girlreading's reviews
1430 reviews

Burning Crowns by Katherine Webber, Catherine Doyle

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

5.0

This is such a special series and I’m gutted to see it end but this was such a perfect way to conclude the story (although if C&K want to add more books, I’m not complaining) and I know this is one I’ll be returning to in the future. 

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-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

5.0

You know that happy, floaty, warm fuzzy excited feeling you get when you finish a book, want to read it again instantly and then get hit with the realisation that you’ve just found a new favourite book? 

This book gave me that feeling. 

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 10 by Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe

adventurous lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

This was very much a book of two halves. One half I loved one not so much but even so, it was still an enjoyable instalment to this series. 

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

It’s been a long time since I’ve chosen reading over sleep (I’m no longer the 16 year old who could read until 3am) but after hitting a certain point in this book, there was no turning back. I devoured this book in one day and have zero regrets. After the disappointment of Five Survive, I was a little apprehensive about this one but I had no reason to be concerned. This was twisty, addictive and easy to read in the best way. Whilst the ended didn’t quite hit the mark for me, it didn’t matter all too much as I had so much fun on the journey getting there. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia

The Vanquishers: Secret of the Reaping by Kalynn Bayron

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense 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? No

5.0

This was truly the perfect sequel. Just as action packed, fun and exciting as book one, the only issue I have is that I want to read book three right this second! 

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

4.5

Powerless by Elsie Silver

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

I’m really disappointed I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would. With it being childhood-friends-to-lovers and having been intrigued by Jasper’s character in the previous two books, I expected to love this but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. 

I liked Sloane’s character but Jasper seemed to have a total personality makeover halfway through the book and I sadly wasn’t a fan. My main disappointment however, was that this didn’t deliver on the small town, farming family vibes I loved so much in the first two books. It was still fun but there were moments I considered dnf’ing, which was such a shame after really enjoying books one and two. 

The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? No

4.25

Fast paced and action packed, with high stakes and an unwavering tension, The Girl in Question was an addictively stressful and explosively gripping read. This was everything I could have hoped for from a sequel to The Girls I've Been and I'm honestly not sure I'd be able to pick a favourite between the two.

An Impossible Thing to Say by Arya Shahi

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.0

A lyrical and poignant coming-of-age story in verse. This was superb. 

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is so special. I could use countless grandiose words or scour the thesaurus for the biggest, smartest sounding words to describe this book but sometimes simpler is better and this is one of those occasions because this was truly just so special. 

Cat Sebastian has written a love story that manages to be soft and gentle and almost domestic at times, whilst still portraying the fear that comes with living a love that society has deemed illegal. 

Cat's ability to craft a scene and setting truly blew me away in that I could picture everything. Whether it be a stroll down a street, bathing a cat or a conversation in an apartment; Cat's words conjured a crystal clear, almost cinematic picture in my mind of each scene and moment of this book and they're images I know will stay with me for a long time. 

I have no doubt I will be not only reading more of Cat's books very soon but also returning to this one in the near future because it was stunning and honestly? I already miss this gorgeous cast of characters. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia