erin_hibshman's reviews
802 reviews

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Clever premise and I enjoyed the mystery with its twists and turns. Some things I predicted, others surprised me. Glad I gave it a listen. 

Joyful Recollections of Trauma by Paul Scheer

informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

Interesting memoir written through essays. Some funny, many reflective and sad, but the author/comedian does acknowledge the pain and that he is on the other side of those situations. 

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Each of Jimenez’s books gets better and deeper with characters and meaningful connections and relationships. This was so enjoyable I forced myself to slow down while reading it. A great start to summer! 

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: A Guide to the Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

Started as an audiobook, but needed to move to the print version. This was the Young Reader’s Edition, and it was very powerful, informative, and sobering. Reading this after Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl, Unearthed (YA fiction by Angeline Boulley, an Indigenous author) added layers to what I had learned in those books. This should be required reading. 

Friends Like These by Meg Rosoff

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I can say that I am glad I listened to this, but the characters were sad (and some were very manipulative) and I was hoping for a bit more action. On the flip side - it really did paint a picture of a summer between high school and college - that “waiting room” feel that one has before the next part of adulthood begins. 

In The Weeds by B.K. Borison

hopeful lighthearted 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

3.75

Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

Ode to My First Car by Robin Gow

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.0

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

3.0

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

Ooh, this might be my favorite Emily Henry book! (It helps that I am a librarian at an elementary school) loved the character development, how their flaws were real, but not just dropped in; and also that the secondary cast of characters and their relationships were also important to the storyline. I forced myself to slow down and savor the tale and I am glad that I did.