lizmirah's reviews
219 reviews

Isola by Allegra Goodman

4.0

This is about the heartbreaking true story of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, who was an orphaned noblewomen in the 16th century. She sets out to sea with her cousin and after she betrays him, is set to live on an island, along with her nurse, lover and unborn child. After all three perish, she is forced to live in solitude and find the strength to carry on. 

This book was beautifully written and the imagery was top tier. It tells of the strength of women when put in the worst situations and how they can endure anything with just a little bit of faith. 

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

5.0

When Jodi Picoult has something to say, you better sit down and listen (or in this case, read). Her books are nothing but impactful and always touch on real world issues. 

This book showcases what happens when bullying goes too far and the victim is backed into a corner and decides to take matters into his own hands: by shooting up his high school. 

I will be thinking about this book for a very long time, as the subject matter is something we still deal with currently in today’s society. 

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

4.0

Sally Diamond takes everything literally. The book starts with her trying to burn her deceased father’s body because he “just put me out with the rubbish”. And that’s pretty Sally throughout the entire book as she tries to navigate her dark past with her bright future. 

Although the book had strong characters and Sally is one that will stay with me for a long time, I was a little let down by the ending. 

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

3.0

I usually love Lisa Jewell but this one fell a little flat for me. The plot was going in too many directions at once and it was hard to follow at times. However, the characters were enjoyable and the concept of plot was fun but overall, just not a huge fan. 

The Secrets of Us by Lucinda Berry

4.0

Another great book by Lucinda Berry. She always hits the nail on the head with tough subjects and this one is no different. Definitely didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat like her others works, but still great nevertheless.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

5.0

This book is about self-discovery, courage and figuring everything out through life’s darkest moments. It’s a queer love story mixed with coming of age themes, written across many years, through many different points of view. I loved the characters of this book and I think the author really hit the nail on the head of what life is all about: how to love and how to be loved. 

The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf by Isa Arsén

4.0

Set in the 1950s, this book is told through the eyes of an actress who is trying to find out who she is off stage, even if it means killing off old versions of herself and blowing her whole life up in the process. 

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

5.0

This book is about the endless hope of people who had the harshest of odds stacked against them but pushed forward nevertheless. The characters were brilliantly written and the story is one that I will sit with for a long time. 

There's Something about Mira by Sonali Dev

4.0

This book is about self-discovery: about questioning everything you’ve been taught throughout your entire life. It’s about deciding who you want to be outside of the pressure of who others want you to be. It’s about taking a leap of faith and blowing up your whole life so hopefully you can find out what true happiness feels like instead of settling for other people’s happiness.  

This book explores topics such as immigrant parents and the pressures they put on their children, the LGBTQ community and how they are still not accepted in the eyes of elders in many cultures and finding yourself after years of being told who you should be. 

The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz

3.0

The plot of the book was something I would have loved had I found any of the characters likeable.