emilyrosebooks's reviews
595 reviews

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

I thought this was even better than the first! I don't actually think I know who exactly is the "bad guy" because there is so much dark and intrigue. I'm totally gripped, can't wait for the next one. Audiobook is amazing with multiple narrators. 

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0

Dark academia, interesting magic. The 6 chosen for the society have such complexity and their intertwining is sooooo good. Loved it, can't wait to read the next. 

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton, Lara Love Hardin

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

5 million stars, this is the book we should be reading in schools but it would most certainly be banned. It is Ray Hinton's side of the story, if you have read Just Mercy by his lawyer and advocate Bryan Stevenson. This is a must read. 

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

This was True Crime at its finest, it included just enough detail without being outrageous, and it also captured the life of a true crime writer well with her own obsessions and sacrifices. Well done. 

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

I borrowed it from the library and my loan is about to expire and I'm still only 50 ish pages in. I'm not gripped like I hoped, so I'm letting this one go. Might be wonderful for someone else!

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

4.0

A great little murder mystery with a wonderful cast of strong, independent, very different women. I loved the component of the mother-daughter-granddaughter relationships. 

Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou

inspiring fast-paced

3.5

I love Maya Angelou and I think this is a wonderful standalone for Maya, for the daughters she never had. Not my favorite of hers, as there are many repeat stories from her other autobiographies, but like I said, a great standalone. 

Women Don't Owe You Pretty by Florence Given

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

This is the new feminist bible as far as I am concerned. It holds up a big mirror to you and your thoughts and perceptions, and firmly, but not unkindly, tells you to unlearn that shit. I wish I had read this when I was 16 not 31.

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson

adventurous informative medium-paced

5.0

I LOVE Erik Larson, he brings such life to history and it makes you feel like you are there! The use of the Code Duello to outline the events surrounding the fall of Fort Sumter and the start of the civil war is so fitting as it ignited as much from the desire to keep slavery as it was a war over perceived dishonor. Such a good read.

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.5

This is a really off the wall idea, different from so much else I have read recently.  High point is that it is really imaginative and builds an incredible amount of suspense and intrigue, low point is that you don't really find out what is going on until page 345 or so, and while the ending is satisfying, it also sort of feels abrupt and truncated compared to the lead up of the tale.