joelleen's reviews
254 reviews

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

As intense and it should be given the subject and the massive amount respect owed to all the victims of the Holocaust. A detailing account in the middle of the book of the Lodoz ghetto and Auschwitz created such uncomfort for the reader but nothing compared to the pain, despair, and suffering of those that had more stolen from them than I or anyone can comprehend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Death of parent, Cannibalism, War, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Antisemitism, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Genocide, Xenophobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Confinement

November 9 by Colleen Hoover

hopeful reflective medium-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? No

4.0

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

slow-paced

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

3.0

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

I had a really hard time getting through this story. I appreciate that it is based on real experiences and learned a lot but it was a hard read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Gun violence, Death, Confinement, Child death, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, War, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Bullying

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

emotional funny hopeful relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

4.0

I Found You by Lisa Jewell

dark funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Confinement, Blood, Antisemitism, Rape, War, Sexual violence, Racism, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, Infertility, Hate crime, Grief, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Genocide, Murder, and Gun violence