frugal_library's reviews
138 reviews

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

god Dev made me want to scream sometimes (yes I'm projecting and he's just like me and I don't want to talk about it) but this was so much fun while also being incredibly honest about mental health, working in the arts, and the queer experience. tbh I want another book about Jules and Parisa. I don't care about any of the rest of these bitches

A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

what a delightful story. I want to live in this magical fantasy world where 17 year old boys have empathy, passion, and experience the full spectrum of human emotion. all of the boys in my high school had no hobbies besides drinking beer in a cornfield or trying to convert me to Catholicism. really though, I loved this book and these characters, and as a queer country music lover, it felt very personal to me. 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective 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

4.25

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

Planning Perfect by Haley Neil

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

More ace character in fiction please!! I kinda hated Fe, but I also think she is so much like me when I was 16 and maybe that's why I hated her. From the acknowledgments: " 

You can’t plan perfect. There are so many unexpected moments of happiness ahead of you. I can’t wait for you to be caught off guard by that joy."

The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay

inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

I truly love the idea behind this book. The concept of finding a delight in every day is something that I think we can all learn from, and a strategy that I already emulate in my own daily journaling. The only sticky spot for me is that this book was written by someone so much smarter than me. I don't say that to call the author pretentious or anything, but just because I read a lot of YA fiction and rom-coms and my brain was clearly not in the right gear to fully embrace this book.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

I am an absolute sucker for a cheesy rom-com, and Beach Read is the perfect example. Please excuse me while I immediately sprint to my local library to locate Emily Henry's other books. 

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

I would willingly and happily read 1000 more stories about the women of Bright Falls. I kinda hated Astrid in the first book, but this was such a redemption for her. I'm glad we got to see her as a fully fleshed out person and not just the evil step sister.  Also I'm def in love with Jordan.

Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff

emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

4.5

If you're looking for a book written for children that will make you weep, you've come to the right place. This story handles a lot of really difficult topics and it does so in such a gentle way. Mike was a character that really stood out to me in the way that he embraced his imperfections. Yes, he made a lot of mistakes, but he owned up to them and grew because of it. That may be the most unrealistic part of the book, the fact that a man has emotional maturity and learns from his mistakes. I absolutely loved watching Annabelle grow and learn about herself. Her and her friendships felt so authentic to what 6th graders go through. I hope a whole bunch of queer little middle schoolers read this book and know that they are not alone.

The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta

emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

this was the most beautiful little bit of queer magical realism and I loved every second