jennametheny's reviews
138 reviews

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad 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

Unbelievably good. Heart-wrenchingly good. The magic? So original. The story? Fascinating. The characters? Lovable. The prose? Stunning. The feelings? Awe, tension, mystery, humor, love, horror, heartbreak. This has everything and I love it so much. Laini Taylor is so talented.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

4.5

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.75

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

emotional slow-paced

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

3.5

This book starts SLOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. The first half does nothing to make me care about the protagonist OR her love interest, Cassian, other than the things I already knew about Cassian from earlier in the series. The female friendships are occasionally cringe-inducing, which is disappointing because their growth and ultimate accomplishments are the best emotional driver in the book. The sex scenes could be good, I wouldn’t know because I hated Nesta so much I skipped them. I gave it a 3.5 because the action-oriented scenes are so tense, vivid and terrifying, and the redemption arc is effective enough that I went from hating Nesta to just disliking her. But I won’t ever read it again.

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.25

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.25

This is one of my favorite contemporary romances of all time. I love the writing. The dialogue is snappy and fun but also very real. The relationship dynamics make sense and the stakes are so real. The romance is so compelling. I had a visceral reaction to some of the surprises. Knocked a few points off for some millennial cringe and a few character moments that didn’t totally make sense- but the destination made the journey all worth it.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous slow-paced

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

2.0

This is a disappointing follow-up to the fun junk-food guilty-pleasure read that was Fourth Wing. While the first book had its issues, it at least moved along at a good pace and kept its world building relevant to the plot, which did exist. This sequel feels less like a book with plot and more like a series of scenes, some with helpful world building and some with useless world building, all leading up to an inciting incident that will prompt a third book. I would say it’s filler, but we have no idea what is filler and what is necessary information. It’s a lot, it’s poorly paced, it’s poorly organized. If the rest of the books are this badly thought out, this series will be one of my biggest disappointments. 

Sadie by Courtney Summers

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Viscerally disturbing, horrifying and sad. Very impactful. The original ending, while lacking closure, is real and raw and doesn’t bother me. The epilogue, however, feels wholly unnecessary and a step too far down the hole of no hope. MAJOR trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Murder

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0