elaine707's reviews
517 reviews

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.25

How do you move on when your future dies?

A great understanding of grief for young adults. Grief is different for everyone, and I appreciated the depiction in this book.

The Light of All That Falls by James Islington

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

The way in which this series has me in a chokehold. 
Uncovering the depths of the lost memories and, thus, unraveling the story was absolutely captivating. Every step of the way, I was left questioning who was really on the right side -- if there even was a right or wrong side. 

I loved the world building. I also really enjoyed the philosophical musings of religion and deconstructing the concepts of right vs. wrong. 

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

adventurous hopeful lighthearted tense 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

A much anticipated finale. 
Love can be both a curse and salvation. This story was well-written and depicted the complexities of love, encompassing both its positive and negative aspects.

I love Iris and Roman so much. 

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

informative inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25

I feel like she should’ve just called it quits. 

Other than that, great book. I loved the writing style.

The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson

This book was not for me. A narrative about the woes of pregnancy while dealing with the complexities of gender. While I find the discourse absolutely fascinating and the topic of transsexuality extremely important, I am not in the space to fully immerse myself into the process of pregnancy and birth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

funny lighthearted

Rereading one of my favorite childhood book of poems! So witty and dry. I know where I got my sense of humor from

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

It’s very impressive to write a whole research paper on only about love. I think it’s a very basic understanding of how to love and how to be loved, but might be needed for such an emotionally unavailable society that we find ourselves in. 

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

adventurous informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Knowledge is power, destruction, and salvation. The plot thickens in the second book of this trilogy, and I am literally screaming.

There are not many words to describe my feelings without spoiling anything, so I will say this:

Lawrence writes in a way that makes you feel as if you are also making this huge decision that will alter friends, families, and the world. I love his writing style and the intellectual musings that the books and the epigraphs pose. 

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Sciona is paving the way for all women in her magical city—she is the first to be admitted to the prestigious magical university. She has never been known to stop and smell the roses along the way, anything to get her closer to the top. Still, suddenly, a janitor refugee from outside the city's sanctuary shows her the true meaning of everything. 

If this were a YA book, I would give it more stars. Even so, I gave it an extra star because I think the message is incredibly important. That being said, I didn't like the subplot at all. Given the subplot, the way it ended was the only way I could have accepted the ending. The idea that the privileged parts of society don't recognize the discrimination of others, let alone the foundation on which their lives are built by minorities, is such an important topic that must be discussed more. 

The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake

reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

In this gripping finale, everyone's aspirations, morals, and reasons for existing are tested and pushed to the limits. 

While answers were made, questions were still asked, and what I love about that is the book's literal purpose. To question everything in the face of so much injustice and anger. I enjoyed the philosophical musings, but there were definitely a lot of questions. The book went all over the place, but again, I think that was the point.