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lauren_miller's reviews
701 reviews
Cold Curses by Chloe Neill
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
a very decent conclusion to what is definitely one of my favorite series now! never thought I'd get emotional over a girl and her sword, but damn, what a pair they make. is it naive of me to hope for a children's children's series?? b/c I need more of Connor and Elisa and Alexei and LuLu as adults and possibly parents and taking their place as the rulers of Chicago...
in the meantime, I guess I'll have to settle for starting Chicagoland Vampires a.k.a. the series I didn't realize this whole universe actually starts with đ đ oops!
in the meantime, I guess I'll have to settle for starting Chicagoland Vampires a.k.a. the series I didn't realize this whole universe actually starts with đ đ oops!
Plus-Sized Misadventures in Love! by mamakari
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
this series is actually infectious???
yumeko is such a charming and optimistic protagonist, and not in a toxic positivity kind of way. her inner light is just so bright and healing to those around her; you can't help but want to be her friend! and the self-love she has really does seem genuine. i love that this manga is NOT about her he being plus-sized (though it does come up often), but about her embracing her own passions unapologetically and forming new relationships with those she might have admired from afar in the past.
not quite sure how the homicide element will pan out, either... tbh, i don't think the story even needs it! i'm enjoying this so much...
yumeko is such a charming and optimistic protagonist, and not in a toxic positivity kind of way. her inner light is just so bright and healing to those around her; you can't help but want to be her friend! and the self-love she has really does seem genuine. i love that this manga is NOT about her he being plus-sized (though it does come up often), but about her embracing her own passions unapologetically and forming new relationships with those she might have admired from afar in the past.
not quite sure how the homicide element will pan out, either... tbh, i don't think the story even needs it! i'm enjoying this so much...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Fatphobia
Throne in the Dark by A.K. Caggiano
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
simply put, i adored this story.
so much so that I didn't want this nearly 500-page book to end!!
i wasn't expecting it at all, but this story is a lot more cozy than you would expect, playful and surprising and meandering in just the right ways. there's little sense of urgency to the plot; instead, it feels like each twist and turn is given the time to breathe and unfurl just soâeach word and emotion and action chosen with utmost care. this book is damn well written and i was impressed; truly, the experience of reading this book was akin to reading The Night Circus or The Chronicles of Prydain for the first timeâperfectly magical and leaving me wanting more.
5 out of 5 stars âď¸
so much so that I didn't want this nearly 500-page book to end!!
i wasn't expecting it at all, but this story is a lot more cozy than you would expect, playful and surprising and meandering in just the right ways. there's little sense of urgency to the plot; instead, it feels like each twist and turn is given the time to breathe and unfurl just soâeach word and emotion and action chosen with utmost care. this book is damn well written and i was impressed; truly, the experience of reading this book was akin to reading The Night Circus or The Chronicles of Prydain for the first timeâperfectly magical and leaving me wanting more.
5 out of 5 stars âď¸
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence
Didn't See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
TW: bullying, sexism, gaslighting, classism, dashes of racism
Note: You do not need to have read "Well, That Was Unexpected" to read this book (but it might help!)
I was immediately drawn to this book because a) the cover is adorable and b) during the pandemic I went down a gamer drama rabbit hole (think "You Are My Glory" and "Falling Into Your Smile"), so the premiseâgirl pretending to be a guy online ends up meeting her virtual bestie and falling for him IRLâwas totally up my street. And on premise alone, this book totally delivered.
But it was wayyy more intense than I was expecting. Instead of slice of life teen drama, this was like "The Heirs" meets online gaming, and not necessarily in a good way.
At its heart, this book is about girls being mistreated, sometimes violently, because of their gender. Our main character Kiki opted to start playing under a bro handle b/c of rape and death threats, knocks to her intelligence and strategizing abilities, and being punished for speaking up. Which is then mirrored by her new high school experience; at Xingfa, the students are cruel in person and on social media, wealth means power, and being a female makes you a second-class citizen. Kiki becomes a pariah, #CrazyKiki, because she dares to question the social hierarchy and incredibly conservative expectations of students and, more importantly, faculty. She gets bullied in the classroom and online, gaslit into remaining silent for the sake of image, and ultimately ends up emotionally traumatized.
And the saddest part?? At one point, a few female side characters commiserate with her over experiencing the same thing when they started at Xingfa. The culture of misogyny is so prevalent, so deeply ingrained at Xingfa that instead of speaking up for Kiki, they apologize for remaining bystanders; they've been pushed down, snuffed out, silenced for so long that ALL they can do is apologize.
While this book made me laugh and smile and swoon, it also had me crying literal tears of frustration. And in the end, I'm not sure if the ending was cathartic enough for me. The resolution, while totally acceptable by kdrama standards, was pretty unbelievable and convenient, and Jonasâthe main perpetrator of the bullyingâand the faculty didn't *really* learn their lesson.
The romance was cute. The female friendships were good. The characterization and atmosphere were perfect for the age range of the book (seriously, are the author's kids teenagers yet??? b/c the voice and tone were spot on!). The look into the hodgepodge of cultures and expectations that is Jakarta was fascinating. There were parts I genuinely had fun reading! But I came away kinda exhausted and under-satisfied. This could be the empath in me; this could be a more universal experience by readers. Only time will tell...
That said, I definitely see myself picking up more from this author. Like, even though I'm potentially setting myself up for the same emotional rollercoaster, I desperately want to read Sharlot and George Clooney's installment now. And I imagine if you liked that one, you'll for sure like this!
4 out of 5 stars
TW: bullying, sexism, gaslighting, classism, dashes of racism
Note: You do not need to have read "Well, That Was Unexpected" to read this book (but it might help!)
I was immediately drawn to this book because a) the cover is adorable and b) during the pandemic I went down a gamer drama rabbit hole (think "You Are My Glory" and "Falling Into Your Smile"), so the premiseâgirl pretending to be a guy online ends up meeting her virtual bestie and falling for him IRLâwas totally up my street. And on premise alone, this book totally delivered.
But it was wayyy more intense than I was expecting. Instead of slice of life teen drama, this was like "The Heirs" meets online gaming, and not necessarily in a good way.
At its heart, this book is about girls being mistreated, sometimes violently, because of their gender. Our main character Kiki opted to start playing under a bro handle b/c of rape and death threats, knocks to her intelligence and strategizing abilities, and being punished for speaking up. Which is then mirrored by her new high school experience; at Xingfa, the students are cruel in person and on social media, wealth means power, and being a female makes you a second-class citizen. Kiki becomes a pariah, #CrazyKiki, because she dares to question the social hierarchy and incredibly conservative expectations of students and, more importantly, faculty. She gets bullied in the classroom and online, gaslit into remaining silent for the sake of image, and ultimately ends up emotionally traumatized.
And the saddest part?? At one point, a few female side characters commiserate with her over experiencing the same thing when they started at Xingfa. The culture of misogyny is so prevalent, so deeply ingrained at Xingfa that instead of speaking up for Kiki, they apologize for remaining bystanders; they've been pushed down, snuffed out, silenced for so long that ALL they can do is apologize.
While this book made me laugh and smile and swoon, it also had me crying literal tears of frustration. And in the end, I'm not sure if the ending was cathartic enough for me. The resolution, while totally acceptable by kdrama standards, was pretty unbelievable and convenient, and Jonasâthe main perpetrator of the bullyingâand the faculty didn't *really* learn their lesson.
The romance was cute. The female friendships were good. The characterization and atmosphere were perfect for the age range of the book (seriously, are the author's kids teenagers yet??? b/c the voice and tone were spot on!). The look into the hodgepodge of cultures and expectations that is Jakarta was fascinating. There were parts I genuinely had fun reading! But I came away kinda exhausted and under-satisfied. This could be the empath in me; this could be a more universal experience by readers. Only time will tell...
That said, I definitely see myself picking up more from this author. Like, even though I'm potentially setting myself up for the same emotional rollercoaster, I desperately want to read Sharlot and George Clooney's installment now. And I imagine if you liked that one, you'll for sure like this!
4 out of 5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Racism
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
i want to wear â¨everythingâ¨
this was stunning, romantic, angsty, and oh so cheesy!
5 out of 5 stars đ
this was stunning, romantic, angsty, and oh so cheesy!
5 out of 5 stars đ
Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
this was cute and the premise really coolâmagic and food?? match made in heavenâbut the main conflict was predictable and the ending felt incredibly juvenileâfar too convenient and belief suspending, even for a middle grade book, especially regarding the financials⌠that kinda brought it down for me.
3.25 out of 5 stars âď¸
3.25 out of 5 stars âď¸
Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
this is such a lovely graphic novel!
the illustrations are beautiful and the messages about loss, loneliness, sadness, friendship, and family are so tastefully and sweetly addressed. i would absolutely recommend, especially for pre- and early teens đ
the illustrations are beautiful and the messages about loss, loneliness, sadness, friendship, and family are so tastefully and sweetly addressed. i would absolutely recommend, especially for pre- and early teens đ
Devouring Darkness by Chloe Neill
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
i enjoyed this installment more than the last but not as much as the first two.
i am thrilled that a) Lulu accepted and used her powers, b) Lulu also kinda came to terms with her feelings(?) for Alexei, c) that Lis and the monster made great strides to understand each other, d) Connor came into his Apex power, and e) we got to learn more about the ley lines and what they really mean for Chicago and magic in general. that said...
that fucking epilogue!?!?! I am SCREAMING. Nov. 13th cannot come soon enough.
4 out of 5 stars â
i am thrilled that a) Lulu accepted and used her powers, b) Lulu also kinda came to terms with her feelings(?) for Alexei, c) that Lis and the monster made great strides to understand each other, d) Connor came into his Apex power, and e) we got to learn more about the ley lines and what they really mean for Chicago and magic in general. that said...
that fucking epilogue!?!?! I am SCREAMING. Nov. 13th cannot come soon enough.
4 out of 5 stars â
Shadowed Steel by Chloe Neill
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
definitely my least favorite installment this far, but still an entertaining read. Elisaâs villain-style full-on monologues were *chefâs kiss* and so many things about the ending had me smiling like a fool. also, elves!?! iâm not ready⌠but iâm still wholly invested in this universe and canât wait for more.
3.5ish out of 5 stars âď¸
3.5ish out of 5 stars âď¸
Wicked Hour by Chloe Neill
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
4.5
ok, I LOVED this installment.
I am, for better or for worse, obsessed w/ the isolated setting + mystery combo, and this was just that, not to mention the convoluted pack politics (annoying at times but so interesting), the lovable cast of side characters (you go, Georgia, you tell 'em who's in charge!), and the deeper look into Connor's character and the leader he's shaping up to be (spoiler: it's a good one). And the chemistryyyyy đĽđĽ I am in love with Elonnor? Colisa?? whatever you want to call their ship. I'm also veryyy invested in whether or not Lulu will break her own self-imposed dating ban... So many things to look forward to, I guess!
4.5 out of 5 stars âď¸
I am, for better or for worse, obsessed w/ the isolated setting + mystery combo, and this was just that, not to mention the convoluted pack politics (annoying at times but so interesting), the lovable cast of side characters (you go, Georgia, you tell 'em who's in charge!), and the deeper look into Connor's character and the leader he's shaping up to be (spoiler: it's a good one). And the chemistryyyyy đĽđĽ I am in love with Elonnor? Colisa?? whatever you want to call their ship. I'm also veryyy invested in whether or not Lulu will break her own self-imposed dating ban... So many things to look forward to, I guess!
4.5 out of 5 stars âď¸