jessicaharleee's reviews
108 reviews

You, With a View by Jessica Joyce

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

This was a tough read. The first couple chapters were engaging, but then I lost interest for a good portion of the book. I simply did not care about Manon’s story at all and there were some pretty lengthy chapters about it, unfortunately.

I really enjoyed Dorian and Sorcha’s story and most of the time Chaol and Aedion’s, too. Celaena and Rowan’s was hit or miss for me, but by the halfway mark I was bought in.

The last 7 or so chapters were, in true SJM fashion, breathtaking and captivating. I just really struggle with her pacing and have in nearly all of her books.

Hoping Queen of Shadows picks up the pace a bit (and maybe some more romance, for the love of god. I’m not asking for it to be spicy, but damn, just like…any romance at all would be cool).

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Go to review page

inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

Go to review page

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Go to review page

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

I gave this 3 stars because of my enjoyment level, it’s not necessarily a reflection of the quality of the book.

Obama has an incredibly calming, grounding voice and I’m so glad I chose to listen to this instead of trying to read it digitally/physically. However, this was ENTIRELY too long and too detailed (for me) about things that I don’t have a particular interest in (the Iraq war for example).

It’s also worth noting that for how long this is (over 29 hours on audio), we don’t even make it to the end of his first term! It ends in 2011! 😩 Part two is still to come!

I thoroughly enjoyed the parts of the book leading up to when he actually took office. Those chapters involved Michelle and the girls a lot more, how campaigning impacted his family, etc. Very shortly after he talks about taking office though, we get into the financial crisis, healthcare, and war through a very microscopic lense. I don’t think he left a single detail out about how decisions were made, conversations he had with very specific cabinet members, and public reaction.

Something I didn’t realize (or maybe blocked out) was that Trump started talking about running for president during Obama’s first term. Granted, I would’ve been in high school when this was happening but I was really surprised by that. And that Trump was one of the primary people who claimed he wasn’t born in the US???? Wild.

For someone who is fascinated by politics and/or American history, I’m sure this would be a 5 star read. It’s also worth noting that parts of the in-depth political stuff were fascinating, even for me, and I’m glad I took the time to listen to it.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Go to review page

funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

This was equal parts cute and cringe. The references to Beauty & the Beast were not nearly as subtle or nuanced as the references to Cinderella in If The Shoe Fits. We get it, the house was enchanted in Beauty & the Beast but can’t be in real life, you don’t have to shove it down our throat once a chapter.

Also, Izzy is quite simply NOT like Belle. Belle is determined and headstrong and very confident in herself despite those in her town thinking she’s weird. Izzy does not come off confident or determined at all. And that’s okay! She was a likable enough character, but she did not have essentially any of Belle’s personality traits other than checking Beau when he was being an asshole.

Speaking of checking Beau when he was an asshole, not using the iconic line “Well, you should learn to control your temper!” from Beauty & the Beast was a MISSED OPPORTUNITY for a clever, relevant, and nuanced reference.

All in all, this ended up much better than it started and was surprisingly steamy for a book published by Disney utilizing their characters as inspiration [if the Eugene character doesn’t push the Rapunzel character up against the wall in Tangled Up in You, truly what has been the point?].

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Go to review page

slow-paced