jcaceres88's reviews
372 reviews

Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

Emily Henry really is great at writing fun, witty banner. I enjoyed reading about these people, their lives and their friendships. At times it was very predictable and also a bit unrealistic? But still a fun read. It sucked me in, like her books always do. I really related to some of the things the main character struggled with so I connected with this one. 

The Women by Kristin Hannah

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Some times the book was a 5, sometimes it was a 3. So I'm going to land in the middle and give it a 4. I usually love Kristin Hannah's writing, and she definitely sucked me in the way she usually does. I wanted to keep picking up the book, even with the heavy topics covered. It was a SUPER emotional ride. Sometimes the FMC annoyed the hell out of me and sometimes I didn't love the way Hannah handled the POCs. But overall it was a good reading experience and I learned a lot about that time in America's history.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

This is probably the fastest I've ever read an audiobook. I loved the narrator.  She really brought Misery to life. This is my first Ali Hazelwood book and I really enjoyed it! The characters were funny and believable. The world was also interesting and I liked that it was not about magic but about different species. Some of Lowe's alpha-ness was a bit much for me at times and the developments at the end felt a bit abruptly. But overall it was a fun, light read and I'd love to read more from this world.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

3.75

I always enjoy Emily Henry's books! They're such great palette cleanser books and I always get through them quickly. This one wasn't my favorite but still very enjoyable. I loved Poppy's and Alex's banter and their random weird moments. The only thing I didn't love was the pacing. Felt kind of slow and we spent so much time in the past so it made it feel a little drawn out.

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

informative mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

This was an interesting experience for me. I wouldn't say it hooked me in but I would say I was intrigued enough to keep coming back to the story. The Magic system and the world was interesting. And I liked having the perspectiv of each of the 6 to jump around between. I'm very glad I did this on audio as it meant I was never confused about whose chapter I was in. But I was always craving just a little bit more from the book (more drama, more likeability, a bigger picture, more of a hook). I got a little bit of that in the end but it could have happened soooner. The book as a whole was also just a little bit too long. 

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

mysterious reflective tense 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

2.75

I did not love this book. I found the narrator unlikable and creepy before we even dug into his past. I was not a fan of how the story kept resetting just to unravel more than what was said in the first telling. It grew tiresome and I was ready for the book to be over by the time I was halfway. The ending wasn't even satisfying enough to make it all worth it.

A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I rated this highly because practically I can see that this is one of the better books in the ACOTAR series. But honestly I was not motivated to read this book because of how much Nesta annoyed me. Funny thing is when I reread the first 4 books I was like "hmm Nesta actually isn't so bad" and couldn't remember why I disliked her so much. Then the post war Nesta came and realized all over again how awful she was. Now after this book I understand better where her head was at for all of that and why she reacted the way she did. But this book leads to too dramatic of a shift in character and all mostly towards the end. I wish we saw a bit more of that understanding and her opening to the people around her (her sisters and the court) a little bit more earlier in the book.

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

emotional hopeful 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

Looooved it.... the story and the people all felt so real. It almost felt like I was listening to a friend tell her story. I enjoyed this journey of these two people finding their way back to eachother. All the emotions--the fear, the grief, the depression--just felt so authentic. Can't wait to read the next one.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

This was so well written and quite an emotional experience. I connected with her words and was pulled into her world. I did find myself drifting a bit towards the end but was hooked in for 95% of the book.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

TJ Klune did it again! Sucked me into this quirky world and quirky characters. Loved the development of all their relationships and their characters. It dragged a bit at some points but I was fully egaged the whole time. I really enjoyed it.