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hopeloveslit's reviews
313 reviews
This Winter by Alice Oseman
4.0
This Winter is the perfect novella for a snowy day! I just finished Heartstopper Volume Five, and I was so sad! I truly didn't want it to end.
Little did I know, Nick and Charlie are featured in other books! I swiftly grabbed this ebook off Libby, grabbed a cup of tea, and watched the snowfall. Heaven. Also, I love Tori even more now. I need to read Solitaire.
Little did I know, Nick and Charlie are featured in other books! I swiftly grabbed this ebook off Libby, grabbed a cup of tea, and watched the snowfall. Heaven. Also, I love Tori even more now. I need to read Solitaire.
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
5.0
ah!! Nick and Charlie just get more and more adorable!! 🥹 This volume was well worth the wait, and I needed volume six like YESTERDAY!! 🥰
The Passengers by John Marrs
4.25
From the synopsis: “You’re riding in your self-driving car when suddenly the doors lock, the route changes and you have lost all control. Then, a mysterious voice tells you, “You are going to die.”
The Passengers is a twisted sci-fi/thriller novel. I enjoyed this book so much. It’s exhilarating, fun, and thought-provoking. This book needs to be made into a film as soon as possible. This story would be incredible on the big screen! I guessed zero plot twists, and the ending was very satisfying.
I’ll never get enough of John Marrs and his wild imagination. Marrs knows how to write an innovative thriller! The plots are always beyond creative. I love the disturbed characters and his engaging storytelling. There’s always drama, secrets, and general messy sh*t. Ahh, I love it.
I’ve read five novels by Marrs, and he’s quickly become one of my favorite authors. So, my expectations for this novel were high. I’m glad to say The Passengers exceeded all my expectations! This book was a fun thrill ride! I highly recommend it if you love unique thrillers.
The Passengers is a twisted sci-fi/thriller novel. I enjoyed this book so much. It’s exhilarating, fun, and thought-provoking. This book needs to be made into a film as soon as possible. This story would be incredible on the big screen! I guessed zero plot twists, and the ending was very satisfying.
I’ll never get enough of John Marrs and his wild imagination. Marrs knows how to write an innovative thriller! The plots are always beyond creative. I love the disturbed characters and his engaging storytelling. There’s always drama, secrets, and general messy sh*t. Ahh, I love it.
I’ve read five novels by Marrs, and he’s quickly become one of my favorite authors. So, my expectations for this novel were high. I’m glad to say The Passengers exceeded all my expectations! This book was a fun thrill ride! I highly recommend it if you love unique thrillers.
The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy by Speechwriter
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The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
4.0
The Turn of the Screw is an elusive ghost story about youth, innocence, corruption, and secrecy. This little story will leave you questioning the entire novella. I loved how many questions I had at the end. This novel doesn't resolve the governess's concerns nor reveal the truths of this story. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this approach. The unreliable narrator leaves much of the plot to the reader's interpretation.
I loved the setting. Bly is so deceptive. I enjoyed the interior versus exterior theme. Bly on the exterior is alluring and far from ominous. The interior of Bly is where most of the darkness can be seen and felt. This theme was evident upon the governess' arrival to Bly. Youth, beauty, and innocence play significant roles in the story. The governess was blinded by Miles and Flora due to her belief in a child's innocence and the idea that pretty things are safe or capable of doing no harm.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It's easy to consume and binge-able. I finished it within a few hours. There are no big scares, but the mystery aspect is excellent. I'd recommend this book if you like classics with major ghost vibes and don't mind unresolved endings.
I loved the setting. Bly is so deceptive. I enjoyed the interior versus exterior theme. Bly on the exterior is alluring and far from ominous. The interior of Bly is where most of the darkness can be seen and felt. This theme was evident upon the governess' arrival to Bly. Youth, beauty, and innocence play significant roles in the story. The governess was blinded by Miles and Flora due to her belief in a child's innocence and the idea that pretty things are safe or capable of doing no harm.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It's easy to consume and binge-able. I finished it within a few hours. There are no big scares, but the mystery aspect is excellent. I'd recommend this book if you like classics with major ghost vibes and don't mind unresolved endings.
The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
4.75
"The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame." "Man is many things, but he is not rational."
Wilde's prose is alluring, eloquent, atmospheric, grotesque, and thought-provoking. The beautiful imagery made this book feel like a dream and a nightmare. I loved the pace of this novel. It's slow initially but gradually picks up as we fall deeper into Dorian's chaotic life.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a masterful dark tale. This book dives deep into art, narcissism, sin, manipulation, and more. It follows Dorian Gray over eighteen horrific years.
Dorian Gray had so much potential. At the start of this book, his life could have gone either way. Very good or very bad. However, with the influence of Lord Henry, he never stood a chance. Dorian was heavily manipulated and, in turn, found himself trapped in a cell created by his newfound desires—the most significant being youth and beauty, which inevitably led to his demise. By the end of this book, Dorian loses every moral bone in his body and refuses to seek absolution.
The characters are full of wit and hard not to love (even Lord Henry.) Out of all the characters, I disliked Dorian the most from the beginning, as he wailed about his youth, etc. It's the immaturity and naivety of his behavior that annoyed me. Basil was my favorite. I loved how immersed he was in his art; he was Dorian's only true friend. The Portrait of Dorian is a whole character. It started Dorian's fall from grace. Also, it controls Dorian and Basil in a way that makes it feel sentient.
Overall, this book is a must-read, and I highly recommend it. The only reason I'm giving this book a 4.75 is because of the purple prose. I have no issues with purple prose at all; I love it. However, during this one chapter, it was just too much. It completely removed me from the story's plot line.
Wilde's prose is alluring, eloquent, atmospheric, grotesque, and thought-provoking. The beautiful imagery made this book feel like a dream and a nightmare. I loved the pace of this novel. It's slow initially but gradually picks up as we fall deeper into Dorian's chaotic life.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a masterful dark tale. This book dives deep into art, narcissism, sin, manipulation, and more. It follows Dorian Gray over eighteen horrific years.
Dorian Gray had so much potential. At the start of this book, his life could have gone either way. Very good or very bad. However, with the influence of Lord Henry, he never stood a chance. Dorian was heavily manipulated and, in turn, found himself trapped in a cell created by his newfound desires—the most significant being youth and beauty, which inevitably led to his demise. By the end of this book, Dorian loses every moral bone in his body and refuses to seek absolution.
The characters are full of wit and hard not to love (even Lord Henry.) Out of all the characters, I disliked Dorian the most from the beginning, as he wailed about his youth, etc. It's the immaturity and naivety of his behavior that annoyed me. Basil was my favorite. I loved how immersed he was in his art; he was Dorian's only true friend. The Portrait of Dorian is a whole character. It started Dorian's fall from grace. Also, it controls Dorian and Basil in a way that makes it feel sentient.
Overall, this book is a must-read, and I highly recommend it. The only reason I'm giving this book a 4.75 is because of the purple prose. I have no issues with purple prose at all; I love it. However, during this one chapter, it was just too much. It completely removed me from the story's plot line.
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
3.0
I enjoyed this audiobook. I loved all the narrators! The Villa is a slow-burn mystery. I liked the Italian villa setting, but I wish there had been more suspense. I was expecting the setting to feel atmospheric, dark, and creepy. Also, I thought the Villa would play a more prominent role in the plot. However, it was a pretty place where bad things happened.
This story is told over a dual timeline following Emily and Mari. I didn’t like Emily or her storyline until the very end. I enjoyed Mari’s more. This plot had so much potential. For me, it lacked tension, suspense, and thrills. Some of the twists were unexpected, but nothing blew me away. The ending felt so rushed and left me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, it was a fun read, and the audiobook performance was outstanding.
This story is told over a dual timeline following Emily and Mari. I didn’t like Emily or her storyline until the very end. I enjoyed Mari’s more. This plot had so much potential. For me, it lacked tension, suspense, and thrills. Some of the twists were unexpected, but nothing blew me away. The ending felt so rushed and left me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, it was a fun read, and the audiobook performance was outstanding.
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
Siege and Storm was a ride! I loved this book more than Shadow and Bone. It was super entertaining and kept me hooked. It was action-packed, terrifying, and gut-wrenching. We ended S&B with some hope for Alina and Mal. But oh, how wrong that was. Their time across the True Sea and departure from Ravka was very short-lived. Once again, Alina finds herself in the middle. An easy life with Mal on the run or a life of rule and power?
Power is a significant theme in this series. The fight for power, what power can do, and how it changes people. I love this because it's so true beyond the world of Ravka. In real life, power corrupts. It feeds on greed and never grows full. I liked seeing how Alina's position of power is slowly starting to poison her and altering her actions here and there.
I didn't like Alina much in the first book. She grew on me during this book. I liked seeing her come into her power and gain a slither of confidence. Her decision-making is still shaky at best, but there's character improvement. At the same time, Alina only gained another problem. She possesses two amplifiers, and she craves that power. However, she won't make space for the new her. She's caught in this battle between her old life and her new one. She craves a life with Mal, but fate is literally going against them.
I love Mal. He has no chill and won't back down. My heart was breaking for him throughout this book. I understand how Mal feels. He's given it all up for Alina, leaving him with nothing. But I still feel like he needs to try to appreciate the new Alina. There could be a compromise. It's sad to say that The Darkling's words rang true. "He'll come to fear you," "he won't understand," well it's looking like it! Mal needs to get the seriousness of the situation to me. He lacks proper communication and just does not get it. But I can't blame Mal. He's only acted in Alina's best interest always, and for that, I love him regardless.
The Darkling frightened me to the core during this book! His relentless pursuit of Alina and power is actually terrifying. And his pop-ups?! Stop, just stop. I felt like he was over MY shoulder. He just won't quit. I knew he was ruthless and relentless, but I didn't know how much. It's like he's an indestructible pit of darkness that only keeps growing. The Nichevo'ya bought all the drama during this book. I love a villain with a good team. So I must admire The Darkling and his ambition to rule at any cost. Although the magic is now feeding on him, I doubt he'll stay down for long.
I enjoyed all the new characters introduced! Nikolai is so adorable! I loved him, and every scene he was in felt like happiness. The way he wears many faces, his passions, principles, humor, and kindness; It's all so charming. He deserves to sit on the throne, royal blood or not. Bardugo did a fantastic job writing his character. How can you not delight in him? I adore the twins, Tolya and Tamar. They're feisty and loyal to Alina. I know they'll be shedding blood in the next book.
Genya! I was surprised by the turn of events. I did not expect The Darkling to punish her in such a cruel way. She was kind and only ever tried to help him survive. David is adorable, shy, and sweet! I love his character and hope he gets more shine in the next book.
Overall, I love love love Bardugos characters, writing, and the Grishaverse. It's full of action, tension, power struggles, love, and pure fear! I cannot wait to read Ruin and Rising. I'm already shaking at what's to come in the other Grishaverse books!
Power is a significant theme in this series. The fight for power, what power can do, and how it changes people. I love this because it's so true beyond the world of Ravka. In real life, power corrupts. It feeds on greed and never grows full. I liked seeing how Alina's position of power is slowly starting to poison her and altering her actions here and there.
I didn't like Alina much in the first book. She grew on me during this book. I liked seeing her come into her power and gain a slither of confidence. Her decision-making is still shaky at best, but there's character improvement. At the same time, Alina only gained another problem. She possesses two amplifiers, and she craves that power. However, she won't make space for the new her. She's caught in this battle between her old life and her new one. She craves a life with Mal, but fate is literally going against them.
I love Mal. He has no chill and won't back down. My heart was breaking for him throughout this book. I understand how Mal feels. He's given it all up for Alina, leaving him with nothing. But I still feel like he needs to try to appreciate the new Alina. There could be a compromise. It's sad to say that The Darkling's words rang true. "He'll come to fear you," "he won't understand," well it's looking like it! Mal needs to get the seriousness of the situation to me. He lacks proper communication and just does not get it. But I can't blame Mal. He's only acted in Alina's best interest always, and for that, I love him regardless.
The Darkling frightened me to the core during this book! His relentless pursuit of Alina and power is actually terrifying. And his pop-ups?! Stop, just stop. I felt like he was over MY shoulder. He just won't quit. I knew he was ruthless and relentless, but I didn't know how much. It's like he's an indestructible pit of darkness that only keeps growing. The Nichevo'ya bought all the drama during this book. I love a villain with a good team. So I must admire The Darkling and his ambition to rule at any cost. Although the magic is now feeding on him, I doubt he'll stay down for long.
I enjoyed all the new characters introduced! Nikolai is so adorable! I loved him, and every scene he was in felt like happiness. The way he wears many faces, his passions, principles, humor, and kindness; It's all so charming. He deserves to sit on the throne, royal blood or not. Bardugo did a fantastic job writing his character. How can you not delight in him? I adore the twins, Tolya and Tamar. They're feisty and loyal to Alina. I know they'll be shedding blood in the next book.
Genya! I was surprised by the turn of events. I did not expect The Darkling to punish her in such a cruel way. She was kind and only ever tried to help him survive. David is adorable, shy, and sweet! I love his character and hope he gets more shine in the next book.
Overall, I love love love Bardugos characters, writing, and the Grishaverse. It's full of action, tension, power struggles, love, and pure fear! I cannot wait to read Ruin and Rising. I'm already shaking at what's to come in the other Grishaverse books!