leslie1187's reviews
748 reviews

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark 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

4.5

This really made you sympathize with Snow up until his actions in part three (the peacekeeper). Part three really shows Snow as he motives into the president wet know from the Hunger Games trilogy. He truly only cared about himself and how he was going to rise (snow lands on top).

Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.5

This was intriguing and good. I wanted more. Short stories always leave me wanting more.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny hopeful 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

I absolutely loved this book. A group of people help hostages by an unlikely “bank robber” in a viewing of an apartment. The robbery isn’t the plot. The focus at the lives of each one of the people in this apartment and of their struggles and anxieties. The writing is beautiful and reminded me of how much I enjoyed reading Fredrick Bachman back when I read Bear Town. I need to read more of his books. The only gripe is that it took a bit to set up the setting to really delve into the characters that you instantly feel drawn towards.

Unhinged by Vera Valentine

funny fast-paced

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

2.5

This was hilarious and a quick one and done read through. Outrageous in the concept, it was a great time as far as laugh out loud moments. I’d you go into this thinking it’ll be a joke then you’ll enjoy the experience.

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was the best in the series for me by far. The political set up was fleshed out and far better than the first two. There was a lot that happened in this one and a lot of build up. I’ll looking forward to seeing how society is reshaped after the events of Morning Star. Outstandingly glorious.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

adventurous 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

3.5

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

2.0

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

This was even better than Legends and Lattes. Loved it. It was sick a cozy quick read that gives you comfort while reading.

The Push by Ashley Audrain

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This was a stand out psychological thriller about a woman who suffers postpartum with the birth of her first child. It is because of her postpartum that she doesn’t feel as connected with her daughter. This disconnection seems to create a detachment between mother and daughter that causes the daughter to act out in unthinkable ways. At the same time, the reader is left questioning how much is reality, or if any of this is exaggerated within your own mind. There are certain instances that occur that leave you feeling like it isn’t just in her head.

Yet the main character ends up trying for another child and this time she feels that intense motherly connection with her son. It also shows us more of the resentment her daughter feels toward her and at what depth. Then an unthinkable act happens that sends the main character spiraling. No one seems to believe her about her daughter, which leads to her questioning her own sanity. Her husband never believed her no matter what things her daughter did to show her detachment and resentment, as well as behavior.

We are also getting glimpses of the main character’s grandma’s and mom’s perspectives of when they each had their child. Each woman in this family didn’t necessarily want a child and had a hard time after giving birth. The main character is the only one who actually wanted to try to have a child and who really wanted that motherly connection. We get glimpses into her mind of her doubts of motherhood, while at the same time she still wants to try and become a great mother.

There is infidelity that happens when her husband starts to pull away from her while she is spiraling after the unthinkable incident that occurs. This results in their separation and he ends up having a baby with the woman he had an affair with. Our main character hides her true identity and befriends this woman. She gains a friend, but then her husband discovers the deception and puts an end to the friendship. Readers are made to believe that our main character is unreliable based on some of the other characters’ reactions and responses. But then something happens at the very end that leads the other woman to breaking the long silence by reaching out. Something that makes it seem the main character may have been right about her daughter the whole time. It is left in such an ambiguous way that I was a bit shell shocked and needed to sleep on it before forming words to write this review.

If you are a fan of psychological thriller that are more literary in the sense that they delve into the psyche of one and/or more characters, then you should pick this up. If you are currently experiencing postpartum, then maybe wait until you’ve conquered that hurdle in your own life before reading this book. It is a very fast paced read and has short chapters that make you keep going, thinking just one more. I will definitely be thinking of this one for a long time, plus any time it comes up in conversation.

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

I loved this so much. It made me think the whole time. I looked forward to discovering more of the narrative tale each time I sat down to read. The plot was intriguing and kept me turning the pages. I don’t want to go into detail about this one because I feel like this is a book you need to go in knowing as little as possible to fully enjoy the journey.