juanat77's reviews
163 reviews

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

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adventurous emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I’ve read many WWII novels and usually it takes me a few days to read them as they are filled with so much information. I flew through this one. It was very different than the other stories. In this one Jewish People were gathered, arrested and housed in a Paris department store—Lévitan. They unloaded the trucks, sorted through the items, displayed them, the captured women dressed up to sell the items and the Germans purchased them. The items consisted furniture to accessories and of course were items taken from Jewish homes. I can’t believe this really happened. I’ve never heard about people being held captive in a department store. Plus the stories the author created around it was creative and I couldn’t put it down. It had multiple POVs and multiple timelines—though not too far apart from each other. Highly recommend to anyone who loves to read historical fiction!

4.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @netgalley @pamjenoff and @parkrowbooks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell

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adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This is very different from Lisa Jewell’s other novels which I expected. I was very eager to read about a superheroine in the Marvel Universe especially a vulnerable character like Jessica Jones’s and her complex relationship with another superhero Luke Cage.

When Jessica Jones is hired to solve a mystery she is drawn into a world of lies, perfectionism, vanity, vampires, social media influences, and of course evil.

Jewell created excellent visuals of the super powers and science behind quantum physics.

If you enjoy superhero stories with some mystery pick this one up! Daredevil is the next one up in the series.

Three stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective fast-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

3.5

Well with any Tessa Bailey novel you know what you are in for! Open door romance. VERY open door. While I myself usually appreciate closed door I enjoyed the storyline. The MMC, a hockey player, Sig, and the FMC, harpist, Chloe, meet and it’s “insta love.” The same day they find out their parents are marrying and so they have to stay away from each other…..at least romantically. But Sig and Chloe are having difficulty hiding their connection in public and well in private too. Soon the media starts reporting how “inappropriate the step siblings are acting” and the agents in their respective careers pressure them “either them or out!” So Sig is on a mission to find any dirt on his estranged dad to break up the engagement so he can be with his dream girl.

It was really a unique read. For me anyway. Most romantic quick reads have the same kind of trope. This one had step siblings and a harpist. Part of the setting was in Connecticut. No drawn out “third act break up.” The MMC was always very supportive of the MFC.

Chloe was a very funny and likable character. Her character was developed so well throughout the novel. She displayed strength and determination while sometimes not being realistic but she certainly did try!

This is part of the Big Shots series but it certainly can be read alone.

3.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @netgalley @tessabailey and @avonbooks for an eARC on exchange for an honest review.

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Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova

I loved this. It’s about an Irish Boston married Police Officer in his 40s who is diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease. HD is an inherited progressive neurological condition that breaks down the nerve cells in the brain. It affects cognition, behavior, movement, strength, mood, speaking, tremors also weight loss. There is no cure. He has four adult children and offspring have a 50/50chance to of inheriting it.

Lisa Genova does an incredible job of educating us on the disease as well as showing us the progression through the MMC, Joe O’Brien. She also showed how it emotionally and psychologically impacted his family, friends and even his job.

The story is not all doom and gloom. The support the family shows each other is beautiful. They are a very tight knit family using humor to break up the tension and stress.

I felt very connected to this story—not sure if it is because I work in healthcare (I’m an OT in a short term rehabilitation facility) and treat many neurological patients or because I myself have a neurological condition (Multiple Sclerosis). But I NEEDED a book like this in my life. There is not many fictional books written to raise awareness about neurological conditions. I totally ate this up! This is my first Lisa Genova book and I cannot wait to read more!

5 AMAZING stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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The Favorites by Layne Fargo

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

To be honest I picked this one up because of the cover. I knew nothing about ice skating. I wasn’t even interested in the subject. After I started it I couldn’t put it down. I switched between the audio and the physical book. The audio was done really well. It has a cast of characters and goes back and forth between interview transcripts to a first person POV. The author was able to incorporate information on the sport, competition, politics, costumes and the Olympics while producing an entertaining story. It had toxic relationships. Toxic friendships. Drama. Heartbreak. Betrayal. Very very messy. Layne Fargo showcased the behind the scenes “ugly” of competition. The pressure. The lengths people will go to win. The obsession. But also the “beauty.” Ambition. Passion. Love. Success.

I hated every character in the book (except one) but I think that was the point. It would be such a good film adaptation!

4.5 stars!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Alice Feeney is becoming one of my favorite thriller authors. Her books are thought provoking, filled with twists and turns and always have you looking back into the story. Beautiful Ugly is no different. Dual timelines. Dual POV. Towards the end of story I second guessed so much and skimmed the book from the beginning to put the pieces together. Her books need to be read with an open mind and not necessarily believing exactly what you read.

It is a slow burn but written really well. All of it comes together beautifully. That end!!!!!! It worked out perfectly. I could see it being adapted to film. It is brilliant. Almost reminds me of an Alfred Hitchcock tale.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes dark, creepy, psychological suspense, and stories that make you question everything!

Four stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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No Place Left To Hide by Megan Lally

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

“No Place To Hide” is fast paced. Never a dull moment. Solid read. I do prefer the author’s debut “That’s Not My Name” but I would totally recommend this one to a teen or just to someone who enjoys young adult novels. Now some things were far fetched in the book BUT I like that. Reminds me of the Telenovelas I watch with my mom!

3 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

The Stolen Marriage is a book of fiction written around true events. Set in the 1940s in the South during the WWII and the Polio outbreak.

This is an extraordinary story about love, loss, betrayal, secrets, racism, communication and forgiveness. The FMC, Tess, is stuck in a loveless marriage after a poor decision one fateful night. She has dreams of becoming a nurse but her husband, Henry, and his mother won’t allow it. Initially I was a bit upset at Tess when she wouldn’t stand up for herself to her husband or her mother in law but I understand that was pretty much the expectation at that time. Though Tess grows into such a strong and confident woman throughout the story.

There is so much more to the story. It has so many layers. Even if you do not usually read historical fiction take a chance on this one. It does not read like most.

It is evident on the amount of research Diane Chamberlain has done for the novel. She is able to capture the culture and details of the time and create a variety of believable likable and unlikable characters as well as the medical content in regards to polio. She is also able to expertly weave twists and turns while keeping the integrity of the historical events.

Some historical fiction novels tend to lag at times. I did not find that with this one. I was always eager to dive right back in whenever I had a chance.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about history, drama, love, and mystery.

4.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Fun and very clever psychological thriller! Well written. Great execution. Keeps you guessing. Well thought out.

Told from multiple POVs. Multiple unlikable characters. My jaw dropped quite a few times. Lies. Wrongful accusations. So many twists. Quick pacing. Vivid descriptions. Short chapters. I admit it was far fetched at times but it was a very entertaining read.

I thought I knew a couple twists but I was wrong. It was very unpredictable which I love!

4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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juanat77's reviews 163 reviews

juanat77's reviews
163 reviews