latashman's reviews
116 reviews

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Go to review page

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

3.5

I liked that each chapter was its own story. I understand they connect as all part of the Joy Luck Club and their families, but the stories were hard to keep straight and figure out the connections. I found several of the chapters to be quite touching. 
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

Go to review page

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

3.0

They lost me at the degloving and never got me back. Gave me goosebumps every time his hand was discussed and the membrane under the oven mitt. I think it was probably entertaining, but I couldn't enjoy it after that. 

I did like the narration on the audiobook, a little cheeky in the side conversations and information. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Go to review page

dark emotional tense medium-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

5.0

This book was beautiful and brutal. I appreciated the different POVs from producers all the way to watchers of Chain Gang All Stars. Every POV was its own story that furthered the plot and made this a fast read. I appreciated the footnotes that gave real facts and statistics from the US carceral system and the citations in the back. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Mercury by Amy Jo Burns

Go to review page

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

4.25

Loved these characters and their growth throghout the story, especially the ending wrap up of how all their lives were impacted by each other. How they held on to hope throughout the tough times. Love Marley, an ultimate #girlboss doing what needed to be done throughout the book. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Go to review page

funny lighthearted fast-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? Yes

3.0

This was a cute book! I loved the bantering between Kate and Anthony. The game scenes were my favorite and I wish there were more similar scenes. Their love story was cute, but after the marriage I found the book boring. I wish there was still some angst/bickering in their conversations after getting married. 
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Loved Vin as a main character. Kel (did audiobook, don't know how to spell) was a little bit of a narcissist that you played with the emotions of characters and the reader. I thought this was a great heist book with a little political intrigue mixed in. Looking forward to seeing how the Ska build back up the empire and if they will make changes for the better. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

Go to review page

adventurous emotional tense 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? Yes

4.0

Great sequel to the story and answered questions from the first. This book read a lot slower than the first one and I found some of the character choices to be stupid toward the end of the book. looking forward to reading the next book. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Go to review page

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

4.25

Listened to this audiobook in a day. I enjoyed the characters and the anticipation of seeing each murder get set up based on the poem. The epilogue was fantastic. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Go to review page

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

4.0

The conclusion to this book was a nice wrap up and conclusion to the growth that Queenie underwent. I hated a lot of this book, the choices Queenie made, the abuse she endured, but I felt compelled to see how it ended. I think the writing was good, it elicited a strong emotional response from me. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Go to review page

dark emotional sad 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

5.0

I couldn't help but cheer for Demon the entire book. This book was heartbreaking. Unfortunately some of the pieces of the story are true or based on truth. I couldn't help but think of all the Demons in the world who we will never know. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings