izzie_27's reviews
418 reviews

A Periodic Tale: My Sciencey memoir, the life-long experiment of Australia's favourite science champion Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, for fans of David Attenborough, Adam Spencer and Brian Cox by Karl Kruszelnicki

adventurous challenging funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

Dr Karl's memoir was light and informative, told with his usual cheekiness and upbeat voice. Sometimes sections felt glossed over though, which is his right. 

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Hoang writes that this story is half fiction, half memoir, and it absolutely reflects in the story. The authenticity grabs you and Anna has a character just reads so well as a result. Quan is almost a different guy from the other books (understandably) and my only complaint is that I wanted more of his internal monologues as well. The spicy scenes were also very good, thank you Helen for your service! 

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Even better on a re-read, I forgot how quickly Helen grabs you and draws you in with her characters. I love Khai and Esme so much. 

Worse Guy by Ruby Dixon

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

A solid Ruby Dixon offering, I loved going back to another Crueldon clone. Not as good as Bad Guy but still enjoyable. The narration was phenomenal! 

Narration: 5/5

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

A solid Ernest Cunningham novel which I enjoyed in audiobook. Sadly I may have dozed off and missed parts of it as when the

killer was revealed I actually had no idea who it was

. But that's on me, not on Benjamin. 

Narration: 4/5 

Sounds Like You by Alyce Adams

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Production value was high on this one. I loved the Waves dialogue. I did wonder why there were points where the narrators voiced each other, where parts they clearly kept as their own narration for dialogue. 

Otherwise quite a lot of heart in a small tiny package. 

Narration: 4/5

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another Ali Hazelwood I absolutely INHALED. I loved the story, I loved the characters, I loved their journey. The spice was a little spicier but not too much for all the bluster on social media. 
As many have said the little cameos by Adam and Olive were very sweet. No notes. 

I listened a little when I couldn't put it down but has to drive somewhere and goodness the narration was fantastic too. I loved Lukas's accent by his narrator. The other characters often blurred though (e.g., had to distinguish between side characters). 
Narration: 4/5

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

I was pleasantly surprised on my re-read of ACOTAR. I remember reading this series first in 2022 in a fever dream on a Bali holiday. Reading ACOTAR this week I wondered if I would feel the same. I expected to find the writing more basic and the story weaker, as I know the world building and complexity grows. 

Instead I was delighted to go back into the world and I felt that Maas did a great job of slowly introducing us to Feyre and Prythian. The characters I know and love were still present and still phenomenal in their early stories. 

I absolutely adored seeing Feyre and Rhysand. The moments of Rhysand discovering her and coveting her and knowing what seeing her in love with Tamlin would be like... Extra delightful on a re-read as I had no idea when initially reading.

Also a small moment for the fact that Feyre has absolutely no chemistry with Tamlin. She has more with Lucien! The first half of the story was more of a drag than I remembered.

While I might have minor notes, for a first book in a high fantasy series, I think this stands the test of the re-read. 

Stars: 5/5
Spice: 1.5/5 (very vanilla really!) 

Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

My favourite of the series, I thought the slight change in story telling, the different timelines and the additional character of John Dudley really made for a great read. The acknowledgements said there's 7 more books planned! I can't wait to read the next one. 

Narration: 4/5 (sorry Rory but your Aussie accent is shit)

Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Olivie Blake writes so beautifully. Every sentence is structured, no word wasted, a masterpiece to read. Ethereal.

This story is no different. One of her few without a fantasy element, I was still hooked on finding out what happened to Aldo and Regan as their gravities push and pull them together. 

My only negative is I never felt hooked to finish the story, I was happy to let it ebb and fade, I could put it down for ages and not worry about finishing the story.