jenwestpfahl's reviews
295 reviews

Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.

So many characters all introduced back to back to back with their own chapters. I wasn’t even close to caring about any of them and then we’re off meeting a new one a figuring out where they fit. When I got to the chapter titled Patrick but starting with Jennifer as the first person doing anything, I gave up. 

the Ludwig Conspiracy by Oliver Pötzsch

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

This was a fun little puzzle-solving mystery. I loved all the historical and place-setting info. The characters were rather dull and the romance was lame. But that’s not what we’re here for. 

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

emotional 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

Stunningly beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Incest, Racism, and Rape

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown

challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

Read this slowly, with time to reflect as you go. It’s a lot of big thoughts to take in. 

Rootwork by Tracy Cross
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

It was slow and boring and I didn’t really care what happened next (since 1/3 in nothing has happened yet).

History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund

dark medium-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

2.0

What in the world was this?? It was like two books in one - one was sort of decent and the other was bizarre. And I don’t o wo what the point was. And the ending took a sharp left turn that I can’t make heads or tails of.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Sexual violence

A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life [With DVD] by Parker J. Palmer

informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

I’d give it more stars if I can. A must read for anyone in a position to hold space for others’ truth/souls.

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

lighthearted slow-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

2.5

I liked the concept but it just fell kind of flat for me. I skimmed a lot of the parts about Bomber/Eunice and many of the short stories because they didn’t hold my attention. I can’t pinpoint anything I specifically didn’t like about the book, but it was just meh.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Suicide

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

emotional fast-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

4.5

I don’t know why this was labeled funny here in StoryGraph. It’s bittersweet and real and ultimately uplifting, but it’s not funny. 

I was rooting for Eleanor despite not really liking her for most of the book. The way she thought every awkward interaction was the other person’s fault when she was the one out of step with social norms was understandable but irritating and yet oddly endearing. And her friendship with Raymond develops perfectly.

I saw the twists coming - one from early on but the other not until a couple chapters before she figures it out - but her realization of them was compelling.

This story was well-written and well-paced and I devoured it in two days.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Suicide attempt

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

A masterpiece. Go read it. One of the rare books I would consider reading a second time.