fay_libris's reviews
77 reviews

Catered All the Way by Annabeth Albert

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Medusa by Jessie Burton

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Another absolutely beautiful work by K. O'Neill!

The Moth Keeper tells the story of Anya, who has become the newest Moth Keeper of her village. The people of this village live their whole life by night and the Night Moths are important to their culture as well as their survival.

Anya wants to become the light for people and to care for these important moths to show her worth. She wants to belong and to give others a reason to appreciate and be proud of her, while struggling with herself and the dark of the night.

The magic of nature and the moon is felt throughout.

I absolutely adored the story and the art was beautiful like always. I am so happy to have bought this book and I am sure I will look at it and thumb through it a lot in the future!

K. O'Neill has truly become one of my favorite authors.

The Sprite and the Gardener by Joe Whitt, Rii Abrego

hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Adorable story. Beautiful art.

While short this story hits on being the new one in town, getting to know new people, troubles expressing oneself and making friends while discovering and working on what you love. (Plants.)

I wish I had a Sprite to work together with to make a beautiful garden. 💚

My only complaint is that it is too short. I would love to read more about this. It was over before I even knew it.

Recommend!
Good if you need a quick pick me up.

If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura

emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

'What would you sacrifice for another day of life?' And how would these decisions affect you?

You are told you will die tomorrow but the devil proposes a deal to you in which you may life another day for every thing you erase from the world. Would you take the deal? And if yes, how many days will your life extend?

A story about death, loss, grief and what is important in life.

It would have been interesting to see more consequences of the things disappearing from existence.

Loved Cabbage and Aloha was... interesting.

The ending was good. Even ooen as it was.

Didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would but it is not bad. I just think I read it at the wrong time.
I already don't remember much of what happened in the book.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

4.5

This was so cute and heartwarming. A great way to start my reading year.

I loved Dylans family. They were all lovable and real-feeling characters. 
Some of Theo's relatives were also great! And some of course not so much. 👀

I can't really say much. I just really enjoyed this story. It is a simply romantic-drama-comedy and delivers what it should.

I did find the few Chinese sayings and Legends they were talking about really interesting. The story behind mooncakes is actually fascinating.

Recommend!

"You're as good in the closet as I am in the kitchen." [...] "I didn't mean you're in the closet! I'm not, either. What I was trying to say... You know what? I'm just going to shut up now."

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.0

Writing this review took me 4 months. Thinking back about this book I get angry and annoyed. I was debating a long time if I should write a lot or nothing at all.
I am done thinking about this, so here is my half-finished review. 

*************
This book... this was so underwhelming and even frustrating in the end. This book made me not want to pick up another book for 3 months because I was so annoyed with this.

I liked some parts of this story, probably around half of the book, but I should have payed more attention to the things that already rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning.

I was interested in the 4 young leads and their stories and struggles. I overall enjoyed most of their chapters. Seeing their reasons and connections to the tea house and the murder was overall enjoyable. Even if the question of who of them could be the killer was very obvious.

Vera... I enjoyed some parts of her character. Her background was kinda interesting and her food sounded mouth-watering, but...
Her connection to the murder? Frustrating. Annoying. Infuriating. She behaves so damn inappropriate and unbelievably selfish.
Near the end, her schemes come crashing down on her and we are supposed to feel bad for her. But you know what? No. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. 

I hated how the ending came about. How every bad/stupid thing Vera has done is conveniently forgotten about because she can cook. Instead of her having to really confront what she did and learning through it to become better, she just mopes, makes herself get sick and all is completely forgotten, because poor old lady.
Instead and learning and growing it just falls flat. She learns nothing and the other characters just accept everything that has happened.

I also didn't expect NFTs and Crypto to be such big parts of this story. But that just on the side.

When I think back on this book I get so annoyed and frustrated. I just personally really didn't like it and think that it wasn't well executed. 

I hate rating books low and I am aware that this is just my own opinion and viewpoint, so I am giving this 2 stars for now. 
It's still the lowest I have ever rated a book.

Let Your Hearts be Light by Fae Quin

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Grumpy and Sunshine. Tradesman and Baker. Lumberjack and Bumble Bee. 
+ two amazing kids.

This Christmas, hallmark-esque story was a overall very anjoyable read. I liked seeing how the relationship between Paxton and Baxter, as well as the kids' grew and evolved.
The mental health rep and family dynamics were very real and well portrayed. The good and the bad.

The story was way smuttier than I expected. Maybe a bit too much even. (For me, and I do like smut.)
I wish there had been a bit more story. I did enjoy the story that was told but I just wish we had seen a bit more on some points.
There was no

third act break up

though, so that was nice.

I like how both guys were able to open up to each other, themselves and others in the end. I really liked both dads and their kids. I loved the kids.
The speeches near the end were very sweet & emotional and I enjoyed the ending.

I am interested in reading the second book in this series about Paxton's brother!

A Kiss For Santa by Mia Monroe

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

A cute, short little story about Santa and a guy getting together.

Luca is a great guy and the struggles of adulthood and the working life are relatable.

I liked the magic aspects and the Santa lore.

The

sex=marriage

part was kinda funny.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Less about books and reading than I had assumed and would have liked. It is more a story about depression, moving on and the pressure of (Japanese) society. With some books on the side.

This is a very Japanese story. The problems, the way people react to situations and the overall tone are very Japanese. 
I was annoyed at some of the characters reactions to things etc but that was just from my point of view and I know that these reactions and actions are not uncommon in Japan.

Overall an interesting if slow story. Nothing breathtaking but an interesting look into Japanese society and struggles.

Also  I should not be surprised  by the

character has terminal illness

trope anymore. It pops up quite a lot in Japanese stories.