lauren_miller's reviews
754 reviews

Chef's Kiss by Jarrett Melendez

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

 I'm a sucker for anything cooking related, espec in comic or manga form, so this was a treat (I'm definitely making that soup recipe this weekend!). Was the drama predictable? Yes. Was Watson's entire existence and persona absolutely batshit? Hell yes. Were the friendships actually the main star of the show? Uh-huh, 100%. Overall, did this do anything new or different? Not really, but I didn't care.

This was cute and lighthearted(ish) and a decent way to spend an hour. 3.75 out of 5. 

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

adventurous challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

this was wonderfully nostalgic and so fascinating with regard to the original material and how they changed it for the movie.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: War and Injury/Injury detail

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tbh, I was immediately drawn in by the name and cover of this book—which is gorgeous yes, but totally does the book a disservice; it looks way more lighthearted and playful and young than this book reads. In reality, it's definitely an adult romance, with plenty of smut, "adult" problems, and a generally heavier atmosphere. 

Things I loved: 
1. The look into professional soccer! It was super refreshing to a) learn about the sport and b) read a sports romance that brings something other than the typical heteronormative POV. This niche of sports romance absolutely needs more exploring... 
2. Grace's position as a veteran. I really enjoyed her perspective on her place within the public and sport landscapes. Watching her come to the realization that she could take ownership of her name (read: fame) and make her own choices regarding her career and how she wants to present herself was so. gratifying. 
3. The miscommunication trope. Usually this drives me CRAZY, but I have to say, the way it went down—Phoebe thinking they were dating for over a month—was actually hilarious. I really appreciated that it wasn't the basis of the third act conflict and instead sweetened their getting together. 

Things I didn't love:
1. The chemistry between Phoebe and Grace felt kind of awkward and almost exclusively sexual till around 50%. While I'm all for sexual attraction, it felt like it was the only thing going for them; the dynamic slowly improved once they started the whole friends-with-benefits relationship, but it felt like forever to actually get to that point.
2. The lack of friendships. There were so many potentially interesting characters, but I felt like we didn't see enough of them, like they were never utilized to their full potential. The bit with Kayla sticking up for Phoebe and Grace consulting Fish and the others about her feelings were great scenes in a book otherwise devoid of real friendship and support systems. 

With all that said, I'm glad I read this book; turns out this is my new favorite niche! While the reading experience was a little lacking for me, I ultimately connected to the romance in the end, so I'd give this a solid 3.75 stars. 

Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a very sweet, intergenerational tale that teaches the value of family, patience, and nurturing. While there were, in my opinion, some missed opportunities to teach better punctuation or sentence structure, the message of the story is clear. Also, the illustrations are so beautiful! Vibrant and warm and definitely inviting to young eyes. 

You Are a Beautiful Beginning by Nina Laden, Kelsey Garrity-Riley

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

 beautiful illustrations, sweet message, a book I'm actually considering purchasing for myself! 

Days Like This by Oriane Smith

adventurous hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

this is such a gorgeous book, I admittedly bought it solely for the illustrations. the subtle nod to good and bad days, and the passing of time via the seasons, is also done well; you have to read into the subtext a bit more than the average children's book, but it's there.

Moonlight Animals by Elizabeth Golding

adventurous informative lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

This is hands down one of the coolest children's books I've read in a while!! The interactive element of using the "flashlight" is fascinating, even for adults, and the illustrations and facts are very engaging. I would absolutely buy as a gift for any young fans of animals. 

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-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? No

4.5

this was such a fun read!!

I went into it assuming it was rompish historical fiction, so imagine my surprise at the howl-esque flying houses and seemingly endless amounts of artillery! while the book was maybe 80-100 pages too long imo, the author's writing is addicting (truly, no one writes "historical" banter quite like Ms. Holton), the pacing was lovely, and all of the characters—for all their murderous intentions and ridiculous sense of propriety—were appropriately lovable and deplorable. I cannot wait to read on in the series! My only regret is that the series doesn't continue to follow Cecilia and Ned... Hopefully they'll make more appearances!

4.5 out of 5 stars,  ★★★★☆

Hen Fever by Olivia Waite

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

Grim and Bear It by Juliette Cross

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

 I have to say, while the overall story arc of livy and gareth's book is probably my favorite, the ✨chemistry✨ between henry and clara was just... soulmate-level perfection, there really is no other way to say it. there were so many sweet moments that melted my heart and sealed the deal for me that the last two books are indeed the best in the series. plus, the fleshing out of henry's powers and the vale was so. dang. cool. I would kill for an entire series just dedicated to more grim lore. was the ending super cheesy? yes. do I think the savoie sisters have too many children? also yes. do I think the men in this series (besides Mateo) deserve some kind of medal for putting up with so much chaos surrounding one family? hell yes.

all that to say... I really hope this series is done/nearly done lol.
4 out of 5 stars 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence