karessa_proctor's reviews
131 reviews

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.75

- this book had me ugly crying at least 3 times. The story was very immersive and powerful. 
- an important story of how women were very valuable in WWII but so often overlooked in history 
- The ending times things together very nicely and in a heartwarming way. 
- I noticed some issues with the writing in terms of inconsistencies that left me confused and questioning timelines. I’m not sure how these were not caught in editing 
- I was upset that we were supposed to feel like there was “one good Nazi”… while I also would feel horrible for killing someone I don’t know if I’d say he was a “good man”  
Very Unbecoming by Emily Kron, Kate Hopkins

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3.25

Liked: the full cast, how silly it was at times 

Related to: chuck’s deep seated issues with perfectionism. 

Didn’t like: Sofia’s entire child like personality at the big age of 32. I found her… unbecoming… if you will. 
Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan

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emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

- I would give it 6 stars if I could 
- I loved the progression of their relationship but also then ad individuals. 
- I loved that her healing journey enabled her to have a health relationship. 
Crimes of Passion by Jack Harbon

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3.75

I thought this was cute and I loved that this was a full cast. 
Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan

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challenging emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

Whew I have missed feelings about this one because truly hated the trope and actions delivered in this book. Did I still finish the entire thing and enjoy it? Yes. Yes I did. The writing is just so captativating and engaging that I could not put it down. One of those times where I recognize it as a legit good book, but they storyline was not for me. It also made me look at humans as complex people. How they can be a good person even though they did a bad thing. I don't believe in throwing away an entire person over one thing they did, but it was hard to root for them at points because it was trifling. Truly mixed feelings!!

If you can't handle cheating, I don't think you should read this book. If you can, this book is very good.
Choice by Jodi Picoult

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5.0

This was honestly so great! 
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5


- The magic system here was pretty cool, great world building, and the mythology was really interesting 
- I think the character development was really realistic here. In most books where someone is bad and they “turn good” it seems more simple and complete. I liked that Inan’s “growth” was really 1 step forward and 2 steps back. I felt like this was more actuate. People might see the light but ultimately it’s hard to change your ways. This decision made the characters more complex and nuanced for me. 
- I hated how fast the enemies to lovers thing happened. It was Disney level falling in love. I would have taken another 100 pages of the book just to drag that out a bit. I get that these are teenagers so sometimes it does feel that way but it took me out of the story a bit. 
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

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emotional funny inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

- I did not expect to cry this much. 
- I found this story to be heartbreaking, inspiring, and entertaining. 
- The writing style makes each chapter feel like an episode. Great mix of it being about the plot and characters. 
- Some parts felt just a bit slow 
The Only One Left by Riley Sager

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mysterious tense
  • 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? It's complicated

4.5

- The first 100 pages started of slow (for me) but then it started cooking with grease. 
- Honestly the amount of twists and turns were giving me whiplash. 
- This kept me really hooked and engaged. 
- The FMC definitely behaves like your stereotypical white woman in a horror movie, but it was fun to be like “that would never be me but go ahead sis, I’m rooting for you anyways”