danielle_isreading's reviews
400 reviews

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

What a stunner. I sat down to read this book and literally flew through it in one sitting.

Elizabeth Acevedo is incredibly sharp, her poetry is beautiful and poignant and so freaking emotional. I loved this book and Xiomara so much.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

As a certified stan of second chance romances I wanted to love this one but struggled to connect. 

The “then” sections didn’t work for me—I’d have preferred the details had been worked into the “now” parts. 

Brooke and Jack were both compelling enough… and the yearning was definitely there! 

It just didn’t hit for me overall. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness

Soft Science by Franny Choi

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

I loved this poetry collection 

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Stunning. Devastating. There are no words.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Grief

Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Another solid entrant into the PJO universe.

This one was tougher for me than the others—having started reading these books in 2010, I’ve got a lot of perspective on how things have gone. Riordan’s wit is still shining but some of the references felt…wrongly dated. Either too old for a tween/teen now, or too current for the technical time the story would be taking place. Would a tween notice those discrepancies, though? Unlikely! 

This follow up series remains super strong in its emotional growth, and I hope teens who loved PJO as 12 year olds see themselves in Percy now.

Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle

emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Okay so I looooved Romina… and desperately wanted more of her magic.

I wanted to love Alex, but his jealousy veered mean at points and tbh, I didn’t love the big twist that led to the second part.  Spoilers: 

if we were going to get a “full circle” of her becoming a mom again to someone else’s kid… I wish we’d seen Alex actually being a father more. At one point Romina exclaims he’s a great father but at that point we’d literally not seen Alex speak of his son in any capacity.

 I don’t know. I wanted this to be a 5-star read and I enjoyed the writing an a lot of it but was underwhelmed by the second part. I also felt so sad that they were broken apart by immature 18-year-old-ness. I will still continue with more Sarah Hogle for sure.

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings

adventurous emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.25

This is a really good one. I loved Eva’s wit and snark and her anger. Once she also added the vulnerability it really stepped up.

The book went in a different direction as a whole than I expected in a good way! 

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

Wow for such a character-driven story, once actual plot happens it PICKS UP in the latter fourth of the novel.

I have no clue where the final installment of this trilogy will go and that’s an incredible testament to Hobb as a storyteller. Fitz is an incredible character, and so much happens to him and because of him. It’s enthralling

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Isabel and The Rogue by Liana De la Rosa

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

A stunning historical romance from Liana de la Rosa.

Isabel and Sirius are so freaking perfect. 

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Another lovely lovely lovely installment.