hellafine's reviews
112 reviews

Savage Fae by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.25

this seemed to drag. i could have probably done without 200 of these pages. 

A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming by Kerri Rawson

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.25

Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

this book came out swinging! it’s fast paced and takes you on a wild ride!

Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

It was great to listen to Whoopi read but she went off on a tangent OFTEN. Still, I enjoyed learning about her life. 

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.25

I cannot, for the life of me, understand why this book is considered a classic and so greatly loved. There were definitely lessons about trials and how they can leave you broken, yet better; how others can learn from the wisdom of your struggles; how surviving your hard times will win you the respect you never had before them…but the book was a struggle to get through. Whoo! I miss the person I was before I read this. 

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.75

I enjoyed listening. I especially enjoyed hearing it read in Trevor Noah’s voice in his own native tongue(s) at times. 
I wanted more emotion though. I got the impression he seemed to be a bit detached from the magnitude of all that happened around him. 

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

5.0

I don’t do rom-coms. And, if it hadn’t been for one of my reading challenges (Bookhuddle), I wouldn’t have read this one. But I’m so glad this book was brought to my attention. The humor, the wit, the way it spoke directly to my core as a dating woman in her 40s made me feel good about being single, being hopeful, and being alive. Great great read. 

Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones

dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

4.0

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

James by Percival Everett

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

after re-reading the adventures of huckleberry fin, I was left upset that there wasn’t more reflection on huck’s part so it was absolutely refreshing to read james’s thought-provoking self-contemplation. I am left absolutely undone at the end of this. this book deserves all the awards. all the accolades. it’s brilliant.