eliseraine's reviews
27 reviews

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

5.0

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing

5.0

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing

4.0

The Humans by Matt Haig

adventurous dark funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.75

I expected this book to have a total sci-fi story about alien invasion and human destruction. But, (well oh well) I charged in fully oblivious to what it is all about. I am hoping to be kicked in the brain with science, technology, and maths apects of the story but this book crushed and tickled my heart!

Regardless, this is a solid book you can binge and make you question your existence and whatever it is you're doing with your life. I know that this is suppose to be a comedic book about an alien being stuck on Earth, but reading it made me cherish my life even more, realize a lot of things, and come to terms with the darkness inside me. 

Here are some of the most memorable bits from the book I really adore:

The problem lying behind the lack of human fulfillment was a shortage not just of time but of imagination. They found a day that worked for them and then stuck to it and repeated it, at least between Monday and Friday. Even if it didn’t work for them—as was usually the case—they stuck to it anyway.

Past and future were myths. The past was just the present that had died and the future would never exist anyway, because by the time we got to it, the future would have turned into the present. The present was all there was. The ever-moving, ever-changing present. And the present was fickle. It could only be caught by letting go.

My eyes felt a warm, gentle strain. My vision blurred. Then something ran down my cheek, all the way to my lips. A liquid. Like rain, but warmer. Saline. I had shed a tear.

Dark matter is needed to hold galaxies together. Your mind is a galaxy. More dark than light. But the light makes it worthwhile. Which is to say, don’t kill yourself. Even when the darkness is total. Always know that life is not still. Time is space. You are moving through that galaxy. Wait for the stars.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

THAT PLOT TWIST THOUGH!

I may have shed a tear or two reading this book. Cady, the narrator of the novel, take us on a journey to recover her fragmented memories after a tragic accident with the help of the Liars. It is a story of friendship, love, anger, desperation, forgiveness, delusion, and LIES.

Here are my favorite moments from the book without context:

The Liars swim out, past the edge of the cove and into the open ocean. The sun is high in the sky and glints off the water, so bright, so bright. And then they dive— or something— or something— and they are gone.

"the mark of tragedy became, with time, a mark of glamour. A mark of mystery, and a source of fascination for those who viewed the family from afar."

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

What an unexpected ending 😭🤧

I read this book after reading Matt Haig's The Humans to satisfy my thirst for more comedic yet heartwrenching sci-fi novels. And apparently, Jack Edwards, my absolute favorite booktuber, gave this one 5 stars.
 
After a swift week of reading PHM and listening to the audiobook, I have decided to also give this one 5 stars (very very very very good! (Insert jazz hands here.)
 
I don't like comparing books to movies, but the initial premise of this one is very similar to Passengers (with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence), with a lone character waking up in a spaceship and trying to survive, maybe except that everyone in this book besides the main character is dead. 

And with a very unexpected twist, Grace meets an out of this world character (literally!) and their buddy-buddy wholesome story, with a bit of sudden breakdowns, jazz hands, and engine failures, begins.

 
I was very confused at first with all the technical science-y terms and mathematics. But I must admit, I felt quite smart after finishing the book. Not because I am actually smart, but because the author wrote and described the science part of the novel in a way that a normal person would understand. The book also tackles real world environmental and political problems that are still relevant to this day.
 

I love how PHM explained that although alien life forms are always expected to be scientifically advanced extraterrestrial creatures with gray skin, big heads, and long legs, they can also be dumb (and deadly) tiny alien microorganisms. And speaking of intelligent life forms, the curious friendship between Grace and Rocky is just too adorable. They are a great example of an unexpected bond that transcends beyond galaxies.

 

I love love love the ending but would also like to see an alternate one where Ryland goes back to Earth. But still, I am very glad that he chose my boy/girl, Rocky. ♥︎♥︎♥︎

 
I was hoping that this would be a movie someday just like The Martian!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

A twisted but realistic and inspirational character. 

Evelyn Hugo embodies not only "pretty privilege," but she also has the guts and determination to get what she wants at the expense of her dignity and relationships. 

Inside her seemingly glamorous and perfect life is a flawed woman willing to manipulate the equally flawed system of fame and wealth. This book definitely shows the imperfect life behind the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, and how celebrities are forced to formulate the perfect mask to please or displease their audience.

I just love how the title itself reveals but also casts a shadow on the true story of Evelyn's life. The twist in the end was unexpected, but I hope it was explored more. The ending was also a total cliffhanger. I want to see what will happen to Monique's life and Evelyn's legacy after the revelation. 

After finishing, it left me with a whole new perspective on life and how to approach my goals. Here are some memorable quotes from the book:

I have long operated under the idea that civility is subservience. But it hasn’t gotten me very far, that type of kindness. The world respects people who think they should be running it.

When you’re given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn’t give things, you take things. If you learn one thing from me, it should probably be that.

People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is “You’re safe with me”—that’s intimacy.

No one is just a victim or a victor. Everyone is somewhere in between. People who go around casting themselves as one or the other are not only kidding themselves, but they’re also painfully unoriginal.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content