lilyofthevalley_reads's reviews
310 reviews

The Wrong Marquess by Vivienne Lorret
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

It started off really good, but then stupid me realized that the boy in the epilogue is not actually the hero, so I kind of lost interest. This does remind me of a recent book that I read called “A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting” by Sophie Irwin since the hero in that book is also convinced that the heroine is just using his family and their title for financial gain. 

Next time I will be looking for a very specific book about childhood next door neighbours who grow up together and then the hero realizes that he is in love with the heroine but she’s interested in someone else. I’m hoping I can find at least one book that’s like that.

Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.

Generally not in the mood for a more mysterious slow paced Victorian setting in a historical romance. I will try and get back into it at some point since it’s one of my goals to try and read everything from this author. 

The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

I like that Bishop reminded me of the hero in one of Sarah Maclean’s book “The Rogue Not Taken.” Unfortunately I don’t think that spies are my thing; I’ve tried to read another historical romance about spies and it was an unsuccessful as well.

Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.0

Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in A Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.

I found the author’s explanations about her reasonings for giving up drinking very superficial and very new age-y and pc. I can’t relate to someone who basically had a millionaire lifestyle and wasted it all on booze. 

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by Greg Lukianoff
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.

I like this author’s arguments as a whole and have enjoyed him on different appearances on for example “Real Time with Bill Maher.” I just don’t think that there is enough evidence for some of his arguments about why some millennials and gen z’s are perpetually angry and confrontational on college campuses and society in general. 

However, I did like the part where he talked about the huge emergence of peanut allergies in kids born in the middle 90’s to early 2000’s. I wish there was more of an explanation on the parenting trend differences between generations as to why some of the changes in the upcoming generations are occurring. 

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas

dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy

Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Fumio Sasaki

informative relaxing fast-paced

3.0

The Status Revolution: The Improbable Story of How the Lowbrow Became the Highbrow by Chuck Thompson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.

The chapters about rescue dogs and philanthropy were interesting but I just got a sense from the author that he thought he was better than everyone, especially when talking about adopting dogs versus so-called “designer” dogs.