estellegodard's reviews
296 reviews

Happy Place by Emily Henry

hopeful sad fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I cried & I hardly ever cry when I read! I was so touched by this story, I think because it felt so realistic. I found the banter a little cringey at times, especially the moments when they pretend to still be together. but overall everything else was enjoyable and I thought the personification of harriet’s happy places was a nice addition to the book. I thought the found family elements were also really sweet & the author did a great job of painting the picture of maine; everything was very vivid in this book. 

Normal People by Sally Rooney

fast-paced

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

3.0

I found this book pretty enjoyable to read but I did not find the character study to be earth shattering at all. a lot of these sentiments were familiar to me already and it thematically didn’t feel like anything ground breaking; very overhyped book.
the very last chapter of the book was the most clear-cut depiction of the protagonists’s relationship and the way each views love. but all in all, I never felt convinced of their affection for eachother nor of the complexities and obstacles they faced. the entire time it feels like we are circling around the main point this novel is trying to make, yet we never truly achieve it. 
lastly, it also felt like many characters were meant to be unlikable but we were never given a proper motive , like alan for example. many of the peripheral characters were one-dimensional even though they play a pretty big role in each of the protagonists’s developmental arc. 
overall, I would say this is a very middle of the road book that doesn’t provide much human relatability at all, despite that seemingly being the point. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Mental illness

Le Bal des folles by Victoria Mas

dark hopeful fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

a story that displays female resilience and sisterhood in all its glory. the setting was very unique and immersive. I enjoyed the writing style and the bittersweet ending. 

Down the Drain by Julia Fox

fast-paced

4.75

really well written, throughly entertaining, and incredibly surprising. at every turn this book shocked me. I loved how colorful new york city is through julia’s eyes and I thought she did a fantastic job telling her story in a relatable and sympathetic way. the only chapter I thought fell flat was chapter 9. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell

funny informative fast-paced

4.75

an incredibly accessible book that is jam-packed with information. I loved the ease with which the author explains her points, making them easy to follow and interactive. I found the topics she chose to explore relevant and timely & her book was very well organized, which lent itself to becoming quite the page turner. 

The Guest by Emma Cline

fast-paced

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

4.0

I overall enjoyed my experience reading this book but the ending left much to be desired. throughout the story we follow a messy and deluded character doing messy and reckless things. I enjoyed how unlikeable she was and overall thought the prose was terrific. by the end though, I wish we had a bit more resolution since it was a bit too open ended for me. nonetheless, it was a quick and enjoyable read for me. 

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.0

when I first started this book, I thought I’d really like it. by the end, it felt predictable and repetitive. nonetheless, I thought it was a pleasant read and there were some touching lines. nonetheless, I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this because everything it aims to convey was surface-level and nothing groundbreaking. 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

i was so dedicated and attached to the characters; I just wanted them to survive and succeed. the writing style was super pleasant, mixing really incredible descriptions with humor and also some really poignant introspection about the state of the world. the ending was very satisfying & as a reader I trust that demon will have a good life from here on out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

I Remain in Darkness by Annie Ernaux

emotional reflective slow-paced

2.0

overall, tedious. the last chapter, when discussing the death of the mother, was the moment that moved me most and felt most relatable. while this book is realistic and means well, it felt callus at times and I couldn’t sympathize with neither the mother nor the author. this is my second ernaux book & i am left unimpressed, like last time. 

Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women by Renee Engeln

informative medium-paced

3.5

relatable and backed by research; this makes for a very informative and digestible book.