lucybbookstuff's Reviews (378)

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

What can I say? It was perfect.

Content Warnings

The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

Erik Larson

3.75

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Definitely informative and interesting, just not quite as gripping as the other Larson books I've read (Devil & Garden). I found it a bit too easy to zone out from the audiobook; I may have done better with the physical book. Oh well, now I know! I can only read Larson on the page lol.

The Devil and the Dark Water

Stuart Turton

2.75

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Sigh. I was so disappointed with the ending of Turton's first novel, but his wild ideas and fast-paced writing made me want to give him another try.

But he seems to want to write the same thing again and again. Too many characters to keep track of and a thousand useless hints dropped, all leading to an unceremonious Big Reveal that had nothing to do with any of the mystery preceding it. Again, I say: SIGH.

I liked some of these characters a bit more and the mystery made *slightly* more sense, so it gets a slightly higher rating than Evelyn Hardcastle.

And you know, I still would read his next book. I generally like his writing style and I'd like to see if he can deliver me a mystery that actually pays off.

Content Warnings

Book Lovers

Emily Henry

4.5

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Seven Days in June

Tia Williams

4.75

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Practically perfect. Hilarious, page-turning, romantic af, perfect amount of spice, intriguing, and mixes the joy in with the pain. Loved it.

Knocked off quarter star for

that very mean bait-and-switch towards the end. 😝

Content Warnings

A Man Called Ove

Fredrik Backman

4.0

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

Zoraida Córdova

3.75

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Detransition, Baby

Torrey Peters

3.0

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Dutch House

Ann Patchett

2.5

reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

True Biz

Sara Nović

4.0

funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I really enjoyed this read. I learned so much about the Deaf community! Also, it was refreshing to read about teenagers NOT in a YA book. I enjoy YA books, but they do have certain restrictions. This book was able to get a bit more real about the lives of teenagers (without getting vulgar).

Complaints:
- I did not give a crap about February. She seemed to bring all her problems on her own self.
- The ending was rather unceremonious. There wasn't really an actual climax, it just fizzled.
- Didn't love the random chapters of other people's perspectives.

I hope there is a sequel! It left me wanting more.

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