leslie1187's reviews
746 reviews

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This was a reread of a childhood favorite that I still adore and felt nostalgic. It was like a hug reading about these characters all over again.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.

I just couldn’t get invested in the writing/story. The style was dull and didn’t engage me like Holly Jackson’s other books.

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This novel was genius. The relatability of the characters experiences and how they handled their emotions and changes in their  lives kept me reading. Pulled into this strange tale of magical realism and love. I absolutely enjoyed the parallels between what was happening to Lewis and how it affected Wren with that of someone who was ill and their caregiver.

The writing style was exquisite and flowed seamlessly. The prose shifting from play, lists, monologue, and prose as simple and effortlessly that you hardly noticed the transitions. I’ll definitely be on the look out for any books Emily Habeck releases in the future.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was phenomenal. I was instantly hooked and invested. The writing was effortless and fluid. The podcast episodes added to the story, driving it forward as Lucy pieced together the scrapes of memories as she remembered each from that night.

I didn’t see that ending coming. There were a couple other people I thought might have killed Lucy’s best friend, but the person who really killed Savvy was not who I expected. It shocked me. That ending was earth shattering and gripping. Definitely read this if you want a fast paced thriller that will surprise you. 

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This one had me sitting on the edge of my seat too. The only aspect I didn’t like is how far out there it went in the latter half. Also one part of the ending was left open for the reader to make the decision. I should have known better since Holly Jackson left Five Survive open ended too. She is a great author and really hooks you in from start to finish. This is a thriller trilogy that I’ve already been recommending and will continue to spread it. I’m also curious to watch the show once it’s available in the US. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional 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? Yes

4.75

This was an unputtable down book. I enjoyed reading the drama, especially the romance between Evelyn and her 8th partner that was her true love. The growth of her character was tremendous as Evelyn realized what was most important. Not her career but her loved ones.

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was so twisted. Josie was an unreliable character that you couldn’t trust and it was easy to not like her. I couldn’t fathom some I’d the blatant lies that escaped her mouth. Even after the turn came out she still was telling herself lies to justify what she did. She didn’t care able anyone but herself.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was an emotionally thought-provoking and inspiring novel. The women who served in Vietnam, particularly the nurses as highlighted by Frankie and her friends, were forgotten even more than their male counterparts. Often told that there weren’t women in Vietnam because they didn’t witness combat. But women still saw the horrors, especially the nurses who treated the injured. Frankie’s story is one that resonates the military nurses who are told to forget and still suffer nightmares from the trauma they witnessed during their service. 

It shows that the military women were just as affected by PTSD, a relatively new term/findings of that era, as the men who fought in the battles. We watch as Frankie struggles after returning home, haunted by nightmares and disrespected by fellow Americans when she first touched back down to American soil. 

She slips into a dark place for a time, only surfacing after reaching her rock bottom and being admitted into a rehab clinic by her parents. From there, her healing takes her to the mountains to settle on a ranch and ultimately create a place for the women who served in Vietnam to have a place to land. Where they can come together to heal through talking about their experiences.

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was just as much of an addicting page-turner as the first book. Holly Jackson is a story teller that truly hooks you in for a wild ride. 

It starts off where the first leaves off, but a new mystery for Pip to solve soon presents itself. We are then taken down another road with twists and turns as Pip tries to find her friend’s brother before it’s too late. And within the mystery another crime that was comped long ago lays at the center of all the events of the crime she’s trying to solve. I found myself thinking ahead, trying to guess what the outcome would be and felt like my sleuthing skills were close out spot on, but there were other instances where I didn’t see some stuff coming. I found myself speaking out loud when something shocked me. That is how invested in the plot I was the whole time. I’ll be checking out the next book for sure.