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hannahleelovestoread's reviews
613 reviews
I’m very thankful to NerdFam for sending me a copy of this book. It has great potential; the characters are dynamic, and the stakes are high. However, I just couldn’t get into the plot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent
Minor: Torture
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Interchange by John Steven Welch is a wild, dystopian ride through the upper echelons of “New American” society in the year 2094. An imaginative, shocking, and occasionally humorous look at a potential crescendo of all our society’s current social troubles and tensions, this Orwellian work tackles such issues as gender, climate change, and surrogate pregnancy. The plot features Aureole Agnor, a prominent “Manx” — designated inherently masculine, as opposed to Femina — wife and mother who heads the Military, Cyber/Intelligence, & Police branch of the New American capital’s Command center. When Aureole personally interrogates a captured member of the Red Dawn movement, a treasonous effort to bring back the supposedly antiquated notions of natural pregnancy and birth, she is uncomfortable with the increasing curiosity and empathy she feels. In Aureole’s modern world, where will these emotions take her?
I was fascinated by the creativity it clearly took to write this book. The story within is the most thought-provoking thing I have read in quite some time. The characters are incredibly memorable, and the dystopian setting is immaculate. The Interchange is a work of art, and I highly recommend it to all readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Pregnancy
Minor: Torture, Abortion, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
challenging
informative
medium-paced
This book takes a detailed look at the geopolitical intricacies of the fallout of the Cold War and why, in author Jason Schenker’s opinion, the world is in the midst of the titular Cold War Two. He posits that China, not Russia, is in fact the most dangerous power facing the United States and its allies. Schenker points out that, unlike former generations, modern American students learn about the World Wars as two parts of one broader conflict. The infamous Cold War, he argues, should similarly be viewed as a twin of the alliance declared by Russia and China on February 4, 2022.
Admirably, Schenker prefaces the bulk of the text by reviewing his credentials as an economist and futurist who is clearly well-versed in twentieth-century history. His line of thinking is not politically biased; he criticizes — albeit gently — the Nixon, Biden, and Trump administrations for what he sees as their fumbling of the situation at hand. While this is no light read, it is an essential one for anyone desirous of a deeper understanding of current events.
For lack of a more eloquent explanation, I didn’t get this story. I didn’t connect with the characters or understand the point of anything that was going on. I would have stuck with it for longer, but there was a lot of violence that seemed gratuitous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I did not expect to love this short story; in fact, there were some elements included which I usually dislike. But the creeping, metaphorical horror Joe Hill employs to comment on today’s uncomfortable but incredibly important social topics is downright addictive. His writing reminds me just a bit of Shirley Jackson’s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Author Kathryn Vatt knocked it out of the park with her book My Kidventors: The Amazing Animal Translator. In this adorable work of children’s literature, dynamic sibling duo Johnny and Ellie are bright, curious, and deeply compassionate about animals. However, they often find themselves frustrated at their inability to communicate directly with their animal friends. Using a creative combination of materials, they invent a revolutionary device which changes everything for their home community of Sparkville — and earns them the moniker “the Kidventors.”
Even aside from the obvious animal friends element, this story has everything I adored in books as a young child: adventures with siblings, family memories, creative pursuits, and helping others. These are important values to instill in the younger generations, and I believe Vatt does so successfully here without lecturing. This adorable and irresistibly charming children’s book is by far the most heartwarming thing I’ve read in quite some time.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In Her Remarkable Protector, author Alessa Kelly’s latest novel, female protagonist Honor Deveraux has a deeply troubled past. Her involvement with Damon Stone, head of the notoriously ruthless Stoneborn Circle, only makes matters worse. When Honor becomes pregnant and escapes in an effort to give her child a better life, Damon predictably sends members of Stoneborn after her. But someone else from her past reaches her first — someone who, try as she might, she cannot hate or even dislike.
This was a fast-paced story with thorough character development, witty banter, and lots of spice. Male protagonist Chase Samson — a “golden retriever” with a dark past of his own — was irresistibly likable. I really enjoyed the element of tension between the characters as Chase tried to place Honor while she knew who he was the entire time. This was only my second Alessa Kelly book, but based on my experience so far, I’ll certainly be reading more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Stalking
Minor: Grief
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fantasy, I must admit, is not usually my first pick among genres. However, this book was an exception to that rule. The delightful story tells of the Tanner women — mother Mary Ann and daughters Molly and Bree — moving back to their family home after the death of matriarch Nancy. It is an open secret among the women — and a few men — of the small town of Ballad that one of the girls will inherit Nancy’s leadership position over the titular Coven of Andromeda. Things are not so simple, however. There are dark forces desirous of the Coven’s power, and Bree cannot help but think that the attractive neighbor whose face floods her with deja vu might know more than he admits.
Along with the author’s colorful descriptions and thorough character development, this book’s status as a work of low fantasy makes it eerily realistic. The story led me to reevaluate some of my long-held beliefs about witchcraft, necromancy, and reincarnation. Bree and Sam, in particular, made me question my belief that soulmates do not exist. This book is a literary treasure, and I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is a one-of-a-kind volume of children’s poetry, its catchy and charming rhyme scheme almost deceptive in comparison to the weight of its environmental themes. It was written for very young readers who are in a position to begin developing their own, unique dietary habits and preferences. The story within begins with little Nia weighing her passion for growing and eating fruits and vegetables against her parents’ encouragement toward meat and other, heartier foods. Ultimately deciding on the compromise of a plant-based diet which includes substitutions for meat and the like, Nia then lives her live as an advocate for clean living and a healthy climate.
The authors do an admirable job of tackling such a serious topic in a children’s book, particularly given that the whole plot is presented in rhyming verse. Furthermore, the illustrations are breathtaking and supplement the story beautifully. This is a fine piece of children’s literature.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book is a master class in how to recover from trauma induced by a motor vehicle accident. As the title suggests, the book advises an active approach re-exposing oneself to driving again as soon as possible after the traumatic accident. But readers aren’t left with only that vague advice; this book provides numerous, specific examples of therapeutic methods, lifestyle changes, and self-soothing techniques which are scientifically proven to be helpful in healing post-traumatic stress.
For me, this was an emotional read. I have been in a physically and emotionally traumatic car accident, as have several of my family members. Numerous solutions suggested in this book were vital to my recovery and that of my loved ones. Some of my favorites were 4-7-8 breathing, exposure therapy, and establishing a safety check routine for each time I drive. I’m so thankful to the author for providing others who live with motor-vehicle-accident-induced trauma with an outlet that could help them live happier lives.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Medical trauma, Car accident