lmrajt's reviews
1186 reviews

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave

emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

I read this in two days - it was very suspenseful but wasn't specifically a suspense book, if that make sense. It was a low-key murder mystery about family relationships. Interesting setting but characters somehow didn't seem fully drawn (and there were a lot of them). Would recommend.

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

I read this book in a day and a half and it was totally unputdownable. For part I, I was like "ho-hum, predictable, I've read so many books like this before." But Part II? Girl. Plot twists galore and it got REALLY good. The end of the book? Chef's kiss. So suspenseful and satisfying. I'll look forward to reading more from these authors.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

adventurous inspiring medium-paced

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

3.25

I loved the messages in this book, about loving life and having gratitude, and I highlighted many passages for their wisdom. But ultimately the plot and characters felt a little flat and one-dimensional to me. The writing felt beautiful in one moment and sort of childlike in another. Uneven, I suppose. That said, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to someone looking for uplifting and fanciful. Bonus points for cool location and choosing an elderly lady as the main character.

Nine Inches by Tom Perrotta

dark funny medium-paced

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

3.5

This was an easy-reading short story collection by Tom Perrotta, one of my faves. I love the way his narrators are primarily men, and I even sometimes love their inscrutable behavior. My favorite was maybe the one about the test-taker, or the one about the mom volunteering at senior night, if only because she was most relatable. A couple of these stories will definitely stay with me.

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

Not sure why I thought this was a suspenseful ghost story, but it wasn't! More of a midlife-crisis/ re-evaluating your life type of novel. That said, I really enjoyed it. The lead character was relatable in so many ways, especially her younger self. 

Absolution by Alice McDermott

reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Excellent character development, and I like the way the plot unfolded, although it was somewhat anti-climactic. Really interesting to think about this community of female expats in Asia right before the Vietnam War and what the world was like back then.

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This was a slower-paced psychological suspense novel set on an island in Scotland. The characters were complicated and in no way lovable, but I definitely wanted to know what came next - some twists I foresaw, some I didn't. 

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

dark mysterious fast-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

4.0

This author is an excellent feminist - so much of her work has something to say about the way we treat females in society (in this case, marginalized ones such as foster children). And the crazy plot twists at the end of the book, WOW - they just kept coming. Love a happy ending, too. Well done.

Remember You Will Die by Eden Robins

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

This was different than anything I've ever read. It didn't really have a plot or character development, but there were themes - it was written as a series of obituaries and chat room messages, had dozens of characters, and spanned hundreds of years, including way into the future. Unique, entertaining, and thought-provoking.

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin

adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Really loved this and flew through it in about a day. It involved travel, heartbreak, redemption, new beginnings - and was just an overall really good read. Couldn't put it down, didn't want to!