jennaraetions's reviews
63 reviews

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

Conflicted on this one. I really liked it, read it in one day, but I can't quite identify why? I partially saw the twist coming (slightly misjudged it but wasn't far off), though other parts of the ending did get me, to be fair. It felt very slow paced... The entire book was a slow lead up to what's supposed to be the giant climax at the end that wasn't as big of a shock to me. I liked it, I couldn't put it down, but now I'm not sure why. Well written, clearly. Worth the read.

The Program by Suzanne Young

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

5.0

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-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? No

5.0

The Last Hours in Paris by Ruth Druart

Go to review page

adventurous emotional tense fast-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? No

5.0

It is going to be a long time until I recover from this book. I'm not an emotional person, and a book hasn't made me cry in probably 15 years. I cried six times in the last 50 pages of this book.
I only got this by chance - I was having trouble choosing a book at the library, so I took my husband to a shelf and just said "pick one for me." He chose The Last Hours In Paris. When I got done, and was crying, he tried to comfort me and I just said "I need some time."
Idek how to wrap my feelings into words for this review, other than this statement: This should have been a movie, instead of The Notebook.
I'm going to go continue trying to not cry. While I do that, read this book. As soon as possible. Have tissues available.

One note: the beginning, before the first time switch, I almost put it down forever. The set up and the way it was written seemed kind of forced and I had quite a few other books calling me from my shelf. Once the author goes back to 1944, she hit her stride with a force unlike anything I've ever seen. Almost immediately. I even mentioned it to my husband. I was so hooked from that point on. I'm so, so thrilled I did not let that deter me.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Go to review page

3.5

One's Company by Ashley Hutson

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I could not figure out if this was one of the weirdest, most off the wall things I have ever read, or one of the best. I think it's absolutely both. I finished it in one evening and had to just sit and think for a bit, and repeatedly say "what the fuck?" when it was over. You know the mom at the end of requiem for a dream? It's those vibes, but three's company.
Based on the description, I was NOT prepared for what this book was. I thought it was going to be a relatable character who finds solace in TV and wins money and surrounds herself with it. That is the case, but it is not wholesome.
A completely real, convincing portrayal of a woman driven absolutely mad by trauma... And three's company being one of my favorite shows, which I just loosely remodeled my living room after, I will never see the show the same again. Or the copy of The Flapper I have hanging on my living room wall. I have a feeling I'll read this again someday.

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Go to review page

dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced