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justagirlwithabook's reviews
432 reviews
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Nina Hill lives a simple but fairly fulfilling life. As a single woman in her late twenties, she's dedicated to her regular nights out playing trivia with her trivia team, spends her days working at the local independent bookstore, and enjoys quiet time at home reading a book in a comfy chair alongside her cat, Phil. But some big changes have happened in Nina's life recently, and as a woman who meticulously plans her day-to-day and struggles with nearly crippling anxiety, these new issues in her life are taking a lot of emotional energy to process. In spite of all of these big life changes, can Nina also figure out how to make a little room in her life for a man on a rival trivia team?
<b>Overall Thoughts:</b>
This book was pretty cute! It is written with an ample amount of wit and intelligence, and at moments, it reminded me a bit of Nora Ephron's writing and <i>You've Got Mail</i>. The characters are quirky and our main character has a few hang-ups that she has to process through (extreme anxiety issues, strong devotion to rigid schedules, etc.), but overall she's a character most readers can get behind and root for. There were a few parts that resulted in the lost star for me (leaving my rating at a 4-star rather than a 5), and these involved overall plot points; some moments were incredibly much too rushed and happened earlier on in the storyline than they should've, the romantic plot was significantly less fleshed out than I would have liked it to be, and the ending came to an abrupt end as loose ends were tied up in the last handful of pages.
<b>What I Loved:</b>
- Quirky characters left and right
- A main character who felt SO like me in so many ways (with the exception of her inflexibility and high anxiety)
- A fun storyline that made for a quick and light read (perfect for spring or summer!)
- Witty and intelligent writing
- <i>You've Got Mail</i> vibes
<b>What I Didn't Love:</b>
- Some plot points that were incredibly rushed and a bit unbelievable, especially in considering all that we'd been led to believe and know about Nina
- An abrupt ending
- A somewhat less than satisfying romantic element that I would've liked to see more developed and drawn out
<b>Overall Thoughts:</b>
This book was pretty cute! It is written with an ample amount of wit and intelligence, and at moments, it reminded me a bit of Nora Ephron's writing and <i>You've Got Mail</i>. The characters are quirky and our main character has a few hang-ups that she has to process through (extreme anxiety issues, strong devotion to rigid schedules, etc.), but overall she's a character most readers can get behind and root for. There were a few parts that resulted in the lost star for me (leaving my rating at a 4-star rather than a 5), and these involved overall plot points; some moments were incredibly much too rushed and happened earlier on in the storyline than they should've, the romantic plot was significantly less fleshed out than I would have liked it to be, and the ending came to an abrupt end as loose ends were tied up in the last handful of pages.
<b>What I Loved:</b>
- Quirky characters left and right
- A main character who felt SO like me in so many ways (with the exception of her inflexibility and high anxiety)
- A fun storyline that made for a quick and light read (perfect for spring or summer!)
- Witty and intelligent writing
- <i>You've Got Mail</i> vibes
<b>What I Didn't Love:</b>
- Some plot points that were incredibly rushed and a bit unbelievable, especially in considering all that we'd been led to believe and know about Nina
- An abrupt ending
- A somewhat less than satisfying romantic element that I would've liked to see more developed and drawn out
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Jane Shoringfield is a very mathematically, logically-brained single woman in need of a husband. Left as an orphan in the aftermath of war, she's been living out her days with a kind, elderly couple who have decided to make a move to a different city. Jane would become more of a burden if she were to make the move, so instead settles her mind to find herself a husband, marriage being strictly a business transaction, nothing more. Enter Mr. Augustine Lawrence, a talented surgeon with a bit of a hazy past but a willing candidate. His only request is that they keep their nights separate: him at his home at Lindridge Hall, and Jane in a room above the surgery. Things, of course, quickly diverge from the plan and after staying one night at Lawrence's home, Jane realizes things are very wrong and the man she married is entirely not himself but a shell of a man, paranoid and haunted.
This book was advertised as a mix of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell meets Crimson Peak meets Mexican Gothic, and the author, Caitlin Starling, was nominated for a Brom Stoker award. The overall description of the story and other promotional blurbs really hooked me in quickly; they said absolutely everything they needed to in order for me to believe this would be another favorite for the year. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell as well as Mexican Gothic have both been two favorites. I was hopeful that The Death of Jane Lawrence would join their ranks, but it fell a little bit short for me. While I did enjoy it overall, it was missing that special something that leaves me raving and adding a new book to the "favorites" shelf.
What I Enjoyed:
- I loved the classic "something is not right here" vibes that it gave.
- There are definitely a lot of eerie things happening within Lindridge Hall that the reader doesn't fully understand or come to realize until we get more towards the end. As a note, these eerie things aren't creepy enough to leave you wishing you'd read the book only during the day time.
- I enjoyed the little elements of magic that were incorporated.
- I also appreciated the historical elements that were embedded (at one point Augustine and Jane, respectively, use cocaine in order to stay awake and sharpen their focus; another doctor friend of Augustine's visits who seems to have an interesting history with asylums and those suffering from "madness").
What I Didn't Love:
- The magical aspect fell short for me. While I was glad it was incorporated, it felt like it wasn't fully fleshed out to its full potential. There were mathematical elements that were very entwined with the magic system and I didn't find it to work as well as I would've hoped.
- Jane, being incredibly mathematically-focused (always crunching numbers it seemed like), brought a level of logic to the story, which was fine and great to have a main female character who was entirely rational, but, again, the mathematical aspects seemed to take up a bit more of the stage than I would've liked, though the author incorporated it within the magical system, so all of it was very tangled up together.
- The entire story is told from Jane's point of view, and while I wanted to like her, she just wasn't that likeable. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't really love her either.
- There was a bit of a sort of twist at the end that wasn't as well explained as it could've been and there seemed to be some plot holes that were left a bit open.
- In order for it to be anywhere in the realm of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, it would've needed to be twice as long, the magical system significantly more developed, a bit more humor and fun, eclectic characters, and even some other points of view to add more layers of complexity. I went in with really high expectations I think because of the blurbs with all the right words, but it fell a bit short.
Overall, I DID still enjoy this book and entirely think it's a great one to add to your TBR if you enjoy the eerie vibes of Daphne du Maurier's works along with some of the weirdness that Mexican Gothic provided. If you're a big fan of Susanna Clarke and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, set the bar a little lower and you won't be too disappointed.
This book was advertised as a mix of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell meets Crimson Peak meets Mexican Gothic, and the author, Caitlin Starling, was nominated for a Brom Stoker award. The overall description of the story and other promotional blurbs really hooked me in quickly; they said absolutely everything they needed to in order for me to believe this would be another favorite for the year. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell as well as Mexican Gothic have both been two favorites. I was hopeful that The Death of Jane Lawrence would join their ranks, but it fell a little bit short for me. While I did enjoy it overall, it was missing that special something that leaves me raving and adding a new book to the "favorites" shelf.
What I Enjoyed:
- I loved the classic "something is not right here" vibes that it gave.
- There are definitely a lot of eerie things happening within Lindridge Hall that the reader doesn't fully understand or come to realize until we get more towards the end. As a note, these eerie things aren't creepy enough to leave you wishing you'd read the book only during the day time.
- I enjoyed the little elements of magic that were incorporated.
- I also appreciated the historical elements that were embedded (at one point Augustine and Jane, respectively, use cocaine in order to stay awake and sharpen their focus; another doctor friend of Augustine's visits who seems to have an interesting history with asylums and those suffering from "madness").
What I Didn't Love:
- The magical aspect fell short for me. While I was glad it was incorporated, it felt like it wasn't fully fleshed out to its full potential. There were mathematical elements that were very entwined with the magic system and I didn't find it to work as well as I would've hoped.
- Jane, being incredibly mathematically-focused (always crunching numbers it seemed like), brought a level of logic to the story, which was fine and great to have a main female character who was entirely rational, but, again, the mathematical aspects seemed to take up a bit more of the stage than I would've liked, though the author incorporated it within the magical system, so all of it was very tangled up together.
- The entire story is told from Jane's point of view, and while I wanted to like her, she just wasn't that likeable. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't really love her either.
- There was a bit of a sort of twist at the end that wasn't as well explained as it could've been and there seemed to be some plot holes that were left a bit open.
- In order for it to be anywhere in the realm of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, it would've needed to be twice as long, the magical system significantly more developed, a bit more humor and fun, eclectic characters, and even some other points of view to add more layers of complexity. I went in with really high expectations I think because of the blurbs with all the right words, but it fell a bit short.
Overall, I DID still enjoy this book and entirely think it's a great one to add to your TBR if you enjoy the eerie vibes of Daphne du Maurier's works along with some of the weirdness that Mexican Gothic provided. If you're a big fan of Susanna Clarke and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, set the bar a little lower and you won't be too disappointed.
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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? No
5.0
Holy cow, this book. I’ve been left with a lot to process and not in ways that I ever expected.
The blurb for the book simply describes it as a story of a serial killer, a stolen child, death, revenge, and an ordinary house on an ordinary street. It IS a story of all these things but none of it is what it appears.
I received an early review copy of the soon-to-be-published U. S. edition from Netgalley, and what interested me most was the general premise and it being advertised as both horror and mystery/thriller. I didn’t realize what I would get here, and while it ended up being very different than what I expected, it was an incredible read that ultimately left me processing and reflecting even more, not so much on the general plot or characters but on bigger ideas (like trauma, abuse, and survival, especially as it all relates to the brain).
And yes, you will find aspects of this novel to fit firmly within the horror genre. But then to say that this was not a fast-paced “twisty psychological mystery” would also be a lie, because it is that, too. I didn’t see all the subtle twists coming, but when I did, what a revelation.
If you tend to enjoy very twisty psychological thrillers, this will be a good one for you, but only as long as you can handle some tougher situations as well (situations that are more of what we see in horror novels ... not necessarily in the form of gore or scary beings but instead a quiet and uneasy violence all its own).
The blurb for the book simply describes it as a story of a serial killer, a stolen child, death, revenge, and an ordinary house on an ordinary street. It IS a story of all these things but none of it is what it appears.
I received an early review copy of the soon-to-be-published U. S. edition from Netgalley, and what interested me most was the general premise and it being advertised as both horror and mystery/thriller. I didn’t realize what I would get here, and while it ended up being very different than what I expected, it was an incredible read that ultimately left me processing and reflecting even more, not so much on the general plot or characters but on bigger ideas (like trauma, abuse, and survival, especially as it all relates to the brain).
And yes, you will find aspects of this novel to fit firmly within the horror genre. But then to say that this was not a fast-paced “twisty psychological mystery” would also be a lie, because it is that, too. I didn’t see all the subtle twists coming, but when I did, what a revelation.
If you tend to enjoy very twisty psychological thrillers, this will be a good one for you, but only as long as you can handle some tougher situations as well (situations that are more of what we see in horror novels ... not necessarily in the form of gore or scary beings but instead a quiet and uneasy violence all its own).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Confinement, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child death, Murder, Violence, and Medical trauma
Minor: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
funny
fast-paced
4.0
Haddish shares the crazy details of her life in this one. I listened to it on audio and it was highly entertaining (though, as a note, contains a lot of adult content that left me raising my eyebrows). I admire her ability to retain such a great sense of humor in spite of the rough life that she's had in having to fend for herself, especially in her growing up years.
Too Good to Be True by Carola Lovering
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another pretty good thriller to add to your collection! It’ll give you Gone Girl vibes but provide a bit more closure and explanation to the twist once you get there! I read this one in under 24 hours which is always a pretty good sign of a solid read!
I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
While not all chapters really spoke to me or pulled me in, there was a lot of good here and Luvvie brought me some laughs while she was at it! I especially loved her chapters on feminism (especially how us white women can do better in being intersectional), rape culture, and beauty standards (you are enough, I am enough!).
I’m looking forward to reading her next, Professional Troublemakers, as I think it won’t cast AS wide a net as this first one but instead will really hone in on professional working women and how to be your authentic self. (I think I, in general, tend to enjoy self-help and inspirational types of books better when they’re a bit more targeted in on a specific area of life or topic.)
I’m looking forward to reading her next, Professional Troublemakers, as I think it won’t cast AS wide a net as this first one but instead will really hone in on professional working women and how to be your authentic self. (I think I, in general, tend to enjoy self-help and inspirational types of books better when they’re a bit more targeted in on a specific area of life or topic.)
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
This books covers a topic not often addressed or known from history, that being the WPA’s Pack Horse Library Project and the blue people of Kentucky.
As a librarian, former English teacher of 10 years, and a lover of books and believer in the power of the written word, I was able to connect on so many levels with Cussy Mary “Bluet” and her life as a deliverer of books. What resonated most was the relationship she had with her patrons.
Readers, do be warned that very quickly on there is a marital rape scene. The book also contains instances of sexual harassment and assault, abuse, racism, suicide, medical content, sexism, religious bigotry, and social and economic disparities.
As a librarian, former English teacher of 10 years, and a lover of books and believer in the power of the written word, I was able to connect on so many levels with Cussy Mary “Bluet” and her life as a deliverer of books. What resonated most was the relationship she had with her patrons.
Readers, do be warned that very quickly on there is a marital rape scene. The book also contains instances of sexual harassment and assault, abuse, racism, suicide, medical content, sexism, religious bigotry, and social and economic disparities.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Minor: Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Sexism, Suicide, and Vomit
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
informative
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I listened to the one on audio, though I also own the book, which made it a very quick listen. Incredibly informative as well as a bit horrifying. I read this one immediately after reading The Pretender where the author mentions her own experiences with mental illness and her autoimmune disease. I wanted to know a bit more so turned around and read this one. Definitely recommended for those who are interested in understanding mental health and frustrations of navigating a scary health situation that doesn’t have a name or is just invisible. Susannah was one of the lucky ones.
The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan
challenging
informative
tense
fast-paced
4.0
A twisty take on Stanford psychologist.
David Rosenban’s 1970s study that resulted in publication in the journal Science under the title “On Being Sane in Insane Places.” Cahalan reviews briefly the history and treatment of mental illness, famous cases of infiltration into institutions (such as Nellie Bly), and then dives into Rosenban’s study and the research she did surrounding it. Not only did it blow up psychiatry and the approach to mental illness but it, arguably, made things even worse, as Cahalan details (especially with newfound information that the study wasn’t as accurate and upfront as Rosenban presented).
This was an incredibly fast-paced read but there was a lot there that I found myself really interested in which might have contributed to my perspective of pace. Really interesting topic and a lot left to ponder upon closing the book.
David Rosenban’s 1970s study that resulted in publication in the journal Science under the title “On Being Sane in Insane Places.” Cahalan reviews briefly the history and treatment of mental illness, famous cases of infiltration into institutions (such as Nellie Bly), and then dives into Rosenban’s study and the research she did surrounding it. Not only did it blow up psychiatry and the approach to mental illness but it, arguably, made things even worse, as Cahalan details (especially with newfound information that the study wasn’t as accurate and upfront as Rosenban presented).
This was an incredibly fast-paced read but there was a lot there that I found myself really interested in which might have contributed to my perspective of pace. Really interesting topic and a lot left to ponder upon closing the book.