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jmboff's reviews
114 reviews
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Vox by Christina Dalcher
challenging
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? It's complicated
3.5
Listened on audio. Between 3 and 3.5. This one was just okay. The premise is very intriguing, dystopian, and scientifically based. But the plot and character development just kind of fell flat.
***SPOILERS AHEAD****
<Spoiler>
Jean wasn't really that impressive of a main character. I hated her affair with Lorenzo and how accepting Patrick was of it. Like no fight or anything left in him, but he dies for her and it's like she didn't even care too much.
And Dell and Sharon, I wish their stories were more involved.
There was just too much of the same type of scenes. I enjoyed a good portion of it, but wish it expanded more on other plot lines and less on the plot line of them working in the lab incessantly.
I also feel like it was too unrealistic and forcing it to be realistic. Obviously it's fiction and dystopian. But I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that you can't even get half the population to agree to wear a mask, but we're supposed to believe that the entire country would be okay with putting electric shock devices on all women to punish them for speaking? I just couldn't even imagine this in a fictitious sense. You're telling me not one single person or group would fight back and uproot that system or attempt to assassinate the president and they just go along with it? Nah.
</Spoiler>
Overall it was alright. Thankfully it was narrated by Julia Whelan so that saved it🤣
***SPOILERS AHEAD****
<Spoiler>
Jean wasn't really that impressive of a main character. I hated her affair with Lorenzo and how accepting Patrick was of it. Like no fight or anything left in him, but he dies for her and it's like she didn't even care too much.
And Dell and Sharon, I wish their stories were more involved.
There was just too much of the same type of scenes. I enjoyed a good portion of it, but wish it expanded more on other plot lines and less on the plot line of them working in the lab incessantly.
I also feel like it was too unrealistic and forcing it to be realistic. Obviously it's fiction and dystopian. But I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that you can't even get half the population to agree to wear a mask, but we're supposed to believe that the entire country would be okay with putting electric shock devices on all women to punish them for speaking? I just couldn't even imagine this in a fictitious sense. You're telling me not one single person or group would fight back and uproot that system or attempt to assassinate the president and they just go along with it? Nah.
</Spoiler>
Overall it was alright. Thankfully it was narrated by Julia Whelan so that saved it🤣
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a very interesting story. I really loved the narration and think that is partly why I enjoyed it so much. I enjoyed following the sisters and what happened. There wasn't really any character development but the plot was pretty decent and straightforward. I mean, it was about a sister who was a serial killer lol. The length of this book was just right too.
The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
Do you have hours to waste reading about a mom who wants to be a stay at home mom, moves her family, just to become obsessed with Facebook and a socialite who is obsessed with herself? Do you want to read about intricate details of the socialite's nipples, extremely descriptive food making? How about just reading about a group of grown women who act like teenagers, go out and get plastered, cheat on their husbands, and have sex with each other's teenagers? No? Me either.
That's why I DNF this awful book at 50% through. I wanted to DNF at 30%, but kept holding out that okay, the "thriller" twist will be coming soon. Nope. Almost 50% through, all I've listened to is grown ass women abandoning their families to get drunk, drive around drunk, shoot guns at things for 5 minutes, cheat on their husbands, and flaunt off in front of and seduce teenagers who happen to also be their friends children.
There is ZERO plot or character development and I hate every single character in this book. Why did we have to deeply describe eye colors and lattes and alcohol and give so much detail to little stupid stuff and not give any to the characters? Can I also add, why would the author choose some of the language the characters use? I don't think an adult who's engaging in this type of behavior would actually use words like "Yummy!!". I typically don't DNF. But this one, I just can't waste any more time with. I can't even describe accurately how much I dislike this book. I don't even care what happened because I can probably imagine it wasn't anything to make it worth my while to finish.
Do yourselves a favor and just skip this one. 🥴
That's why I DNF this awful book at 50% through. I wanted to DNF at 30%, but kept holding out that okay, the "thriller" twist will be coming soon. Nope. Almost 50% through, all I've listened to is grown ass women abandoning their families to get drunk, drive around drunk, shoot guns at things for 5 minutes, cheat on their husbands, and flaunt off in front of and seduce teenagers who happen to also be their friends children.
There is ZERO plot or character development and I hate every single character in this book. Why did we have to deeply describe eye colors and lattes and alcohol and give so much detail to little stupid stuff and not give any to the characters? Can I also add, why would the author choose some of the language the characters use? I don't think an adult who's engaging in this type of behavior would actually use words like "Yummy!!". I typically don't DNF. But this one, I just can't waste any more time with. I can't even describe accurately how much I dislike this book. I don't even care what happened because I can probably imagine it wasn't anything to make it worth my while to finish.
Do yourselves a favor and just skip this one. 🥴
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This isn't what I was expecting in the plot. Not that I'm mad at it. But I was shocked! As always. A different kind of twist. I'm so sad this series is over. I want more of Pip and Ravi and the podcast and AGGGTM. I want this to be a real podcast so the journey isn't over.
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
. The beginning had me hooked, the middle made me feel......not much.....the ending redeemed it. Listened on audio. Overall, not bad but it wasn't my favorite.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
emotional
funny
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
4.5