gissellereads's reviews
250 reviews

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I picked up this book while at a bookstore in Raleigh. I haven’t seen it around much but it caught my eye because it covers a similar topic as Olive by Emma Gannon. The authors have actually done events and articles together. I really liked this book but it was a little hard to keep track of the nine lives. I had to take notes on my phone to keep track of each and that took away from enjoying the book. Overall I really liked it! 
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

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dark mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

One of my favorite thrillers of the year! I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook. The story is told from different perspectives and timelines which I really like. This is a dark and twisty kind of book which I think its perfect for the fall (even thou I included this on in my summer guide I think it would be great for fall too!). I recommended this book to my husband and he loved it as well.

This book gave me vibes of the tv show Cruel Summer. It is not the same as the tv show but it is a similar vibe. I listened to this audiobook right after I was done with that TV show and it filled that void for me. Maybe that is why I liked it so much. If you like that tv show you’ll love this book.

I did not see the twist at the end coming at all. As you know that is a key element of a mystery/thriller book and this book delivered. I know a lot of people say its too out there of an ending but it actually worked for me. If you’ve read it let me know what you think! 

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

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emotional funny 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

This book is delightful! It is one of those books that I picked up at the right time and I am so glad I read it this summer. I read it at a time that I was grieving the death of a family member and I wasn’t expecting this book to cover the topic of grief at the extent it did. For me it was helpful to read at that time. As I mentioned above, I read this book with my book club a few months ago and we all loved it! We had a great discussion about it so I recommend it for a lighter but still substantial book club pick.

There’s lots of moments when I laughed out loud reading this book. The kids are really funny and also the main character Patrick. I’d say this is a character driven book with a plot. I would have liked a little more plot but it didn’t take away from me enjoying the book. My only other critique is the love interest of Patrick seemed a little forced, I would have liked a little more development there as well. I can definitely see this book turned into a movie or a tv show and I’d watch it! 

The Boys' Club by Erica Katz

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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? It's complicated

4.0

You had me at drama within the halls of Big Law. This book came highly recommended but at the same time not super hyped. I was ready to sit by the pool and read it. I think it is a quick read and while there are plenty of unlikeable characters I found myself rooting for the main character Alex (even though she makes some questionable decisions). It’s fascinating to see this portrayal of a law firm, women in that environment and greed. If I had to describe this book in a few words I’d say juicy and addictive.

There is some legal jargon included throughout the book but I didn’t feel lost, I think the author did a good job at explaining things well. She is a lawyer and you can tell she knows what she is talking about.

I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by my favorite narrator Julia Whelan so I definitely recommend that format. This is also a bingeable book so if you’re in the mood for something you can’t put down this is a good option. I heard there is a tv adaptation of this on the works and I can’t wait for it to come out. 

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Tell Me Everything by Cambria Brockman

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dark mysterious
  • 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? It's complicated

4.0

This is an older book that came highly recommended. I’m always interested in books set in college campuses and this one was very good. This is a thriller with alternating timelines and a little dark. Definitely an entertaining read. 
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was amazing, one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. This is the first Colleen Hoover book that I’ve read and I know it won’t be my last. I know so many people love her books and I can tell why. This book is partly based on her mom’s story (it’s still a work of fiction) which I didn’t know about until I finished the book and read the author’s note at the end (don’t skip that part!).

The only thing I knew about the book before I read it was that I needed to have some tissues handy. Let me tell you people were right, I was sobbing when I finished this book. I am hesitant to say much about the story because I think its best to read it not knowing much about it. Please read the content warnings before deciding to read this book, it covers some heavy topics but in my opinion they were well executed. I thought the story telling was great and I was so invested in the characters. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. 

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Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman

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informative fast-paced

4.0

 Let me start this by saying I am not expecting a baby or are thinking about getting pregnant any time soon. I see this book everywhere and I saw someone on Instagram posted that she read it even before she decided if she was ready to have kids or not so I put a hold at the library just out of curiosity. There’s a lot of things about parenting that I’m not interested in but I was curious to see if this book about French parenting would maybe give me some insight about how other countries parent that may be maybe more enticing. I really liked the book. It reads more like a memoir than a parenting book. If we decide to have kids I’ll have to read it again with Aaron. 
The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson

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

3.0

This was my book club’s pick for July. Once gain a book club book I didn’t love, but this one the majority of us were on the same page. I was bored, honestly I forgot much about the book so I don’t have much to say about it. 
Blush by Jamie Brenner

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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? It's complicated

4.0

This book was a delight! The cover of the book matches exactly with the tone of the book. It has wine, cheese, books, family drama, its a great summer book. Its perfect to read while drinking a glass (or a bottle) of rose. I really liked the alternating viewpoints between the three women (Leah, her daughter Sadie and her mother Vivian).

This book covers the topic of women in the workplace and how it has changed throughout three generations. I loved the women’s trashy books book club and how it impacted their lives. Something about book clubs in books makes my heart warm. These three women are so different and it is fascinating to see them interact.  I would say this is a predictable book and not super deep so read this if you are looking for something lighter.

I listened to the audiobook, as soon as I saw Julia Whelan was the narrator I knew I had to do audio for this one. The narration was great (as Julia always is) and I recommend that format. 

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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emotional lighthearted 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? No

4.5

This is a romance with a unique premise and I loved it! I was nervous to read it because I had heard it is steamy but I think it was the right amount of steam for me. It has a enemies to lovers trope set in Seattle and covers some heavier topics (like grief). It is a great contemporary romance!