egslcgns's reviews
25 reviews

Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

I GET the emhen cult. She writes actual rom-com. january’s pain is thoroughly explored and her relationship with gus was very much treated slowly but touchingly(?) would revisit for a feel good read! This was an excellent premise that got me excited about the wager early on in the book… and the sheer thrill of reading about the protagonists running into each other and falling in love was much appreciated.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

One of a kind. The beginning was slow, but by the second act i could not put this down. Would love to pick this up for a second closer reading and analysis. Mindblowing novel that i wish i could erase from
my brain so i can read this again.

Some spoiler thoughts below:

I loved the exploration of madness/insanity, of the two identities of the protagonist, and how we see the other world vs the real world (which is which?)

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Second Claire Keegan book and it is sublime. Her writing is so vivid with imagery you have no problems picturing it in your head. I appreciated the steadily-paced, show-not-telling characterisation of Furlong and his struggles between what he feels and what everyone says, reminds me much of Alice Munro, and very relatable as well. Didn't know about the Magdalen laundries before this.

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.

Too slow, nice writing but wasn’t enough to keep me reading. Wasn’t interested in Lotto and his friends.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Well executed gothic thriller. Suspenseful setting, page turning story. The twists at the end!!!! I’m floored. Couldn’t put the book down esp in the closing third.

Some characters acted a bit out of character towards the end??? but not complaining.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

lighthearted 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? N/A

3.5

Light, simple, no frills spicy romance! Didn’t expect myself to like Piper. My only complaint is that Bailey rly needed to prove that Brendan is a fisherman rough on the edges… he’s always grumbling/rumbling/grunting??? ok…

Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.25

A tragic character study at best, boring plotless story at worst… I think slow paced books aren’t for me.

Things i liked: author obvs did a lot of research on the invisible homeless in Japan. I liked the nuances of being invisible even when the homeless in full view; vignettes of Ueno Park and its different features (interesting only bc i visited ueno park recently)

Things i didn’t like: This book might have landed much better as an essay? I didn’t care much for the randos that ghost Kazu observes… didn’t think they did much.

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.25

Heard a lot about Sayaka Murata’s books described as disgusting, crazy, weird etc. Earthlings is DIABOLICAL. There’s something quite cathartic about the protagonist’s arc but also incredibly horrific, esp juxtaposed with the deadpan narration style. I think the contemporary themes of belonging or conforming to society’s expectations of marriage/family/adulting/women’s bodies is also, ironically, quite human and hits close to home. Short and speedy read, great crazy story, I was promised entertainment and Earthlings delivered.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Overhyped. The premise reeled me in but the underwhelming puzzles/riddles and romance just fell flat for me.
- The buildup at the start was set up to be an interesting Knives Out-like story, but the payoff was just not very satisfying? Felt let down by 1. solving the puzzles barely made up part of the book (which is fine if the other elements of the story carried, but they did not); 2. the final reveal... in my head it was an "oh, that's it?"
- The whole Emily thing was so unnecessary. Don't really care about her don't know what is the point of her besides to heighten the risk and tension of being in the house with a potential murderer
- The love triangle was ????? Avery had no reason to like the brothers besides being rich white boys lets bffr
- Other characters didn't have much of a personality, the YA elements of the book were annoying, finished the book disappointed.

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

I can understand why this is more popular than the first book. The mystery stakes was higher and the payoff was more rewarding. ngl i felt bored by some of the characters but as an ensemble their chemistry is charming.