Take a photo of a barcode or cover
livsinbooks's reviews
166 reviews
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
5.0
I am in LOVE. Holy shit. There are no words to describe. Few fair warnings though. This will rot your fucking teeth right out of your head it is SO sweet. These people fall more than anyone I’ve ever seen — Hallmark movies included. This is the story of the Prince who might not want to be Prince and the son of the first female president who has always only ever wanted to get into politics. This is the story of how they navigate each other in the political system. There is 70% political talk in this story and it is worth every minute of it. If you absolutely cannot stand political intrigue in your stories, do not read this book. I think the world gold was used to fill at least 3 pages and it got really annoying for me but that’s just one thing to pick at.
IF YOU LIKE THE QUEEN MORE THAN YOUR OWN MOTHER AND YOU ALSO LOVE GAYS (I don’t know enough about the queen rest her soul [maybe don’t quote me] to judge if that’s even possible) DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
Honestly, this was the most beautiful story I’ve read… and I read Song of Achilles this year (so… I like queer heads of countries and the queerer boys they spend their time with? Huh. You learn something every day). It was such a hopeful retelling of life after Obama too. I truly just fell in love with the world that could have been. I fell in love with their love and how real it felt. How intrusive it felt to read this story about two people who aren’t real.
That’s the best part. I think everyone should read this to understand two things; the on-screen person is an actual real human being with families and problems and thinking errors and that they have the capability to change with new information and time, and also to understand healthy ways to deal with conflict and unhealthy ways. There were a LOT of fights between these spitfires and their friends and family and specifically how the miscommunication regarding their initial meeting and how that conversation went was absolutely perfect.
This is really well written. Perfect 5 star CAWPILE absolutely.
IF YOU LIKE THE QUEEN MORE THAN YOUR OWN MOTHER AND YOU ALSO LOVE GAYS (I don’t know enough about the queen rest her soul [maybe don’t quote me] to judge if that’s even possible) DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
Honestly, this was the most beautiful story I’ve read… and I read Song of Achilles this year (so… I like queer heads of countries and the queerer boys they spend their time with? Huh. You learn something every day). It was such a hopeful retelling of life after Obama too. I truly just fell in love with the world that could have been. I fell in love with their love and how real it felt. How intrusive it felt to read this story about two people who aren’t real.
That’s the best part. I think everyone should read this to understand two things; the on-screen person is an actual real human being with families and problems and thinking errors and that they have the capability to change with new information and time, and also to understand healthy ways to deal with conflict and unhealthy ways. There were a LOT of fights between these spitfires and their friends and family and specifically how the miscommunication regarding their initial meeting and how that conversation went was absolutely perfect.
This is really well written. Perfect 5 star CAWPILE absolutely.
The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen
4.0
To be honest I was distracted towards the end, fell asleep at the last chapter and a half and then was distracted when I finished it the next morning but it was still good. Once I read an explanation of the last bit I missed, I’m definitely going to go back in the next couple days. It’s was two hours of audiobook at the pace I listen to it so I’ll finish it again soon to digest the whole thing without interruption.
Edit: I didn’t go back. If I hadn’t met my goal I wouldn’t have counted this as a book read as I truly have 5 facts about it I can recall.
Edit of edit: it is now January 2025 and I do not remember anything about this story at all. Which out of over 30 books read, it’s the only one I have like that so I count it as a win. They can’t all stay in the noggin.
Edit: I didn’t go back. If I hadn’t met my goal I wouldn’t have counted this as a book read as I truly have 5 facts about it I can recall.
Edit of edit: it is now January 2025 and I do not remember anything about this story at all. Which out of over 30 books read, it’s the only one I have like that so I count it as a win. They can’t all stay in the noggin.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
4.0
This book was terrifying. Full stop. Kids book? Bet not. The isolation? The other nature of it all? The Other of it all?! I listened to this while I cooked for a few hours and it was the perfect chopping and sizzling and browning stew and soups kind of book. If I would’ve had this as a kid I would’ve checked it out at the library with the scarf around her neck to keep her head attached book and RL Stine but probably wouldn’t have picked up another goosebumps book once I knew scares could be as good as that.
Feels strange scoring this one for some reason. As always I am lazy and I love vibes SO that being said, while this was scary so freaking scary I have a soft spot for the move and if I have to pick one to spend my time on, wait… I could probably double time the audiobook and read and watch at the same time. Both. Both is good.
C 8
Some of both sides feel better in the book. Might do a spoiler comparison in RJ
A 9
There was very little I felt was missing and I can’t articulate why it’s not a 10 it’s just not all there for me.
W 10
Totally immersed in Coraline’s mind and her view of her world and the other.
P 10
This story no matter what form it’s in will always be a great premise
I 6
Again. It’s a fun few hours but would I pick that over a fun hour and a half I don’t have to physically hold or pit a lot into mentally?
L 8
Somehow I don’t remember the answers being as rewarding as the movie? I could be misremembering.
E 8
Pretty terrifyingly fun time
Feels strange scoring this one for some reason. As always I am lazy and I love vibes SO that being said, while this was scary so freaking scary I have a soft spot for the move and if I have to pick one to spend my time on, wait… I could probably double time the audiobook and read and watch at the same time. Both. Both is good.
C 8
Some of both sides feel better in the book. Might do a spoiler comparison in RJ
A 9
There was very little I felt was missing and I can’t articulate why it’s not a 10 it’s just not all there for me.
W 10
Totally immersed in Coraline’s mind and her view of her world and the other.
P 10
This story no matter what form it’s in will always be a great premise
I 6
Again. It’s a fun few hours but would I pick that over a fun hour and a half I don’t have to physically hold or pit a lot into mentally?
L 8
Somehow I don’t remember the answers being as rewarding as the movie? I could be misremembering.
E 8
Pretty terrifyingly fun time
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
5.0
Listen. Do not prepare to know what the fuck is going on. If you find yourself at 50% wanting to DNF just keep going. I promise. It will all be worth it. From… honestly most of the beginning until like 62% I kept making notes like why have I not stopped reading this. I hate it. I don’t want to continue. It’s so utterly annoying. But I think it was just the way Moira reads two characters prominently featured in the beginning of the book. It just gets SO tedious to listen to for literal hours and hours. Once I switched to reading just the ebook I was able to power through.
Do I have any idea what happened in this book? Not really. No. Not at all. But did I have a good time? Not until the end but kind of also I just hated everyone so much that it made me hate read. I’ve never done that before. I hated this book so much I had to hate it entirely. But now I love it. How could I ever have doubted? 200 notes on kindle kind of says it all. I have never annotated that much ever and I can’t wait to get the physical copy to go with my physical Gideon.
I just finished it today so my brain is still whirling but holy shit. So good.
C 7 two of the characters were so insufferable that I actively wished for them to die which was the driving force for pushing through. I wanted to see them die. There was so much I felt was lacking in a lot of the development which for a second book makes sense. This was a lot of politics building a lot of BS honestly.
A 10 you will never ever find atmosphere lacking in this world. Ever. Even with the much different setting this book took place in, you feel every part.
W 10 This bitch is actually crazy. Truly and honestly. I feel like she has been in therapy for years and doesn’t listen to a single thing and just talks non stop about bones and muscles the whole time.
P 5 I hated the first half. Nothing made sense until it mostly made sense and then it got a little confusing again. But I’ve gotta get this third book under my belt asap so I don’t really care that much. The second half was such a wild ride that it did make up for a lot.
I 10 I will say I was intrigued the whole time. I think half of my Kindle notes were just “what the fuck”.
L 4 I don’t think there is any logic in this one. I don’t think we will know the full story until the one that comes out whenever it fucking comes out. Who knows. Never?!
E 9 I’m not that mad at the first bit now that I’ve finished it. I am truly truly excited to start the third book and I can’t write this fast enough so I can start. Bye.
Do I have any idea what happened in this book? Not really. No. Not at all. But did I have a good time? Not until the end but kind of also I just hated everyone so much that it made me hate read. I’ve never done that before. I hated this book so much I had to hate it entirely. But now I love it. How could I ever have doubted? 200 notes on kindle kind of says it all. I have never annotated that much ever and I can’t wait to get the physical copy to go with my physical Gideon.
I just finished it today so my brain is still whirling but holy shit. So good.
C 7 two of the characters were so insufferable that I actively wished for them to die which was the driving force for pushing through. I wanted to see them die. There was so much I felt was lacking in a lot of the development which for a second book makes sense. This was a lot of politics building a lot of BS honestly.
A 10 you will never ever find atmosphere lacking in this world. Ever. Even with the much different setting this book took place in, you feel every part.
W 10 This bitch is actually crazy. Truly and honestly. I feel like she has been in therapy for years and doesn’t listen to a single thing and just talks non stop about bones and muscles the whole time.
P 5 I hated the first half. Nothing made sense until it mostly made sense and then it got a little confusing again. But I’ve gotta get this third book under my belt asap so I don’t really care that much. The second half was such a wild ride that it did make up for a lot.
I 10 I will say I was intrigued the whole time. I think half of my Kindle notes were just “what the fuck”.
L 4 I don’t think there is any logic in this one. I don’t think we will know the full story until the one that comes out whenever it fucking comes out. Who knows. Never?!
E 9 I’m not that mad at the first bit now that I’ve finished it. I am truly truly excited to start the third book and I can’t write this fast enough so I can start. Bye.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
3.0
Honestly. I read this in jail. It was a good escape. But I don’t remember much.
It by Stephen King
3.0
At this point no review I give will do any better than anyone else. Better than the TV movie and the movie movie in some regards. Worse in others. This is best enjoyed high and it was the first thing I read after getting sober during the pandemic and I did not enjoy directly after the GoT finale
The Diary of a Young Girl by Mirjam Pressler, Anne Frank, Otto H. Frank
5.0
It was that school assigned book that hurt to read and reading it in a military town was hard too. Glad I read it but I probably won’t again.