jenwestpfahl's reviews
303 reviews

Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank

lighthearted 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

3.5

Pretty good as far as beach reads good. The flashback chapters were much more compelling than the current life chapters. And the ending felt a little out of left field. It was also odd to me that the family’s faith was barely mentioned in the first half when it was clearly a huge part of their lives and prominent in thr second half.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death of parent

Once in a Blue Moon Lodge by Lorna Landvik

lighthearted 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? No

3.5

It took a chapter or two to get into, but then I was hooked. It was nice to pick up on the lives of the characters from Patty Jane’s House of Curl, and while you can read this as a stand-alone, having read that first helps.

The book centers on Patty Jane’s daughter Nora. The plot, if you can call it that, is Nora’s adult life - finding her own way, including a new home base for the extended family and their community now that the beauty salon has closed.

I understand why Lorna Landvik kept the book going until the next generation were becoming adults but it seemed to go on forever, even past a couple of natural ending points. The actual ending scene was perfect but could have come sooner.

Holy Moments: A handbook for the rest of your life by Matthew Kelly

inspiring fast-paced

5.0

The Bohemian Flats by Mary Relindes Ellis

reflective sad slow-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

4.0

Paints a vivid picture of a German immigrant family throughout their lives. Very similar to Swede Hollow but just on the other side of the river.

Rediscover the Saints: Twenty-Five Questions That Will Change Your Life by Matthew Kelly

3.0

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

lighthearted 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? No

3.5

This was a fun light read. One of those books where you see where it’s headed from almost the beginning but you enjoy getting there. 

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang

lighthearted slow-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

3.0

It wasn’t bad but also not memorable and a little boring. I really never grew to care about any of the characters so I felt like I was just bobbing along at sea until the end.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

challenging slow-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

3.0

A powerful story, but about half of the super boring middle half could have been trimmed out. It was often hard to follow the overly descriptive language, and I had to go to the cliff notes a few times to understand what was happening.

Beautiful Mercy by Matthew Kelly

inspiring fast-paced

4.5

I read the book cover to cover this time but I expect I’ll come back to certain essays/topics from time to time.

Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi

adventurous 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? Yes

3.5