and adventurous plot, and while I loved Aunt Belle, the rest of the characters, the romance and the story fell flat.
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Dreamlike. The Night Circus transforms the world of entertainment and sucks you into a black hole of enchantment. Every single time I opened the pages of the novel, I was transported to an entirely new world. From the first five pages, you’re hooked and unable to let go - you don’t want to let go. Your imagination is unstoppable paired with Morgenstern’s charming story. The narratives, the characters and the entertainment all magically intertwine.
The way the Le Cirque des Rêves works is very simple. It appears at random locations across the globe for a short period of time and is only open from sunset to sunrise. The list of tents and attractions are endless, and it grows so popular it develops a cult following. Beneath the surface of caramel apples and black and white stripes, there is a brutal rivalry taking place, between the students of two magicians. There, they display their abilities but fall for each other in the process.
I loved the concept of the circus and everything it was built on. While it had an air of mystery to it already, it also served as the basis for a thrilling competition. To say the imagery in this novel is captivating would be an understatement. The author has created an intensely visual universe with fifteen main characters and an array of POVs. I could read an entire book of description by Morgenstern and be content.
The book jumps between different moments in time but is easy to follow, each piece comes together really well. While I found the pacing to slow in certain places, there was something about the mystery that made me want to reach the end. There were definitely times I felt like I had to push through, while Morgenstern’s writing does grip in certain places, the plot drops in others. It took me a lot longer than expected to complete The Night Circus, but I truly enjoyed exploring every tent, following the love story and unravelling the competition.
I do feel like Marco and Celia’s love story could have been further developed, their affection was genuine but overly dramatic. It just began. That was it. They’re in love. Whereas a slow-burning romance would have served the plot much better. Their interactions weren’t as electrifying as the rest of the circus and didn’t astound as much as many of the other subplots.
I feel like this is something I would have to read twice. There were a lot of twists and turns in the book, and very enticing moments with astonishing imagery. The best way to approach a book like this, is with an open mind and plenty of imagination.
For more reviews and book posts visit my blog, chaptersofmay.com.
The way the Le Cirque des Rêves works is very simple. It appears at random locations across the globe for a short period of time and is only open from sunset to sunrise. The list of tents and attractions are endless, and it grows so popular it develops a cult following. Beneath the surface of caramel apples and black and white stripes, there is a brutal rivalry taking place, between the students of two magicians. There, they display their abilities but fall for each other in the process.
I loved the concept of the circus and everything it was built on. While it had an air of mystery to it already, it also served as the basis for a thrilling competition. To say the imagery in this novel is captivating would be an understatement. The author has created an intensely visual universe with fifteen main characters and an array of POVs. I could read an entire book of description by Morgenstern and be content.
The book jumps between different moments in time but is easy to follow, each piece comes together really well. While I found the pacing to slow in certain places, there was something about the mystery that made me want to reach the end. There were definitely times I felt like I had to push through, while Morgenstern’s writing does grip in certain places, the plot drops in others. It took me a lot longer than expected to complete The Night Circus, but I truly enjoyed exploring every tent, following the love story and unravelling the competition.
I do feel like Marco and Celia’s love story could have been further developed, their affection was genuine but overly dramatic. It just began. That was it. They’re in love. Whereas a slow-burning romance would have served the plot much better. Their interactions weren’t as electrifying as the rest of the circus and didn’t astound as much as many of the other subplots.
I feel like this is something I would have to read twice. There were a lot of twists and turns in the book, and very enticing moments with astonishing imagery. The best way to approach a book like this, is with an open mind and plenty of imagination.
For more reviews and book posts visit my blog, chaptersofmay.com.
The first thing I noticed about The Starless Sea is that the story starts from the first page. There is no time-wasting and no unnecessary prologues. You’re in the book from the first sentence. Zachary Ezra Rawlins is the protagonist who finds a book describing a specific day in his childhood. Curiosity leads him to New York, where he meets Dorian and Mirabel. He comes across the Harbour and the Starless Sea, as well as a range of other stories and passages which are intertwined with his own in the book.
Zachary felt very much like a fellow reader, discovering every aspect of this complex web at the same time I did. Rather than reading like an old legend, The Starless Sea felt very much like you were experiencing each twist with Zachary. Mirabel seems like such a cool character, I love the way she was written and adored her personality from the moment I met her. She’s an enigma but an accessible one. She seems real and imaginary at the same time which made me instantly take interest.
There’s an element of mystery in The Starless Sea, and reading the book is like being spoon fed clues in each whimsical chapter. While I was tempted to skip some pages, I didn’t want to risk missing out on important factors to the story. You need time to read a book like this, skim-reading doesn’t allow Morgenstern’s genius storytelling to sink in. There are some lines that have to be read over and over for the meaning to make sense, and some lines that are just so good they deserve a second read.
Because the book is so long, it does feel like it starts to lull in some places, in the same way The Night Circus did. In the beginning, I was so excited to read this book I was hooked on every word and tried to grasp every layer of the story. But by the middle, I really struggled to keep the pages flowing as the tempo slowed dramatically. Curiosity kept me reading, but I did feel impatient with the pace of the story. However, the one thing you can always guarantee with a Morgenstern novel is that you get lost as soon as you open the book. She could write instructions on how to assemble a wardrobe and they’d read like a dream.
While I grew weary from time to time, I was absorbed by Morgenstern’s writing and her ability to paint a rich tapestry from metaphors and symbols. She creates an atmosphere from the beginning, and each paragraph just adds to the overall wistful feel of the book. I enjoyed figuring out Zachary’s fate alongside him and uncovering more and more about the Starless Sea, but it was Morgenstern’s vivid and illustrative writing that won the stars for this story. Her imagination shines throughout this book, and as perplexing as the story gets, the author’s voice never waivers.
The Starless Sea is original in every respect, and is brought to life when paired with a creative mind. It feels very much like a standalone universe, created with complex elements and well written mechanisms which work together to create a full functioning system. While I appreciated this, the fantasy adventure began to feel more like a confusing dream. Unfortunately for The Starless Sea my attention and patience just couldn’t last long enough. I had already been through a similar thing with The Night Circus and just couldn’t do it again. By the end, I stopped trying to work out corner of the plot and decipher the abstract expressions. Instead, I just enjoyed beautiful writing, multi-layered characters and each new chapter. At least now I know that if I ever see a painted door, on a wall, on a rock or on the floor, I’m definitely trying the handle.
Read more book reviews and blog posts at https://chaptersofmay.com and follow along at instagram.com/chaptersofmay ✨
Zachary felt very much like a fellow reader, discovering every aspect of this complex web at the same time I did. Rather than reading like an old legend, The Starless Sea felt very much like you were experiencing each twist with Zachary. Mirabel seems like such a cool character, I love the way she was written and adored her personality from the moment I met her. She’s an enigma but an accessible one. She seems real and imaginary at the same time which made me instantly take interest.
There’s an element of mystery in The Starless Sea, and reading the book is like being spoon fed clues in each whimsical chapter. While I was tempted to skip some pages, I didn’t want to risk missing out on important factors to the story. You need time to read a book like this, skim-reading doesn’t allow Morgenstern’s genius storytelling to sink in. There are some lines that have to be read over and over for the meaning to make sense, and some lines that are just so good they deserve a second read.
Because the book is so long, it does feel like it starts to lull in some places, in the same way The Night Circus did. In the beginning, I was so excited to read this book I was hooked on every word and tried to grasp every layer of the story. But by the middle, I really struggled to keep the pages flowing as the tempo slowed dramatically. Curiosity kept me reading, but I did feel impatient with the pace of the story. However, the one thing you can always guarantee with a Morgenstern novel is that you get lost as soon as you open the book. She could write instructions on how to assemble a wardrobe and they’d read like a dream.
While I grew weary from time to time, I was absorbed by Morgenstern’s writing and her ability to paint a rich tapestry from metaphors and symbols. She creates an atmosphere from the beginning, and each paragraph just adds to the overall wistful feel of the book. I enjoyed figuring out Zachary’s fate alongside him and uncovering more and more about the Starless Sea, but it was Morgenstern’s vivid and illustrative writing that won the stars for this story. Her imagination shines throughout this book, and as perplexing as the story gets, the author’s voice never waivers.
The Starless Sea is original in every respect, and is brought to life when paired with a creative mind. It feels very much like a standalone universe, created with complex elements and well written mechanisms which work together to create a full functioning system. While I appreciated this, the fantasy adventure began to feel more like a confusing dream. Unfortunately for The Starless Sea my attention and patience just couldn’t last long enough. I had already been through a similar thing with The Night Circus and just couldn’t do it again. By the end, I stopped trying to work out corner of the plot and decipher the abstract expressions. Instead, I just enjoyed beautiful writing, multi-layered characters and each new chapter. At least now I know that if I ever see a painted door, on a wall, on a rock or on the floor, I’m definitely trying the handle.
Read more book reviews and blog posts at https://chaptersofmay.com and follow along at instagram.com/chaptersofmay ✨