debbilynn42's reviews
651 reviews

The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey

emotional informative reflective 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

4.5

The Forgotten Book Club explores themes of grief, mental health, and neurodivergence in an accessible format. Grace begins attending the book club that her late husband, Frank, started a decade prior. Through meeting his friends and reading his journals, Grace comes to understand additional facets of her husband and decides to continue progressing the goals he'd set out for himself. The power of community and reaching people where they're at are resonate themes of this book.

As an ADHDer myself, I found the content about neurodivergence accessible and in a story format that I can see recommending to others in my life to better understand my lived experience. I especially appreciated Grace exploring how her grandson's diagnosis has threads back into her daughter and husband's behaviors as well. Additionally, I liked how the discussion centers adult experiences and not just childhood impacts of ADHD. 

Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this title for my review.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.75

I finished this... but it really should have been a DNF early on. I didn't enjoy it, but I wanted it to get better and be worth the time already invested,  but my sunk cost kept growing. The classic Ali Hazelwood banter wasn't there. There wasn't enough characterization to draw me into caring about their relationship. The sports backdrop was too prominent without enough time on the couple. This book dragged on far too long.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

5.0

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault

Minor: Rape, Suicide

Hakim's Odyssey: Book 1: From Syria to Turkey by Fabien Toulmé

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

I jumped into this book having not read the previous installments in the series and I still felt it was worthwhile. With the broad cast of characters, I wasn't sure who I could trust by default from previous books and who was a new suspicious person for this book alone, but in the end that was just more theories for me to work thru to get to the actual suspect to blame.

A cozy read, with a fun library backdrop. 

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC for my early review.

How To Slay On Holiday by Sarah Bonner

lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

The plot premise pulled me in -- how fun would it be to follow along the disgruntled wife -- but in the end, the book left me with lingering plot holes as its lasting memory. I did enjoy the multiple POVs as the days unfolded, each person with her own grievances and motivations. But that wasn't enough to offset the letdown of the book's flow and execution for me. I'd still give this author another try though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this novel for my early review.

Behind You by Rylie Dark

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25