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davinareads's reviews
848 reviews
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
emotional
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
3.5
This book added spice to my normal reads
Like
- Belive it's called slow burn. It built up anticipation
- I don't read a lot of spicy novels so I'm not sure how spicy this is considered other than there's action lmao
- I love the main characters and their relationship. A big fan of cover as well
Dislike
- Think I wanted more story
- The ending felt very dragged out
Like
- Belive it's called slow burn. It built up anticipation
- I don't read a lot of spicy novels so I'm not sure how spicy this is considered other than there's action lmao
- I love the main characters and their relationship. A big fan of cover as well
Dislike
- Think I wanted more story
- The ending felt very dragged out
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfection in a book. I love this read with all my heart
- A book that you KNOW will be good from the very beginning. It did not disappoint
- It was a whimsical adventure with easily loveable characters. I love, love, LOVE Lucy and her relationship with her little boy
- There were unique and fun riddles, a very unique world and something I haven't read before
- There was so much hope in the story and it had this childish element to it
- My eyes were moist in the end and I enjoyed everything in this read
- The Wishing Game is reminder on why I love reading. For these moments where I finished closing the book and going it was just perfect
- A book that you KNOW will be good from the very beginning. It did not disappoint
- It was a whimsical adventure with easily loveable characters. I love, love, LOVE Lucy and her relationship with her little boy
- There were unique and fun riddles, a very unique world and something I haven't read before
- There was so much hope in the story and it had this childish element to it
- My eyes were moist in the end and I enjoyed everything in this read
- The Wishing Game is reminder on why I love reading. For these moments where I finished closing the book and going it was just perfect
Take It from Me by Jamie Beck
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
A beautiful read that managed to be lighthearted but vulnerable at the same time
Like
- I loved all of the characters in this book. Wendy is my favorite with her kind and gentle soul. Excellent character development for both of our main characters
- The contrast between Wendy and Harper's point of view is very dramatic but I enjoyed how each of their perspective effected one another.
- It was really insightful and what I needed in a read when one of our characters is a heavy feminist. Personally for me, feminism can get to a point where the thing one believes is ironically what they don't practice. Absolutely loved how this book pointed that out
- This is a simple story about friendship and personal growth and I enjoyed it tremendously
Like
- I loved all of the characters in this book. Wendy is my favorite with her kind and gentle soul. Excellent character development for both of our main characters
- The contrast between Wendy and Harper's point of view is very dramatic but I enjoyed how each of their perspective effected one another.
- It was really insightful and what I needed in a read when one of our characters is a heavy feminist. Personally for me, feminism can get to a point where the thing one believes is ironically what they don't practice. Absolutely loved how this book pointed that out
- This is a simple story about friendship and personal growth and I enjoyed it tremendously
The Husbands by Chandler Baker
slow-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
2.5
This author is not for me. Very heavy on the topic of feminism to the point where I want it to stop
Target Audience
- Chandler Baker writes books that targets young moms with kids. Specifically young Caucasian mothers. That is not me so maybe that's why I'm not the biggest fan of her books.
Like
- If you are a working mom, I think you can relate
- It's a good push to show what working moms go through
- Interesting concept
Dislike
- Every 2-3 pages the theme of being a working mom with a kid is shoved in my face and it gets very annoying very fast
- It's too heavy on feminism where the main story is shoved to the side
- Not really anything thrilling to be labeled as a thriller book. It just with holds information to make it "mysterious" but I'm not invested in it
- I find Chandler Baker's books to be predictable where nothing really shocks me
Target Audience
- Chandler Baker writes books that targets young moms with kids. Specifically young Caucasian mothers. That is not me so maybe that's why I'm not the biggest fan of her books.
Like
- If you are a working mom, I think you can relate
- It's a good push to show what working moms go through
- Interesting concept
Dislike
- Every 2-3 pages the theme of being a working mom with a kid is shoved in my face and it gets very annoying very fast
- It's too heavy on feminism where the main story is shoved to the side
- Not really anything thrilling to be labeled as a thriller book. It just with holds information to make it "mysterious" but I'm not invested in it
- I find Chandler Baker's books to be predictable where nothing really shocks me
The Den by Cara Reinard
mysterious
slow-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
3.0
Another read where I ended up feeling 'meh' with it
Lime
- It reminded me of an adult version of Inheritance Games to an extent
- Strong and clear writing
Dislike
- Story was repetitive and slow
- Predictable
- Ending was anticlimactic
Lime
- It reminded me of an adult version of Inheritance Games to an extent
- Strong and clear writing
Dislike
- Story was repetitive and slow
- Predictable
- Ending was anticlimactic
Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim
emotional
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
This is an emotional read as we follow our main character who's trying her hardest to be a matchmaker in Toronto while juggling her life as a good daughter to her demanding Asian family.
Sophie Go is an easily loveable main character with her own flaws of never believing herself enough. There were many relatable parts as Sophie struggles to make her family proud and she will have to make the decision if she wants to continue her relationship with her toxic parents.
Aside from her negative relationship with her parents, her career as a matchmaker slowly becomes successful when she bumps into seven older Asian men - the old ducks - looking for love.
This was the part where the story was as sweet as the candy Sophie favours. Each old duck had their own quirks that we will see in the dating world and I loved them. The found family troupe gave Sophie seven uncles who believes in her ability as a matchmaker and has her back.
As Sophie slowly matches the old ducks and her client list grows, maybe Sophie herself will find love as well and finally stand up for what she wants - independence and basic respect from her parents.
I absolutely loved this book. The representation of growing up Asian and doing the simplist thing of moving out is at times a heavy burden that I think this book portrayed well. It's not as easy as one would think.
Fortunately for me, my parents are ten times more calm than Sophie's parents. However, I easily felt the panic, anxiety and despair with each interaction with her mom.
To be frank, her mom is the biggest monster a child can have. But she is still her mom and we can't choose who our parents are which causes this internal struggle of continuing being 'a good daughter' only when she does whatever her parents say or becoming independent and taking no more bullshit.
The other relationship she develops with the old ducks is my favorite part in this read and I enjoyed how they all slowly got matched as well.
Nearing the end is when my eyes gave up holding in tears and everything came out. I was crying, Sophie was crying, we were all crying. I loved the pain.
If you can't tell, I'm a big fan of this book and can not recommend this enough. It was a sweet found family kind of read with romance and conflict thrown in.
Sophie Go is an easily loveable main character with her own flaws of never believing herself enough. There were many relatable parts as Sophie struggles to make her family proud and she will have to make the decision if she wants to continue her relationship with her toxic parents.
Aside from her negative relationship with her parents, her career as a matchmaker slowly becomes successful when she bumps into seven older Asian men - the old ducks - looking for love.
This was the part where the story was as sweet as the candy Sophie favours. Each old duck had their own quirks that we will see in the dating world and I loved them. The found family troupe gave Sophie seven uncles who believes in her ability as a matchmaker and has her back.
As Sophie slowly matches the old ducks and her client list grows, maybe Sophie herself will find love as well and finally stand up for what she wants - independence and basic respect from her parents.
I absolutely loved this book. The representation of growing up Asian and doing the simplist thing of moving out is at times a heavy burden that I think this book portrayed well. It's not as easy as one would think.
Fortunately for me, my parents are ten times more calm than Sophie's parents. However, I easily felt the panic, anxiety and despair with each interaction with her mom.
To be frank, her mom is the biggest monster a child can have. But she is still her mom and we can't choose who our parents are which causes this internal struggle of continuing being 'a good daughter' only when she does whatever her parents say or becoming independent and taking no more bullshit.
The other relationship she develops with the old ducks is my favorite part in this read and I enjoyed how they all slowly got matched as well.
Nearing the end is when my eyes gave up holding in tears and everything came out. I was crying, Sophie was crying, we were all crying. I loved the pain.
If you can't tell, I'm a big fan of this book and can not recommend this enough. It was a sweet found family kind of read with romance and conflict thrown in.
Whisper Network by Chandler Baker
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book lands solidly in the middle of 3 stars
Like
- Loved the build up and the ending to me was perfect
- Great characters as well. They're likeable with diverse personalities
- Half way through the book is when the story picked up
Dislike
- The story took its time with the build up
- There wasn't necessarily anything bad with the story other than I felt meh after finishing it
Like
- Loved the build up and the ending to me was perfect
- Great characters as well. They're likeable with diverse personalities
- Half way through the book is when the story picked up
Dislike
- The story took its time with the build up
- There wasn't necessarily anything bad with the story other than I felt meh after finishing it
The Cartographers by Amy Zhang
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This book is definitely not for me... so I have to rant... when I should have just DNF it
Like
- A book that is targeting a very, VERY specific group
Dislike
- I would say it was extremely pretentious but I guess you can argue it is "philosophical"
- Half of the main characters problem can be solved if she actually spoke her mind in plain old English
- The story didn't move smoothly but it felt very jumpy
- The theme is about "communication" and it was communicating in the most difficult way possible
- My eyebrows had a work out from cringing so hard
- It's too deep for my not deep soul
Like
- A book that is targeting a very, VERY specific group
Dislike
- I would say it was extremely pretentious but I guess you can argue it is "philosophical"
- Half of the main characters problem can be solved if she actually spoke her mind in plain old English
- The story didn't move smoothly but it felt very jumpy
- The theme is about "communication" and it was communicating in the most difficult way possible
- My eyebrows had a work out from cringing so hard
- It's too deep for my not deep soul
Extreme Vetting by Roxana Arama
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An unexpected book that blew my mind! A hidden gem that needs more eyes on it
Like
- A well paced read with the storyline about illegal immigrants who has lived in the US for many years and how a determined lawyer is trying to save them from being deported
- Very loveable characters and they all have depth to them
- Unique story that I haven't read before. The plot follows a relatively common path but the details in them took me by surprised
Dislike
- Took me a few chapters to get into it but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down
- I had to reread some of the legal terms and happenings to get thr full idea
Like
- A well paced read with the storyline about illegal immigrants who has lived in the US for many years and how a determined lawyer is trying to save them from being deported
- Very loveable characters and they all have depth to them
- Unique story that I haven't read before. The plot follows a relatively common path but the details in them took me by surprised
Dislike
- Took me a few chapters to get into it but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down
- I had to reread some of the legal terms and happenings to get thr full idea
Tomorrow in Shanghai by May-lee Chai
reflective
sad
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
3.0
This felt like a book with half finished story ideas
Like
- I love the short stories shared from different kids growing up Chinese
- Quick read with potential for their individual stories to become something more
Dislike
- Because they are short stories, it always feels incomplete when they end. Nothing really wraps up
- The same themes are repeated through the short stories with similar characters and actions
- They feel more like story ideas rather than an actually short story with an ending
Like
- I love the short stories shared from different kids growing up Chinese
- Quick read with potential for their individual stories to become something more
Dislike
- Because they are short stories, it always feels incomplete when they end. Nothing really wraps up
- The same themes are repeated through the short stories with similar characters and actions
- They feel more like story ideas rather than an actually short story with an ending