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hayleyrwiley's reviews
71 reviews
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Signal by Eric Buchman, Sarah Shachat, Gabriel Urbina
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Very unsatisfying ending. I know it’s sci-fi but it was very unrealistic, especially how characters interacted with each other.
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Incredibly entertaining - ghosts, drugs, kidnapping, death, illness, all packaged together in a way that reflects the serious and complicated nature of these topics while still keeping the novel light and funny. I love how the narrator was a ghost. I recommend listening to or reading the author’s note to see where the idea for this story came from.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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
3.5
Stellar narration! Couldn’t get as into it as TJR’s other work, but still enjoyed it! I think 1970s just isn’t my favorite era for historical fiction.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
I Who Have Never Known Men is a haunting exploration of humanity stripped bare, with a neutral narrator whose detached perspective fits perfectly. The tenderness of female friendships was beautifully done, though I was a bit frustrated that we never learned what happened—but I get why those questions were left unanswered. It’s a thought-provoking, lingering read.
You Will Not Recognize Your Life by Micaela Blei
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
So funny, but was also a great look at the toxic “self-help”/dating culture of the 2000s. Listened exactly like a podcast. It was a nice palette cleanser between heavier books.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.75
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was such an amazing read. The twist completely shocked me, and the character development was so well done. The characters felt real and flawed, but I still found myself rooting for them the whole time. It was sad and wonderful all at once—a story that sticks with you long after you finish it.