editorbrenna's reviews
1074 reviews

A Country Kind Of Love by Nicole Spencer-Skillen

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

This is different from your average romance novel. In some ways it read more like sapphic women's fiction because it focuses more on Peyton's career than her romance with Cleo.

While I enjoyed the romance aspect, I think it needed to be fleshed out more. Peyton and Cleo get together quickly, and we don't get to see much of them getting to know each other and falling in love. The breakup happens quite early in the story, and we see more romance after that, which isn't as compelling in my opinion.

My favorite character was Jesse even though he's a secondary character. I found his relationship with Peyton more interesting than Cleo's.

I was also a bit irked with all the summary in the epilogue.

Overall, I would have liked to see more buildup in the romance and the character arcs--with Cleo's viewpoint on the page--and less of the career startup stuff.

Crocodile Tears by Ali K. Mulford

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

An absolute gem of a romance!

The Lachlan family is a delight, as is the Prickle Island Zoo setting. I loved the enemies-to-lovers tension between Dove and Deacon, and their conflict felt very real.

I also enjoyed the dash of Hollywood sparkle in this cozy, queer romance. Not to mention there are so many characters and relationships to love! 

I will 100% be going back to read the first three books in the series now.

The Seep by Chana Porter

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Darkly by Marisha Pessl
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

I really enjoyed the book at first, but then the characters started to seem like quirky sterotypes or caricatures. And Pessl’s treatment of the older characters at the antique shop bothered me.

Our Green Heart: The Soul and Science of Forests by Diana Beresford-Kroeger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.

Not in the mood

Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

Not in the mood for it.

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

dark emotional funny hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The Bound Worlds by Megan E. O'Keefe

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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