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housecatstewart's reviews
99 reviews
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
2.0
I genuinely don’t understand the author’s reasoning for keeping the main points of the story in the dark for so long. Like, why does it need to take so long to learn that they’re clones? Why do we get essentially 0 background information on the donation program until the last 10% of the book? It didn’t feel like a suspenseful mystery - it felt like we were being taunted with some great reveal that ultimately fell flat for me. Maybe his other books are stronger but this one did not make me want to try any others.
And on top of that, why does Kathy just accept that everything is how it is and nothing can change? Why does she tolerate Ruth’s behavior? Why does she even want to be with Tommy when all she ever thinks about him is that he’s immature and embarrassing? This story and these characters and this writing style just weren’t for me.
And on top of that, why does Kathy just accept that everything is how it is and nothing can change? Why does she tolerate Ruth’s behavior? Why does she even want to be with Tommy when all she ever thinks about him is that he’s immature and embarrassing? This story and these characters and this writing style just weren’t for me.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
4.0
This book way surpassed my expectations! The humor in it is not to my personal taste - a little too corny, a little too referential - but the depictions of love and personal growth and developing a sexual identity were really beautiful. My heart was touched more than once and I would read it again.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
3.0
I liked this book much more than I thought I would (and way more than Beach Read), but some aspects of it were just too corny for me to abide. It reads like somebody’s friendship fantasy porn, and the constant pop culture references really killed it for me. Like, what is the point of referencing “Murder, She Wrote” 5+ times? And not even anything specific about it - just constantly referencing that Harriet loves “Murder, She Wrote”?!
I will say that the final quarter of the book - when we finally had some deeper reveals and confessions - was well done and more compelling for me than everything leading up to it. I wouldn’t read this again but I’d give another Emily Henry book a try.
I will say that the final quarter of the book - when we finally had some deeper reveals and confessions - was well done and more compelling for me than everything leading up to it. I wouldn’t read this again but I’d give another Emily Henry book a try.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
1.0
Borderline unreadable and the epitome of spoon-fed writing. It took me 6 months to come back and write this review because I hated it so much. Every time I’m in an airport and I see a woman reading this book, I grimace.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
4.0
Cute and fun and felt more realistic than a lot of similarly themed books out there. I really appreciated the complexity of Simon’s feelings for his friends and family.
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
3.0
I didn’t dislike this book but it was just a bit forgettable. I don’t personally enjoy reading about friend groups that hardly seem to like each other, and the first 75% of the book seemed like constant bickering. Naomi, Marielle, and Craig all felt very flat, as did a lot of the more “exciting” plot moments. Jordan and Jordy’s relationship was easily the most interesting part of the story.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
5.0
Cried through nearly every chapter - sometimes over the simple sweetness of friendship, love, and sisterhood, and other times in the absolute despair of loss and heartache. I’ve seen the movie(s) several times and wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the book to the fullest since I knew the major plot points. If anything, it made me like it more because I knew what was coming and I was DESPERATE to get to there. It’s a beautiful story that hits deep if you let it. I know I’ll be thinking about it for a while still.