kristineisreading's reviews
653 reviews

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.5

The Drowning Game by Barbara Nickless
Did not finish book. Stopped at 56%.

I could not care less about these characters or this confusing plot. I wanted more insight to the yacht industry, not a mishmash of government entities and failed subterfuge and a bunch of characters with blah personalities. 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Oh my do I love this series and these characters. Arthur and Linus are the BEST parents and partners (although I do wish Linus had more screentime). The magical children are hilarious and powerful. Zoe is awe-inspiring. Even the supporting characters like Helen, J-Bone, and Merle are fleshed out and likeable. I could honestly read entire books just about these characters' day to day lives and be totally happy. 

But we're talking about this book specifically. This is a beautiful story about a family that fights against the odds using not only magic, but the power of the love and loyalty between them. It's about acceptance of others and yourself, and how to create positive change in the world. It's a love story in many ways - romance, family, friendship. It's beautifully written, like all of Klune's books. He does a great job of describing even small details that allow you to really paint a mental picture. I honestly can't get enough of his work and this wonderful book is no exception.

The ONLY reason this isn't a full five stars for me is because the first part dragged on for me a little. It wasn't until Arthur and Linus got back to the kids that I really felt invested in the story. They're such great characters that the first part felt a little flat without them.

Other than that, 4.5 enthusiastic stars!

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

emotional hopeful reflective

3.5

I liked this, but given all the hype, I was really hoping to love it. I'm just not a huge fan of Phoebe. Spending a week in her head was more tiresome than anything. She just comes across as so drab and boring. The only times I liked her were when she was interacting with other characters. I found her inner monologue tedious and not as deep as I think it was supposed to be. She does at least have strong character growth throughout the short time frame. Main character ick aside, this book shines when it focuses on the various types of relationships. Phoebe is a stranger to them all, but Lila is a fiance, a childhood friend, a daughter, the one that got away, an almost-stepmother, and a soon-to-be sister-in-law, and each of these relationships is complicated in its own way. These relationships, and Phoebe's observations of them, are what give the book that extra half star for me.

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant

3.0

This was very meh for me. I never got all that invested in the story, although I can't put my finger on why exactly. The components of a good thriller are all there - high stakes, shady characters, sympathetic characters, a mystery to unfold. Yet I was never all that thrilled and I didn't really care that much what happened. And I wasn't a big fan of the "everything wraps up with a big twist and then a sudden resolution" ending. Despite all that, it's not a bad book. Cooper was a desperate man who just wanted the best for his daughter and is now living with the consequences, and Finch is a massively sheltered but overall fairly normal 8-year-old. Scotland is maybe the most interesting character, a weirdo with murky intentions. The snowy woods provide a good backdrop to the plot, which moves along quickly. So, three stars for a middle-of-the-road book.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

4.0

I always enjoy time spent with Ernest. This is a nice addition to the series. It packs a big punch in under 200 pages. There's no shortage of clues or action, and the resolution is just as satisfying as the full-length novels. The only thing missing for me is the lack of repeat characters. This is mostly focused on new characters who overall are not nearly as charming as the Cunninghams. 

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

I liked this but didn't love it. It's a heavy read. The three Blue sisters are unique characters, each fighting their own demons as they grieve the loss of their fourth sister. It's a raw look at grief, the complexity of family, and how life moves forward despite its challenges. 

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

4.0

This is a story of women being their authentic selves against the odds, in a time when that was much harder to do. Their dedication to each other is inspiring. I always enjoy a good found family story and this one hits the mark. They're also deeply dedicated to their work. I had never heard of the traveling library initiative. That it could cause such controversy speaks to their society's closed-minded and misogynistic mindset. How dare women read and be educated? The Appalachian mountains worked well as the setting for the story. Kentucky was, and still is, full of poverty, of people just trying to survive despite limited resources and even more limited opportunities. My only gripe with the setting is that it lacked the kind of vivid description of the landscape I was hoping for. The characters spend a lot of time in the mountains, but I had a hard time visualizing what that actually looked like. 

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

Such a fun book, very lighthearted and humorous. Margo is the best. She makes bad choices but she fully owns them and finds her way out of her messes. You really can't help but root for her. The supporting characters are equally likeable, although not all developed as much as I'd like. And of course it's a good look at the challenges of sex work, but also the positive and empowering side of it. 

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

hopeful lighthearted

4.0

This is a cute found-family story with a fun seasonal setting and low stakes. Just what I needed to get in the Christmas spirit.