jennu__u's reviews
263 reviews

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Obsessed with the complexity behind Alex Stern as a protagonist and I will immediately be going out this weekend to buy the sequel. It took me almost a month to get through the first third of this book, then one day to finish the rest. So the only -0.25 stars is due to the pacing at the very start.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Very fun, low stakes contemporary mystery novel. For casual reading, I would definitely recommend! In terms of personal taste, I would have preferred more exploration into a potentially morally grey character with some unhinged behaviour. However, that's a whole other genre within itself.

The Toll by Neal Shusterman

adventurous challenging dark 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

Top tier series without a doubt. Even 80% in, the author maintained a perfect amount of tension and I truly couldn't see how he would choose to end the series. After reaching the end of the series, I find myself reflecting on the ending given to each character. Was it the right decision, was it what they each truly deserved, was it what made the most sense for the world. Yet somehow I find this reaction *chefs kiss perfect*. It feels as if we question as much as The Thunderhead did in the end, and ultimately, I guess the takeaway is that nothing will ever be 100% right.

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

"Surely, these men must think, this woman has a good reason for being so large."

Loved this book! Incredibly stressful and upsetting to read LOL But here for more unhinged women literature 🫡

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Emily Henry does it again. While her first three books were entertaining and provided a great teaser into what she could produce, I think her most recent two books are what show her true mastery as a contemporary romance writer. The romance storyline is obviously very cute, but she truly excelled in creating a story with depth on family dynamics, adulthood, and friendship.
A definite bonus was how well she tied together the beginning and end of the book 🙂

Foster by Claire Keegan

emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

4.5

I watched An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) before reading this book, and let me just say that it was the perfect adaptation. This story embodies the word "poignant". True potential to be a classic of our time.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

In Leigh Bardugo we trust.
This book was a wonderful mix of history and fantasy. Bardugo excels in creating characters who feel real and complex. However, after writing some thrilling series, I do wish there had been more room to develop the plot, characters, and relationships.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Did not finish book.

It wasn't bad, but it put me in a reading slump after a great 3-book reading streak so it had to go 😔

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Heartwarming and comforting.
A super quick contemporary romance read with fun supernatural elements. My only note is that the main love interests only really spend like 6 total days together probably??

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

emotional funny informative medium-paced

5.0

I really didn't know much about Trevor Noah going into this book. Excellent writing and perfect execution for a memoir. Funny, deeply moving, and informative.