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dmackreads's reviews
110 reviews
The World Deserves My Children by Natasha Leggero
Did not finish book. Stopped at 68%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 68%.
I have no interest in reading about politics or your opinions on gender identity or your weird fucking husband who grew up going to nude hot tubs with his mother as a CHILD, or how you normalize men who don’t do shit. You’re a “celebrity” who cannot be related to by the majority of the population, I don’t see the humor in this at all
The Bell Jar by
1.0
Frances McCullough’s Foreword at the beginning of this book is the most interesting part of it. Personally I think he should have left it where he found it.
The reason I didn’t dnf this is because the author is dead (actually by suicide) and I thought it quite rude to do so. Now some may say my rating is rude but I suffered through 244 pages of something that I should have, in fact, marked off as a dnf because this is my first ever 1★ rating. Of course I also was trying to see what everyone else was seeing, that maybe I wasn’t, to warrant over a million reviews, over 3 million copies sold since it was released, and an average rating of over 4★s. I just didn’t find it.
The writing is subpar at best. The synopsis says, “Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the readers in” I’m sorry, who and how? I felt zero connection to the characters or the story. I understand it follows a very dark, heavy, sad, emotional topic and that’s about the only thing that kept any ounce of my interest.
I read 154 pages of what felt like “fluff” to me. There is far too much unnecessary information and I say that because it either tells me absolutely nothing of importance or doesn’t do its job to draw you in or connect you to the characters. This book is only 244 pages long and it took me until I was 65% of the way in for something to trip me up into feeling anything at all. Personally I feel if you are going to write a book like this and it’s a short book, you need to captivate a reader within 20 pages or less. Not only that but the last 50 or so pages where there was the most happening at once, is what needed to be drawn out the most. Something would happen or be said and then 2 pages later it was like I missed a step because we jumped from point A to point B so quickly that it was a missed opportunity to really get us feeling something and deeply attached.
I’ve come to the conclusion that you can be manipulated by an author to believe a book is good if it’s about certain topics. This is one of those books. Because of course the topic is sad and you feel compelled to think it’s good.
The reason I didn’t dnf this is because the author is dead (actually by suicide) and I thought it quite rude to do so. Now some may say my rating is rude but I suffered through 244 pages of something that I should have, in fact, marked off as a dnf because this is my first ever 1★ rating. Of course I also was trying to see what everyone else was seeing, that maybe I wasn’t, to warrant over a million reviews, over 3 million copies sold since it was released, and an average rating of over 4★s. I just didn’t find it.
The writing is subpar at best. The synopsis says, “Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the readers in” I’m sorry, who and how? I felt zero connection to the characters or the story. I understand it follows a very dark, heavy, sad, emotional topic and that’s about the only thing that kept any ounce of my interest.
I read 154 pages of what felt like “fluff” to me. There is far too much unnecessary information and I say that because it either tells me absolutely nothing of importance or doesn’t do its job to draw you in or connect you to the characters. This book is only 244 pages long and it took me until I was 65% of the way in for something to trip me up into feeling anything at all. Personally I feel if you are going to write a book like this and it’s a short book, you need to captivate a reader within 20 pages or less. Not only that but the last 50 or so pages where there was the most happening at once, is what needed to be drawn out the most. Something would happen or be said and then 2 pages later it was like I missed a step because we jumped from point A to point B so quickly that it was a missed opportunity to really get us feeling something and deeply attached.
I’ve come to the conclusion that you can be manipulated by an author to believe a book is good if it’s about certain topics. This is one of those books. Because of course the topic is sad and you feel compelled to think it’s good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Into the Dark by Jessa Hastings
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I cannot believe this series is over. This one is very centered around loss and grief as well as Magnolia and BJ’s relationship. It could be extremely triggering for some people so I would keep that in mind before reading. So many TW’s honestly like ED, mental abuse, sibling loss, grief, cheating etc. I actually cried while reading more than once. It’s been a ride watching this relationship unfold, fall apart, come back together, and grow over this series. I’m sad that it’s come to end but I’m also very happy with how it was wrapped up in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy
Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing by Jessa Hastings
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ugh, the miscommunication or really “lack of communication” trope is the most frustrating one to me and it’s starting to really irk me but like, I also get it to an extent.
Also I’m usually all for a rekindled flame, working through your shit and making it work but at this point I’m kinda team Julian & Magnolia. Is that delusional to try to manifest into reality? But I still love her & BJ, send help I’m just as confused as her.
AND WHAT THE FUCK?? The end of the last book and the end of this one both leaving me on a cliff hanger makes me wanna bash my head off a wall 😩
Also I’m usually all for a rekindled flame, working through your shit and making it work but at this point I’m kinda team Julian & Magnolia. Is that delusional to try to manifest into reality? But I still love her & BJ, send help I’m just as confused as her.
AND WHAT THE FUCK?? The end of the last book and the end of this one both leaving me on a cliff hanger makes me wanna bash my head off a wall 😩
Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home by Jessa Hastings
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
5.0
EXCUSE ME?! THE ENDING?! WHAT THE FUCK.
I genuinely do not even know what to say or think right now. This book made me angry, annoyed, stressed out, excited, hopeful, happy, laugh, almost cry, and then just completely shocked and physically ill at the end. Clearly a 5 star rating considering all of the emotions brought forward and how fast I read through it due to simply not wanting to put it down but I’m unsure what else to say. This series has me in a chokehold at this point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Okay so, it was definitely a hard transition from the first book reading from Magnolia & BJ’s POV to this book reading from Daisy, Christian, & Julian’s POV. I usually struggle with reading two books in a row that follow the same timeline but luckily the author didn’t incorporate too much of the same verbiage from the first book in the second so it didn’t feel like I was rereading the same stuff over and over again. There’s been so many characters introduced between the first two books that I’ve had a hard time trying to keep track of them all, especially because a lot of the characters also have nicknames and it’s like “wait who is this again” ugh, it’s frustrating to me. But I do finally feel like I’m getting a grip on the series and who everyone is now that I’m at the end of the second book so I think it’ll be easier to enjoy moving forward now. One other thing that really bothers me is, there are text conversations throughout these books and it shows who one of the texters is, you’d assume who the other is by being within that chapters POV but a lot of times it isn’t and I’m genuinely having to guess who it is. I think the overall execution could’ve been a little better. A 5 book series with this type of chaos can be a little overwhelming but I love the story and that’s why I’ve stuck with it.
Aside from that, these characters are so incredibly frustrating. Literally every single one of them is so toxic, it’s just a spectrum. But I suppose if I watched family die, had shit parents, been shot, watched people die or almost die, been attacked, cheated on, came from more money than I know what to do with, or idk.. came from a crime lord family, (not to say I don’t have any of these but it’s a crazy combination) I’d probably be a little entitled myself lol. Even still, some of these issues the characters within this world have hit a little close to home and can be applied to real life. You definitely get sucked in, attached to the characters, and experience a lot of emotions.
Aside from that, these characters are so incredibly frustrating. Literally every single one of them is so toxic, it’s just a spectrum. But I suppose if I watched family die, had shit parents, been shot, watched people die or almost die, been attacked, cheated on, came from more money than I know what to do with, or idk.. came from a crime lord family, (not to say I don’t have any of these but it’s a crazy combination) I’d probably be a little entitled myself lol. Even still, some of these issues the characters within this world have hit a little close to home and can be applied to real life. You definitely get sucked in, attached to the characters, and experience a lot of emotions.
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Idk what this book is made of but it must be crack because I genuinely devoured this. Hooked immediately, like within 20 pages and did not want to put it down. This might actually follow most toxic relationship I’ve ever read about. I don’t even know what to say without giving everything away, just read the synopsis I guess 😂 the writing was immaculate, the vocabulary used left me with so many quotes that made me really stop and think. This is probably my most tabbed book to date.
I’ve seen far too many negative reviews because “this is just a toxic shitty relationship and it’s disgusting” I mean, yeah? Stop reading books that aren’t your cup of tea. The synopsis LITERALLY tells you exactly what they are about and this one in particular laid it out pretty black and white that that’s exactly what this book is, toxic. Also I feel like it can really hit home to a lot of people but if you’ve never experienced a toxic relationship or even an abusive one or one with a trauma bond or even bad co dependency issues yourself then maybe you just wouldn’t get it and it obviously wouldn’t be for you. Be thankful for that and read something that works for you. If you’re looking for something that will make you feel some emotions, this will do it for sure.
Oh, and fuck you BJ Ballentine :)
I’ve seen far too many negative reviews because “this is just a toxic shitty relationship and it’s disgusting” I mean, yeah? Stop reading books that aren’t your cup of tea. The synopsis LITERALLY tells you exactly what they are about and this one in particular laid it out pretty black and white that that’s exactly what this book is, toxic. Also I feel like it can really hit home to a lot of people but if you’ve never experienced a toxic relationship or even an abusive one or one with a trauma bond or even bad co dependency issues yourself then maybe you just wouldn’t get it and it obviously wouldn’t be for you. Be thankful for that and read something that works for you. If you’re looking for something that will make you feel some emotions, this will do it for sure.
Oh, and fuck you BJ Ballentine :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Final Offer by Lauren Asher
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My main complaint about this book was the length. I feel like it could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter but luckily it read fast with the spacing and text conversations.
The main characters were childhood best friends, which progressed eventually, and then when adulthood got a little too hard and the MMC (Cal) adapted some unhealthy coping mechanisms, it ended for them. 6 years later they meet again. But wait, now there’s a kid involved. And Cal is at risk to lose not only his whole inheritance but potentially be liable for his brothers losing everything they’ve worked for and sacrificed for also. It was a roller coaster between business, addiction and sobriety, parenthood, family, love, growth, flashbacks, among other things.
The way it was written made it so easy to envision everything going on and feel invested in the whole Kane family overall. I loved the way the whole series tied together, especially at the end of this book with the epilogues so you can envision what their lives looked like a few years into the future.
It was giving second chance romance with a little slow burn, sprinkle in some groveling from a rich billionaire and it’s easily a 4 star read. I did connect to the characters just not as much as I did in the second book so between that and again, the length I felt wasn’t quite necessary, it just wasn’t quite a 5 star for me.
The main characters were childhood best friends, which progressed eventually, and then when adulthood got a little too hard and the MMC (Cal) adapted some unhealthy coping mechanisms, it ended for them. 6 years later they meet again. But wait, now there’s a kid involved. And Cal is at risk to lose not only his whole inheritance but potentially be liable for his brothers losing everything they’ve worked for and sacrificed for also. It was a roller coaster between business, addiction and sobriety, parenthood, family, love, growth, flashbacks, among other things.
The way it was written made it so easy to envision everything going on and feel invested in the whole Kane family overall. I loved the way the whole series tied together, especially at the end of this book with the epilogues so you can envision what their lives looked like a few years into the future.
It was giving second chance romance with a little slow burn, sprinkle in some groveling from a rich billionaire and it’s easily a 4 star read. I did connect to the characters just not as much as I did in the second book so between that and again, the length I felt wasn’t quite necessary, it just wasn’t quite a 5 star for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was a little disappointed in the first book of this series but this one completely made up for it. I loved it start to finish. I actually felt connected to the characters and the way it was written was so easy to follow. It was funny, like it actually made me laugh a few times and I haven’t had that much lately. It was a little sad and frustrating at times but I love books that actually bring emotion out of me. The relationship between the main characters blossomed at a great rate. Sometimes I feel like it can be too slow even in a slow burn or too fast in others but overall the speed of progression in this one felt perfect to me. I didn’t get bored at all and the epilogues at the end were a perfect way to end it.
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
fast-paced
3.5
It took me about 100 pages to get really into this but it was an easy, fast read. I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I would’ve liked, not sure what it was but something was lacking for me. Still it was playful, fun, and emotional at times. It didn’t pull on my heart strings as much as I like in a romance. It was also lacking some depth I normally look for. Regardless I did still enjoy it and look forward to the rest of the series.