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magnolia_reading's reviews
349 reviews
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
medium-paced
3.5
Anyone else love a good historical fiction?! I love it because it kinda makes me feel like I’m being entertained and learning a little something too. I gave The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell a 3.5 ⭐️ it loved the strong female character and getting a glimpse of renaissance Italy.
The Magician's Daughter by H.G. Parry
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
4.0
A bit on the slow side but the plot is wrapped up beautifully. A beautiful story about found family, personal growth and selflessness.
Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
It is a quick read and perfect for anyone who wants to gain some insight into gender and identity. The words are so positive and its message is all about self acceptance and expression. 5 ⭐️
Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
2.75
There were times I felt like it was skimming over plot points that deserved more. Is this YA? It feels very YA. I had it on 1.35x speed and it still felt drawn out. I do greatly appreciate how Millie Bobby Brown took inspiration from her personal family history. 2.75⭐️
The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons for Living by Joseph M. Marshall III
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Hey friends, I just finished The Lakota Way by Joseph M Marshall III. I know I am severely under educated in the history and struggles of America’s native people. I picked this book because of that reason and it also fits two prompts in my challenges this year pertaining to indigenous people. It covers the spiritual beliefs of the Lakota people but overall it has a beautiful wholistic message on how to live ethically. It is a bit on the textbook side of nonfiction but has shorter stories incorporated which kept my attention. 3.5 ⭐️
All I Wanted Was Sushi But I Got Abducted By Aliens Instead by Petra Palerno
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
When you get a 5hr / >200pg romance, you know it’s going to be less plot and more …action. The title pulled me in instantly and I imminently saw the parallels to ice planet barbarians. This fall short of the standard IPB has set in my mind, but I’m biased and totally an IPB fangirl. 3.5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️
Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
It was more of an emotional, pull at your heartstrings YA romance. It was also a bit slower on the pace BUT I think it was appropriate for the emotional things the characters were going through. 4 ⭐️ 1🌶️
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Hey friends, I just finished She Drives Me Crazy by @kellyquindlen 🥲🥲 it was such beautiful representation that I wish I had as a baby bi catholic school girl back in the day. I laughed, cried and got all the warm fuzzies 🥰 5 ⭐️ 1🌶️ put on that playlist in my highlights and you won’t be able to put this one down 🏀 📣
The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This read encompasses why I have grown to love this book community so much. The story centers around a young woman and her journey through WW2. It features a bookstore and its positive impact for the struggling community. I feel like a lot of friends will identify with its overarching theme since so many of us use books to escape these days.