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lucybbookstuff's Reviews (378)
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Yes
A lot of books I've picked up lately have taken me a while to really get into, even if I end up loving them. So it was very refreshing when by page 30 of this book, I was saying, "I HAVE to know what happens!"
Such a beautiful story, simply and straightforwardly told. The writing wasn't anything special, but it didn't need to be. I loved learning about Evelyn's 7 husbands in sequence, and the love of her life in between.
I did guess the connection between her and Monique before it was revealed, but it was still an interesting twist.
It all makes me glad about how far the LGBT community has come since then. There is plenty of road yet ahead, but there's a LOT behind, and it's nice to think about that sometimes instead of what still needs improving. ❤
Such a beautiful story, simply and straightforwardly told. The writing wasn't anything special, but it didn't need to be. I loved learning about Evelyn's 7 husbands in sequence, and the love of her life in between.
I did guess the connection between her and Monique before it was revealed, but it was still an interesting twist.
It all makes me glad about how far the LGBT community has come since then. There is plenty of road yet ahead, but there's a LOT behind, and it's nice to think about that sometimes instead of what still needs improving. ❤
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this one. Didn't love it. Definitely liked Song of Achilles a lot more.
I was kind of expecting Circe to be this total badass, and she was at times. But I found that mainly she was kind of a pathetic sad sack. 😐 Which is like... fair enough. But didn't really get me to love her.
I read this on a cozy vacation, otherwise it would have taken a LOT longer than 2 days to read. Slow burn af.
Anyway. I did like it. But not much more than that.
Edit several years later: Downgrading from 4.25 to 4. I feel pretty confident that I only added the .25 because I felt awkward finding this book "just ok" when it's so loved. When I think back on this book, I don't remember much other than my complaints. Good book for sure, but not really for me.
Another edit: I'm not sure how much later I'm doing this. 😂 But I just read Morgan Is My Name (May 2025) and it's making me think back to other feminist myth retellings I've read... 4 is definitely still too generous lol. 3.5 feels better.
I was kind of expecting Circe to be this total badass, and she was at times. But I found that mainly she was kind of a pathetic sad sack. 😐 Which is like... fair enough. But didn't really get me to love her.
I read this on a cozy vacation, otherwise it would have taken a LOT longer than 2 days to read. Slow burn af.
Anyway. I did like it. But not much more than that.
Edit several years later: Downgrading from 4.25 to 4. I feel pretty confident that I only added the .25 because I felt awkward finding this book "just ok" when it's so loved. When I think back on this book, I don't remember much other than my complaints. Good book for sure, but not really for me.
Another edit: I'm not sure how much later I'm doing this. 😂 But I just read Morgan Is My Name (May 2025) and it's making me think back to other feminist myth retellings I've read... 4 is definitely still too generous lol. 3.5 feels better.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very short, simple Hornby take on a struggling marriage. Not much to say about it. It didn't seem entirely realistic (which I've usually found to be a hallmark of Hornby), but it was entertaining.
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
This mystery SLAPPEDDDD.
Very simply written (which is something I appreciate more often than not) and the mystery unfolded so perfectly. I thought I may have figured everything out by the end, but the very ending still sucker punched me!
I liked it a lot. I immediately put The Hunting Party on hold at the library.
One final note. This book reminded me a lot of Big Little Lies (my 5th book of this year) in a few ways:
1. the main characters were mostly women
2. all roads lead to one enormous asshole
3. said asshole getting his comeuppance is immensely satisfying 😈
Very simply written (which is something I appreciate more often than not) and the mystery unfolded so perfectly. I thought I may have figured everything out by the end, but the very ending still sucker punched me!
I liked it a lot. I immediately put The Hunting Party on hold at the library.
One final note. This book reminded me a lot of Big Little Lies (my 5th book of this year) in a few ways:
1. the main characters were mostly women
2. all roads lead to one enormous asshole
3. said asshole getting his comeuppance is immensely satisfying 😈
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, Abortion
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just love Hornby so much. I've read all of his novels except the one before this one (which I didn't know existed until I picked this one up). They are the kind of books that seem like they should be boring... but he writes about the human condition so expertly and hilariously, and with amazing witty dialogue. There's no chance of boredom. And every chance for a good chuckle and possibly a forehead smack for how obnoxiously relatable the characters can be.
This book was no different. It was a very interesting look at race, relationships, and politics in a country that isn't my own. And apart from all that, it's just a lovely human story.
The reason it's at 4 stars is just because at times it was so painfully transparent that this book was an attempt at being "woke" and relevant to big topics of the current day. And I'm not sure if it was the right choice for Hornby, a white man, to write from the perspectives of both a woman and a Black man? I'd love to hear thoughts about this book from the Black community (especially the British Black community). Nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable read for this white girl. But my ears and mind are definitely open to other opinions.
This book was no different. It was a very interesting look at race, relationships, and politics in a country that isn't my own. And apart from all that, it's just a lovely human story.
The reason it's at 4 stars is just because at times it was so painfully transparent that this book was an attempt at being "woke" and relevant to big topics of the current day. And I'm not sure if it was the right choice for Hornby, a white man, to write from the perspectives of both a woman and a Black man? I'd love to hear thoughts about this book from the Black community (especially the British Black community). Nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable read for this white girl. But my ears and mind are definitely open to other opinions.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
It was a good book! But definitely meant for the YA crowd. I was hoping for a flood of emotions but didn't really get that personally. It was good and cute and had an important moral, but I would have been a lot more receptive to it as a teenager.
I liked the weaving in of all these random people who crossed paths with the boys. And while I'd usually roll my eyes at a one-day love story, this one was executed convincingly.
Lastly, one thing that brought this book down for me a lot was the whole concept of Death-Cast. I honestly was ready and morbidly excited for a book where the two main characters die at the end, but was disappointed with how it goes down in this weird sci-fi/magical realism way. To me it seems totally obvious that something like DC would cause way more problems than it would solve, so the idea of a world with this kind of weird tech already missed the mark for me personally. Buuuut that's just me!
Lastly, one thing that brought this book down for me a lot was the whole concept of Death-Cast. I honestly was ready and morbidly excited for a book where the two main characters die at the end, but was disappointed with how it goes down in this weird sci-fi/magical realism way. To me it seems totally obvious that something like DC would cause way more problems than it would solve, so the idea of a world with this kind of weird tech already missed the mark for me personally. Buuuut that's just me!
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
This was at least my 6th read of this book. I think it's my most-reread book (helped by the fact that it's short and quick). One of my all-time faves. ❤ I couldn't love Charlie more.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This was my first purely romance novel (at least contemporary) and I gotta say, I loved it more than I thought I would!
I read the latter half of it all last night (until 3:30am, oops) and now tonight I'm kind of sad I don't have more of it to read. I might go back and read some of my favorite scenes. 👀
Anyway. Some things I loved:
- the character development
- the CHEMISTRY MY GOD
- the banter
- the spice, and the perfect amount of it for my taste
- it had some important lessons to impart but didn't try to be too deep
The one thing I didn't love was how repetitive it could be with describing January's physical feelings. But even so, that wasn't totally unrealistic.
Great book!!!
I read the latter half of it all last night (until 3:30am, oops) and now tonight I'm kind of sad I don't have more of it to read. I might go back and read some of my favorite scenes. 👀
Anyway. Some things I loved:
- the character development
- the CHEMISTRY MY GOD
- the banter
- the spice, and the perfect amount of it for my taste
- it had some important lessons to impart but didn't try to be too deep
The one thing I didn't love was how repetitive it could be with describing January's physical feelings. But even so, that wasn't totally unrealistic.
Great book!!!
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another brilliant character-driven novel from Celeste Ng. I can 1000% see how she naturally wrote Little Fires Everywhere after this book.
I just love her writing and her character building so damn much. Even the characters you want to hate, you just can't because she makes it so clear how dynamic every human being is and how bad behavior often comes from a place of deep hurt.
As an enneagram 9, constantly seeing all sides to a story, this kind of writing and handling of the human condition really feeds my soul.
I just love her writing and her character building so damn much. Even the characters you want to hate, you just can't because she makes it so clear how dynamic every human being is and how bad behavior often comes from a place of deep hurt.
As an enneagram 9, constantly seeing all sides to a story, this kind of writing and handling of the human condition really feeds my soul.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Definitely for kids, but an important one for kids. (I first read it as a young teen and got a lot more out of it then.)