claudianeureads's reviews
290 reviews

The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey

challenging dark tense 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

3.5

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional reflective 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

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional lighthearted reflective 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

3.25

One of my goals before TJR’s new book comes out in 2025 is to read her backlog and this is my second of her earlier works. Reading this, I can see just how much TJR has grown as a writer and how much she thrives in a historical fiction genre. This book is not a bad read, but it is also not one I will think about much now that I’ve finished. I preferred Forever, Interrupted because I felt it showcased TJR’s talent more. This was a unique story and had a great premise with the two storylines but felt quite repetitive with Hannah’s only traits being her big boobs, high bun, and love of cinnamon rolls. 

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A great  romance to help get in the holiday spirit. Loved having a WLW romance to read but I did find both Charlotte and Brighton to be unlikable characters at points in the book. 

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed this one! A super cute holiday romance that got me in the mood for the season. If you’re looking for a pretty tame holiday romance, this could be the one for you. 

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A super sweet story for young readers! One of my students shared this book with me after they dressed up as Roz for Halloween. I love Peter Browns illustrations and did not realize he wrote a book as well. Loved how this book had an emphasis on generosity, chosen family, and all around kindness towards strangers. There were even some themes of climate change that is a great starting discussion. If you have a young reader in your life, I would highly recommend sharing this book with them. 

The ending did get suddenly violent and I felt there was not a need for major violence. I think that there are ways for the book to be action packed without a lot of violence. For that reason, I subtracted 1 star. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Gun violence

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have been a huge Taylor Jenkins Reid fan since I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in 2018. That was the first historical fiction novel that I truly felt like I could connect to and see myself in. Since then, I have read all of TJR's most recent releases- Daisy Jones & the Six, Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto is Back and I have loved all of them. 

Considering all of this, I wanted to begin reading TJR's older works and began with her first published romance novel, Forever, Interrupted. For being her first published book, this book held so much raw emotion and commentary on the human experience of grief. I knew that TJR would write a wonderful contemporary romance, but this captured not only the grief that is felt by those immediately related to the passing of someone, but the ripple affect that it has on all of those around. She also captured the love that can be found in times of grief and how you can lean on the community to lift you up.

I can't wait to read more of TJR's earlier works! 

Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A short but memorable read! Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way of conveying rich relationships no matter the length or format. I liked reading about the characters marriages, struggles, and friendship built through the letters. 

The Ex by Freida McFadden

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.0

I read this book right after finishing, Never Lie, which was my first Freida McFadden read. Although I thought this one was good, I was not as captured as I was in Never Lie. An interesting story and I liked how it kept you guessing but I was finding myself not as desperately wanting to figure out what was happening.

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

This was my first read of Freida McFadden's extensive books. If you are looking for a quick and captivating read, I would highly recommend this one. Although the writing was not the best, the story was twisty and turny, and kept me engaged. I read a lot of thrillers, so often I am able to predict what may happen at the end, but this one kept me on my feet.