ebecks3's reviews
1090 reviews

The Education of Ivy Leavold by Sierra Simone

dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

So I’m really enjoying these. They are short and have a really fun story attached. The spice is the right level and I actually care about these characters. I find Julian to have so many levels and Ivy is way stronger than she gives herself credit for.
I am excited for the last book to see what happens for them. 

Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

This had a ton of potential and I’m glad that the reviews of the rest of the series seem to be decent. There was a a lot of screaming and hair pulling on my side because of the fact that these characters were dumb… super oblivious and making careless decisions that got them into more danger/trouble. 
It does seem like they got better so I’m hoping that the rest of this cozy doesn’t disappoint! 

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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

Reread: Proof that sometimes you need to read a book at the right time… I absolutely loved the book. So many highs and lows. I am still gagging over this ending. I meant I feel like I could tell it was going this way, but not immediately. 
Celaena is becoming one of my favorite MCs. She is really the total package! And I’m so ready for her and Chaol to be end game! I love how they have been in both books. 

First read: It’s just moved too slowly for me… I wanted to love this series but I’ll be okay just loving her other series!

Are You Sara? by S.C. Lalli

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I feel like it was really good until the last page. That ending left me a little confused. I found Sara likable and I was guessing the entire time for who the murderer was… but that ending was not good. It didn’t leave me wanting more, but more so saying “what the…” I’m not a good way. 
Thanks for NetGalley and William Morrow for this edition in exchange for an honest review 

The Change by Kirsten Miller

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

I think this was the book I needed to read at this time in my life. Being perimenopausal and having adhd, I feel like these women were my people. I loved the evolution of all the characters, I really thought that Miller did a phenomenal job with the time jumping and giving us every part of these women’s journeys. I’m struggling with the what genre this would be… it was to the core a mystery/thriller, but then there was so much magical realism in here that it felt like a fantasy! I absolutely loved it! Highly recommend! Thank you Harper Collins for this edition in exchange for an honest review! 

James by Percival Everett

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-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

5.0

This was such a well written book. I truly enjoyed reading this from Jim/James perspective. Where I still don’t enjoy reading the N word, I’m mature enough to realize this is our history, our Black history, and words like this were and are used to address Black people. 
What I truly enjoyed was how Everett added code switching, but now we have to make sure we do it in reverse. This book should be eye opening but I’m also sure it will be banned soon. 

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I felt that this was such a solid piece of literature for the victims! I loved that we never hear his name. I loved that we heard all of theirs, fictional and real. Many times I had to remind myself that these characters were fictional but this story was 

The Awakening of Ivy Leavold by Sierra Simone

fast-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? Yes

4.5

Really enjoyed this one… gave me Bridgerton vibes!!

Root Magic by Eden Royce

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? No

4.0

This was such an interesting story! I’ve read about the Gullah Geechee before but this was such an interesting side of the story. I feel like this should be in the classroom, especially now. This showed the prejudice that they faced even from other Black families. I find root magic so fascinating and I would like my students to read this! 

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

This was crazy… read this with my husband on our road trip and he kept saying how much this was like The Running Man. I have no idea about that, but I do know that this book will make you think. 
I am glad it was written by a Black person so that our current president won’t read it and get ideas!