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jmelauren's reviews
144 reviews
If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This just did not give me the exquisitely depressed feeling I got with He Should Have Been With Me.
Maybe because there was no unrequited romance, maybe because Finny was dead, maybe because I listened instead of read, maybe because it wasn't just one beautiful story. Who knows?
Maybe because there was no unrequited romance, maybe because Finny was dead, maybe because I listened instead of read, maybe because it wasn't just one beautiful story. Who knows?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Rebel by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Rebel by Rebecca Yarros
Age gap
Professor/ student
Forbidden romance
Xtreme sports staar
Spicy
Honestly the age gap wasn't as huge as the book made it seem, but there were scenes that made me feel uncomfortable because they were so student teachery and just made me forget their ages.
When they were just Penelope and Cruz, they made me swoony. Penelope was really vulnerable and didn't try to put on this act around Cruz. And Cruz just genuinely cared about Penelope and wanted to be there for her.
I loved the twist at the end. I love all Rebecca Yarros twists in her romance books.
Age gap
Professor/ student
Forbidden romance
Xtreme sports staar
Spicy
Honestly the age gap wasn't as huge as the book made it seem, but there were scenes that made me feel uncomfortable because they were so student teachery and just made me forget their ages.
When they were just Penelope and Cruz, they made me swoony. Penelope was really vulnerable and didn't try to put on this act around Cruz. And Cruz just genuinely cared about Penelope and wanted to be there for her.
I loved the twist at the end. I love all Rebecca Yarros twists in her romance books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Romantic thriller
Kidnap, rape, murder
Multiple POV
Sexy time
I like how Nora Roberts' writes feminism, it feels real.
The blurb on goodreads really does not do this book justice. This book is about a young woman being abducted and held prisoner for over ten years. Her escape, and her family coming together to help and support her when she comes home.
Yes there's murder and mystery and love stories, but that's background.
Kidnap, rape, murder
Multiple POV
Sexy time
I like how Nora Roberts' writes feminism, it feels real.
The blurb on goodreads really does not do this book justice. This book is about a young woman being abducted and held prisoner for over ten years. Her escape, and her family coming together to help and support her when she comes home.
Yes there's murder and mystery and love stories, but that's background.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
On The Way To The Wedding by Julia Quinn
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.0
Historical romance
Dual POV
Bait and switch
I liked Lucy and Gregory, I just didn't get that swoony feeling.
I found it super annoying how often Gregory repeated "I love you." Which seems like a weird complaint of a romance novel, but any worry or doubt Lucy voiced was just answered with an I love you. As if that were a practical solution to any problem.
He also repeated her name far too often.
Dual POV
Bait and switch
I liked Lucy and Gregory, I just didn't get that swoony feeling.
I found it super annoying how often Gregory repeated "I love you." Which seems like a weird complaint of a romance novel, but any worry or doubt Lucy voiced was just answered with an I love you. As if that were a practical solution to any problem.
He also repeated her name far too often.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
How Lucky by Will Leitch
I think naming technology has the ability to date a book. I think saying something as simple as chatting online or messaging can be simple and direct and even easier for people unfamiliar with the social media platform. There were a few different ones mentioned here, but I only know what one is, and even that has a different name now.
The communication through looks thing is a bit much. Sure it's happened to me so I get what he's saying. But he's talking about having full on discussion with people through eye contact. It's pretty hard to buy.
Daniel mentions that his disability is the last thing people want to talk about. I am here as a disabled person telling you that this is far from true. Why I am using a wheelchair is something complete strangers feel is their right to know.
The whole part about him understanding how his existence makes people uncomfortable made me feel very uncomfortable. Like people with disabilities should just hide away so able bodied people can feel better or something.
Very weird that he's answering questions he assumes we'll ask. It's very info dumpy and a bizarre weird style.
I found this style rather annoying. It was like a bunch of little anecdotes rather than just following a story.
The way that the police officer completely dismissed him and didn't even try to communicate was very disturbing and then didn't even take what he said seriously was shocking. He was an eyewitness!
Weird that when there's mud and boot prints stomped all over inside the house they don't even consider that it came from someone who shouldn't be inside the house!
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I think naming technology has the ability to date a book. I think saying something as simple as chatting online or messaging can be simple and direct and even easier for people unfamiliar with the social media platform. There were a few different ones mentioned here, but I only know what one is, and even that has a different name now.
The communication through looks thing is a bit much. Sure it's happened to me so I get what he's saying. But he's talking about having full on discussion with people through eye contact. It's pretty hard to buy.
Daniel mentions that his disability is the last thing people want to talk about. I am here as a disabled person telling you that this is far from true. Why I am using a wheelchair is something complete strangers feel is their right to know.
The whole part about him understanding how his existence makes people uncomfortable made me feel very uncomfortable. Like people with disabilities should just hide away so able bodied people can feel better or something.
Very weird that he's answering questions he assumes we'll ask. It's very info dumpy and a bizarre weird style.
I found this style rather annoying. It was like a bunch of little anecdotes rather than just following a story.
The way that the police officer completely dismissed him and didn't even try to communicate was very disturbing and then didn't even take what he said seriously was shocking. He was an eyewitness!
Weird that when there's mud and boot prints stomped all over inside the house they don't even consider that it came from someone who shouldn't be inside the house!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Violence, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cancer, Death, Drug use, and Racism
Make You Mine This Christmas by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
After reading some reviews I learned that ASL was actually in the book and I kinda wished I read it instead of listening to it.
I can not say for sure as I am not deaf, but there was great representation here! Actually speaking the way ASL is communicated. For example, simply saying "school, now" instead of "okay I'm ready for school now". It's very interesting.
I can not say for sure as I am not deaf, but there was great representation here! Actually speaking the way ASL is communicated. For example, simply saying "school, now" instead of "okay I'm ready for school now". It's very interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism