grace_astudentreading's reviews
436 reviews

My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was the perfect romance book for me! First of all, it was told in one of my favorite ways ever, with alternating timelines switching between Leighton and Catherine’s past in Chinese Turkestan and their present in England. I loved both timelines, though they were very different, and both characters. In the earlier period they are both more relaxed, more able to be their true selves so isolated away from the rest of the world. Catherine is utterly captivating, full of energy and at her peak as a martial artist. And Leighton is so caring and devoted to her. They are purer, younger, wilder version of themselves, and I loved them so much. Then in England they have both become so much harder people, but they are still so drawn to one another. Catherine who is still so deep in her grief and Leighton who is trying to move on. The angst and tension is absolutely delightful. Of course, there is also fantastic conflict outside of their relationship. I loved the fight scenes and the martial arts so much! Overall, I highly recommend this duology!

The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book reminded me just how much I love Sherry Thomas and everything she writes. She does everything so well: the characters, the action, the pacing, the plot twists. I loved all of it. To start with the characters. Both Ying-Ying and Leighton went through so much over the course of this book that shaped them into strong people. Yet they were also both so kind and loving and devoted to those they cared about. Despite their wildly different beginnings they end the book as very similar people and I can’t wait to see how they interact. I also loved the side characters, especially Amah and Herb. Now for the action. The martial art scenes were amazing! The training was fascinating and final action sequence was utterly thrilling. The entire story was thrilling, with it fast paced from the start. Even the more peaceful moments were used for important reflection and growth for the characters. I will say I did not love the ending. I was expecting something different, and as result felt a bit disappointed. Overall, I highly recommend this book!

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

 Advanced reader's copy review

This book was an absolutely wild ride from start to finish and had me completely and totally captivated. I don’t even know where to start with this review, especially since I don’t want to spoil anything. But I can try my best to highlight the non-spoiler things I loved the most about this book. First off, the writing. Everything about it. I loved the way it was a mix of first person linear narration and the psychologist’s transcripts and notes. It is fascinating to read the contrast between Roos’ story of what happened and how the psychologist interprets it. The transcripts also work to give a sense of foreboding, as hints are dropped by the psychologist of what happens by the end of Roos’ story. Alongside foreboding, the story has a general air of sinister and creepy energy. The gothic horror vibes were so on point and I am so glad I did not read this before bed. Between the body horror and the religious horror I had goosebumps the whole time. The spirit lore was also well developed, and I adored the rhetoric about love. As for the plot, it was full of insane twists and turns, with a phenomenal ending. Lastly, I adored the main character Roos. She is so compelling with her trauma and her deep desire to be loved and to love. I also loved Ruth and Agnes, for all their complexities and flaws, and their relationships with Roos. All this is to say this book is perfectly written in my opinion, and I cannot recommend it enough. 

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy

mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This was another book I wanted to like more than I did. A lesbian chain smoking nun amateur sleuth? Yes please! However, I ended up really struggling while reading this. For one, I struggled with the writing. I felt like it went off on tangents too frequently with no clear breaks between flashbacks and current events. Secondly, the pacing was off. It was very slow in terms of the actual investigation but simultaneously fast paced in terms of the escalations in the plot. And lastly, the main character. At the start of the book I found her incredibly unlikable and downright annoying, and I didn’t agree with a lot of her choices in her investigation. As the book went on she grew on me and by the end I felt like I understood her, making her both a pro and con of this book. Now for what I loved. This book said some really important things about queerness and religion and justice and self discovery and grief and trauma. Also the ending had a fantastic twist! So overall this book had a rough start for me but by the end I could comfortably say that I enjoyed it.

Remain Silent by Robyn Gigl

emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This book was somehow both a hit and miss for me, and I wanted to like it a lot more than I did. To start with what I enjoyed: Erin. Erin is hands down one of my favorite main characters. I love everything about her and she is my newest role model and icon. I seriously cannot get enough of her. I also loved the other reoccurring characters of Swish and Erin’s family. And I think I can finally say I genuinely like Mark. But my new favorite character besides Erin is Logan. They are so fierce and awesome and I hope they get to appear in future books! The last thing I loved that I am trying very hard not to let be a spoiler, but there was a very very satisfying conclusion for one character. Now for the things I struggled with: the plot(s). I will say that I was engaged and absorbed the whole time. However, I was also often confused. There was so much going on at once, and even though I understood how it was all tied together, I was still overwhelmed. But overall I did enjoy this book and I continue to recommend the Erin McCabe series.

Survivor's Guilt by Robyn Gigl

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

This book solidifies Robyn Gigl as one of my new favorite authors and Erin McCabe as one of my new favorite series characters. To start with Erin, I absolutely adore her. I loved her so much in this book and how she has learned to be more self confident and proud of her trans identity. I also loved her relationship with her mother and their discussion about womanhood incredibly deep and meaningful. I do wish we had gotten more of the rest of Erin’s family, especially her nephews. However, we had Mark instead. He has grown on me a lot since the last book and I really enjoy his and Erin’s relationship. As for Swish, he is as amazing as he was in the first book and I loved that he got to get his hands dirtier in this plot. The plot was my favorite part of this book (sorry Erin). It was absolutely insane! It was packed with twist after twist and the stakes just kept climbing. I was on the edge of my seat even during the courtroom scenes. Definitely one of the best thriller plots I have read. I truly cannot recommend this book and this series enough!

By Way of Sorrow by Robyn Gigl

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was my first foray into the legal thriller genre and it was definitely the perfect introduction and I cannot wait to continue the series. To elaborate on that, first let me talk about the absolutely amazing plot. It had the perfect balance between legal procedures lead by the main character Erin and a more hands on investigation lead more by her partner Swish with his FBI background. I think I would have struggled if there had been only legal stuff, so I liked having the more conventional investigation and action as well. Erin and Swish are also a great balance of personalities. Obviously Erin was my favorite of the two, but how could she not be? She was just so incredible! She had so much courage and conviction and was willing to put doing the right thing and her client before her own comfort and even safety. I also loved her relationships with her family, especially her nephews. My one critique was the ending, which was not as satisfying as I wanted it to be but fitting for a legal thriller I suppose. Overall, I highly recommend this book!

Recipe for Confidence by Samantha Picaro

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

Advanced reader's copy review

This was an absolutely delightful and adorable read, just like I knew it would be. I am now completely and totally obsessed with the idea of Setback Cakes! They are such a wholesome concept! I also loved the main character Brynn. She had so passion and determination to pursue graphic design, while also having imposter syndrome that I, and I am sure many others, can relate to. And she had absolutely amazing development as she learned to be more authentic and shed her overly positive mask. Along with Bryn I loved her friends. Their friendships were so supportive but also accurately showed the trials that come from high school dating and preparing to go off to college. However, I did not love Bryn’s family that much. I felt that they failed Bryn and did not do nearly enough to try to correct their mistakes. I also felt there was too much external conflict. There was family conflict, friend fighting, and so much controversy over the cakes. It was a bit too much especially when added to Bryn’s internal conflicts. But overall this was a cute book that I recommend.

Thank you to the author for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic

emotional slow-paced

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

4.0

I canceled my plans the moment this book dropped and read it in one sitting. I don’t think I have ever anticipated a release more. And it did not disappoint! Jean owns my heart and soul. His development was slow and tedious, but his trauma is so deep and vast. By the end of the book there is strong visible progress that I know will only continue in the next book. I also loved Jeremy; he is an absolute angel. I will say my one critique on this book is that I wanted more of his point of view. This book definitely centered on Jean, but it is clear that Jeremy has his own stuff going on that I hope will get explored more in the next book. And Cat and Laila are an amazing couple and great friends to Jean and Jeremy. I love them almost as much as Andrew and Neil. Neil got a couple of cameos in this book that I loved. As for the plot, it is quite slow because the plot is Jean’s healing. And that takes time and patience. Overall, I loved this book and I am so happy to be back in the world of All for the Game, and I cannot wait for the next book in this spin off series.

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Advanced reader’s copy review 

Typically, when I read a book, my brain automatically assigns a word to it. A “describe this book in one word” kind of thing. But my brain could not pick just one word for this book, so I give you three: raw, visceral, and poignant. This book took my heart and ripped it right out of my chest. Even the author’s note had me in tears (you’ll understand when you read it). I wanted to reach into the book and pull Jo out and wrap her in a giant blanket and protect her from the rest of the world and show her all the love she deserves. And I will fight anyone who calls Jo an unlikable main character. She is messy and she is angry, yes, but she is also tired and lonely and traumatized and so so hurt. And she has spent her whole life being told who she is and that she is unlikable. That was probably my favorite part of the book, watching her unlearn everything she was told and become her own true self and learn to show herself love and empathy. It was absolutely amazing development that had me sobbing from pride. I cannot overstate how much I loved Jo. I also loved the Birds and Tess. They were amazing side characters and helped Jo so much in her journey. As for the mystery plot, I also really enjoyed it. It was very well written in relation to the character development, stimulating Jo’s journery in the beginning then taking more of a back seat to allow for all the growth before picking back up at the end for a strong and exciting conclusion. Overall, I loved this book so much and highly recommend it (but check the trigger warnings first).  

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review