ebrinkley's reviews
69 reviews

The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

While I read it quickly, it left something to be desired. I didn’t like how 9/11 was used in this book. If you’re going to use a tragedy like that in your novel, you have to do it well. Giffin’s use of the trauma that thousands of real people experienced and are still dealing with the circumstances of losing loved ones should not be used as a cover up for a character like Grant. It wasn’t disrespectful but it almost could have been and I just wish she had provided that fateful day with more development and greater empathy. 

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

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

4.75

The Night and Its Moon by Piper C.J.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.

This book is not written well. A little creepy with how one loves the other and it’s not reciprocated. I had no idea about the controversy surrounding this book and author until after I had become disinterested. Now, I can give myself grace on DNF-ing this book without feeling bad. 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

<<spoilers>> The ending was good. I had a feeling how it would go. But the way she actually ended it, was perfect. I love the book that he wrote and how it was anonymous and that Addie’s name was finally spoken by someone other than Henry. It was genius of the character to write as an anonymous author. Loved how she tied the whole story into a sense of real life because of the book. I was worried how this book would go because it was my first VE Schwab and it was was so slow but I’d say, worth it. 

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

<<spoilers>>
Liked the storyline a lot. Easy, lighthearted read but still has emotion. The fact that she made sure she didn’t share Greg’s life with anyone, even when it was making Elsie look terrible in front of her potential colleagues was highly respectable. 
And I LOVE how much Ali Hazelwood incorporated academia into the novel. The politics, the research, the lack of money if you’re not tenure, all of it. I appreciate how she’s writing romances that focus on women in the sciences. That alone is amazing 

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

4.0

On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi

3.75

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense

5.0

So terrible that horrible people go away with murdering so many families. I’m glad that David Grann wrote this book and exposed an important element of history that has been silenced for so long. 

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

*Tandem read*
***Spoilers***

I’m a sucker for all the characters, in both books, finding their best loves/mates but wouldn’t want to know that it’ll happen going into it. The amount of scheming from Aelin is great in how it all connects. I don’t know how Maas does it…

I will say that her reference to Rowan being her mate without clarifying made me think that I had missed something in the book. She does end up clarifying it all in the end but I didn’t think parts of that storyline were written well. 

Also, I could not get enough of Elide Lohan. And then with Lorcan... Such a nice slow burn. Of course, it's now been heavily implied that they are mates. I love how Elide has proven to be such a strong young woman. She's grown so much since we first met her with the impression she was a young, naïve girl. I appreciate that Maas expanded upon her character and has truly shown who she is and how well she fulfills her role as Lady of Perranth. I can't wait to see if she further develops into her witch-blood. 

Manon and Dorian... This might be my favorite coupling as it was the most unexpected out of all of them. Maas hinted that they were into each other upon first meeting but prior to that, I never would have guessed that Manon and Dorian would show any interest in each other. In the previous books, I had a HARD time getting through Manon's narratives, but through Empire of Storms, I could not get enough of her!

Overall, a great book and can’t wait to read the last one!!

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous hopeful 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

4.25

**Tandem read*
***spoilers***
I’m the type of person that literally waited the ENTIRE BOOK for chaol to realize that Yrene’s stranger in Innish is the same person as Celaena/Aelin Galathaynius! Totally worth the wait. Maas was killing me with that suspense!

But in all reality, I actually enjoyed this book of the series more than I thought I would. I don’t hate chaol, like the rest of booktok seem too. He’s human and humans mess up. This book is about him growing. Of course, I still cringe in so many places that he messes up but it all works out for him and Nesryn in the end and I’m so happy it did.

If I hadn’t done the tandem read, I might’ve skipped this book and I’m so glad I didn’t. There were many times though where I hated switching back and forth for the tandem because I just wanted to know what happened next in either book!!