leslielopezholder's reviews
358 reviews

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense 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

5.0

If The Martian met Arrival and Interstellar, with a little dash of Memento. As someone who had no interest in the science part of this book, I still had a phenomenal time. I definitely echo BookTok-ers and book influencers who say that this is a must-listen-to book. Ray Porter does an incredible job of creating distinct voices and personalities for each of the characters, so much so that it felt like a cast ensemble at times. Also, as I think this was dialogue-heavy, reading this as an audiobook makes it easier to be fully engaged.

My only issues with the book was that I felt the ending a little rushed and I needed a little more resolution for the main character.

I was intimidated for too long to read this, convinced it would be too sci-fi-y for me. So trust me, this was a fun and gripping story, with an alien character that I became a number one fan for. I can't wait to see this go up on the big screen in 2026!

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

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lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

A fun cozy read. I accidentally read the second in the series first and I liked this one a little more as I thought they had more chemistry. But I will say, it might be because I read it out of order and jumped into this world without getting to know them through this first book.

If you like Hallmark movies for some lighthearted romance, this is something I think you'll enjoy.

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

If you grew up in the church, most of this will not be news to you. Despite that, it was still validating to read how similar mine and so many other's experiences were. Most of all, it was empowering to see how other's faith has transformed and morphed.

Additionally, I loved how the author contextualized evangelism, drawing connections between evangelical culture and the political landscape we have today.

Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte

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4.0

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

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3.75

Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto

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reflective

2.75

Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck

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