jennstrub's reviews
41 reviews

stomach aches by Paige Pierce

emotional funny inspiring sad tense slow-paced

5.0

MISS PIERCEEEEEE UR WORK IS THE WORK OF THE CENTURY! YAS! SLAMMM!! (that’s the new slay for 2024) 

Mercy by Sara Cate

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

mmmmm with a side of mommy issues 🤌 chefs kiss 

Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I loved this book, kind of reminds me of Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score with the romance and crime aspect. It had quite the twist and not the one I was expecting, I was expecting the typical fmc and mmc to fall through and get back together, but the plot twist was the mystery that carried throughout the whole book, and I ate that shit up. reading juniper hill next:) 

The Day We Meet Again by Miranda Dickinson

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted slow-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

3.5

I really liked this book, from reading the title and seeing the cover I was like “oh my gosh they are going to get separated for some reason and come and meet each other again and it’s going to be so romantic!!” But then I also realized this book is in fiction, and even in fiction books, life isn’t that kind. I loved being able to experience both characters lives, going back in fourth to Sam in Scotland and Phoebe in Europe, both on different missions. You could also see clearly and in lots of detail what each of them was thinking or feeling about the other what foreshadowing might be in play towards the end of the story. I gave it a 3.5 because although I enjoyed the book and the writing, for over 3/4 of the book I was experiencing the two apart

and by the end, when I expected them to meet again, they just didn’t and it was prolonged even further. I was unsatisfied and it made me not want to read any further

All That We Never Were by Alice Kellen

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

Honestly I looked at the reviews this book had halfway through reading and was surprised that a lot of them were negative or very low rated. This book is 100% not your typical romance, and definitely not the first romance book I’d recommend someone. In summary, the protagonist, Leah, has just gone through a horrific event of losing her parents in a car crash. She’s in the car, lives, and is on a rollercoaster of emotions such as survivors guilt, while feeling nothing at all. She’s surrounded by people who coddle her and just accept that’s it’s been a year since the incident, and that she’s not her normal self anymore. Then comes Axel. He is asked to take care of Leah when Leah’s brother leaves town for work inevitably to support Leah and her future. The two build a strong bond as Axel helps Leah move through her pain and rediscover herself and her love for art and painting. What makes this a romance is that their special bond turns into something more. Yes they are 10 years apart, and Axel is like a big brother to her, but while reading and getting lost in the authors powerful language, analogies, metaphors, everything she uses to push this story to be what it is, I found myself in both Axel and Leah and every supporting character. It was beautifully written, and the end tied it together perfectly, and it’s like you almost realize small details you skipped over that you romanticize. That’s not a spoiler, again just speaking on the writers persuasion of the story. I look forward to reading the sequel and where it’ll take Axel and Leah together, or apart.

Eyes on Me by Sara Cate

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

No words for this book. If you want a book that’s sexually raw, this is for you. 

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective tense 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

4.25

Read this before the show came out!! I loved both equally, but have a small (quite large) addiction to the show and the soundtrack. The book is written in an interview POV which makes for an interesting and not so typical read. It’s quite easy to follow but still portrays character really well. when you watch the show it all makes sense if at any point you are confused but either way I recommend both!! 

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Fredrick Backman’s writing never disappoints. It’s always a captivating read and no matter the story line or the character; it seems I always see myself in the characters he writes, and in that, it’s emotional and very reflective. 

A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner

challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense 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

THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK! Holy crap I want to experience this book for the first time again. This entire book was a snapshot of how love is reflected in a time of uncertainty. Watching B question everything about herself and choosing Jamie but then Jamie not choosing her and vice versa over a 12 year period is insanely powerful and emotional. There are so many things that I had to stop and ask myself throughout this book and so many lines where I started crying. Please at some point in your life pick up this book and read it for the first time like I wish I could again because there are no words to describe how I felt after reading it except that I want to read it one thousand times over. 

Throttled by Lauren Asher

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad 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? It's complicated

4.0