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ivi_reads_books's reviews
109 reviews
Love Vegetables: Delicious Recipes for Vibrant Meals by Anna Shepherd
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
I liked the focus on vegetables, especially the green vegetables giving them a twist to make them more unusual. However, from the title I inferred that it was a vegetarian cookbook which it is not. Oftentimes the receipes include dairy products or eggs, so I wouldn't recommend this cookbook to vegans.
I also was sometimes confused if the receipe is intended as a main or a side dish since the recipe often didn't state it. And the pictures, while beautiful, often showed quite small portion sizes which made me think a lot of the receipes are intended as side dishes.
Thanks to Netgally and White Lion Publishing for this advance reader ecopy of the book.
I also was sometimes confused if the receipe is intended as a main or a side dish since the recipe often didn't state it. And the pictures, while beautiful, often showed quite small portion sizes which made me think a lot of the receipes are intended as side dishes.
Thanks to Netgally and White Lion Publishing for this advance reader ecopy of the book.
Mexico in Your Kitchen: Favorite Mexican Recipes That Celebrate Family, Community, Culture, and Tradition by Mely Martinez
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
I enjoyed the introduction explaining what the corner stones of Mexican cuisine are and the notes under every recipe giving more detailed instructions and hints. The receipes are easy to follow and look delicious.
I was suprised that most of the main dishes are meat-based. Only a handfull of main dishes were vegetarian or vegan. I would have loved seeing more vegetarian receipes. But I liked the breakfast section of the book.
Thanks to Netgally and Rock Point for the electronic advance reader copy.
I was suprised that most of the main dishes are meat-based. Only a handfull of main dishes were vegetarian or vegan. I would have loved seeing more vegetarian receipes. But I liked the breakfast section of the book.
Thanks to Netgally and Rock Point for the electronic advance reader copy.
Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself by Shilletha Curtis
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Hiking the Appalachian trail is an incredible feat. It shows the author's resilience and strength. I didn't enjoy the frequent swearing and time jumping though. I think it didn't integrate with the hiking story very well.
If you're looking for hiking inspirations or recommendations for your next hiking trip this is a good source.
Check the trigger warnings if you don't want to read about certain tough topics.
Thanks to Andscape Books for an advance copy of this book.
If you're looking for hiking inspirations or recommendations for your next hiking trip this is a good source.
Check the trigger warnings if you don't want to read about certain tough topics.
Thanks to Andscape Books for an advance copy of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, Addiction, Abandonment, Bullying, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Colonisation, Confinement, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, and Self harm
Minor: Racial slurs and Blood
A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The book reads like a fairy tale especially towards the end.
I didn't feel the romantic connection between the main characters but liked the insight into the life of a midwife in the 19s
I didn't feel the romantic connection between the main characters but liked the insight into the life of a midwife in the 19s
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping
Minor: Violence, Confinement, Blood, Outing, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, and Stalking
A Cyclist's Guide to Crime and Croissants by Ann Claire
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Nice, quick read which weaves in French history, everyday life and landscape into the plot in a lovely way. I have never craved croissants as much as while reading this book.
If you like murder mysteries but don't want to be afraid to turn the lights off at night, this book is for you.
If you like murder mysteries but don't want to be afraid to turn the lights off at night, this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Blood, Alcohol, Stalking, Violence, and Car accident
Miss Pearly's Girls by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.25
Great narrator! Patricia R. Floyd brought these characters to life that made me feel their pain.
This book shows what happens when in a family everyone's cup is empty. Little compassion for one another and lots of arguing and accusations ensue. Family secrets are revealed that everyone has to grapple with.
At the same time this book is not hopeless and shows resiliency.
This book shows what happens when in a family everyone's cup is empty. Little compassion for one another and lots of arguing and accusations ensue. Family secrets are revealed that everyone has to grapple with.
At the same time this book is not hopeless and shows resiliency.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Chronic illness, Incest, Infidelity, Homophobia, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, and Outing
Minor: Gun violence
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked how the main characters slowly fell in love with it each other the way it could have happened in real life. And Abby Jimenez knows how to write situational humor. This book made me laugh out loud a few times.
The one thing I didn't enjoy was the part about organ donation. It felt forced to me.Why complicate the relationship of the main characters by him wanting to donate a kidney to her brother anonymously? And you guessed it, everyone finds out . In the author's note explains why this topic is near and dear to her heart, which I understand.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes romance novels that are on the more realistic side and who like a slow burn
The one thing I didn't enjoy was the part about organ donation. It felt forced to me.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes romance novels that are on the more realistic side and who like a slow burn
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Miscarriage
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
It felt to me like the author had taken a couple of modern, progressive people and deposited them in Caribbean of the 17th century. The characters seemed either good or bad to me. There were not a lot of grey areas or character development which are the types of books I enjoy.
The violence is often very graphic so consult the trigger warnings if you'd like to avoid certain topics.
I liked how homosexuality and bisexuality were displayed in this book. Overall, I think I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if it were set in the present day and characters were more ambiguous.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance e-copy of this book
The violence is often very graphic so consult the trigger warnings if you'd like to avoid certain topics.
I liked how homosexuality and bisexuality were displayed in this book. Overall, I think I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if it were set in the present day and characters were more ambiguous.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance e-copy of this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, Death, Trafficking, Slavery, Alcohol, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Sexism, Racial slurs, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Medical trauma
Minor: Abortion and Miscarriage
Wedding Issues by Elle Evans
emotional
funny
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? N/A
3.0
It's a quick read (or listen in my case). I didn't like how women are being pitted against one another in this book. At the same time I wanted to know how the book ended and I liked the writing style
12 Questions for Love by Topaz Adizes
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
This book was written from the perspective of a film maker not a psychologist, so there is no scientific background to these 12 questions.
It gives a behind the scences look of the author's Youtube format called 'The And', which I found very interessting since I've been watching these videos for years
It gives a behind the scences look of the author's Youtube format called 'The And', which I found very interessting since I've been watching these videos for years