mediocremae's reviews
121 reviews

Hey Ladies!: The Story of 8 Best Friends, 1 Year, and Way, Way Too Many Emails by Caroline Moss, Michelle Markowitz

medium-paced

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

0.75

i thought this book was borderline unreadable and barely read half of it before giving up- it is a book i came across through no one's fault but my own (thank god none of my perfectly lovely friends recommended it to me) because i was innocently browsing the fiction section at my library and we all know by now that a book with interesting formatting, I am probably going to pick up! I love it when they are shaped funny or have weird quirks. Anyway, this book is written all through emails or texts and it is unbearably difficult to comprehend. Not to mention the fact that I'm pretty sure all of these women hate one another and yet they are supposed to be the best of friends... feels like a hate crime towards the idea of womanhood and the deep incredible love that can be held in female friendship.... all these women wanted to do was tear each other down and undercut one another's successes!! also it was the most millennial style of humor and "hey girlies" dialogue I've ever read!!!!! and as someone with a millennial sister, i know even THEY can be funnier and more self aware than this!!!! wow I am usually not so picky but this one was ROUGH 

Watching You by Lisa Jewell

dark mysterious tense medium-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

oh I CHEWED This one up, you better believe! I love a book that is so British, the british-isms were literally bleeding from the pages, it was lovely!! definitely made me think "hmmm, I think I should read more mysteries!"

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

hopeful medium-paced

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

3.0

somewhat inspiring and an enjoyable, short read! I think it could've been better if the timing was clearer, or the timeline was laid out easier for the reader to grasp, but I do understand that the not-doing-that was intentional... like it was obviously ambiguous on purpose, that just isn't usually my style. anyway, glad to call another book completed after this silly reading slump I've been in!

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional hopeful 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

3.75

i wish she would stop talking about how this man smells.... like.... i get it, you get to smell this beautiful book-boyfriend but I DON'T so please stop talking about it!!!!
I find it so difficult to rate books! so many parts of this were extremely enjoyable to me, and some parts were very.... not enjoyable, tbh. how do people just give books number ratings and FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT THEM?!? I could never, honestly 

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

I think this book felt a little formulaic, but I don't think that was a bad thing, necessarily

Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers by Faith G. Harper

2.0

 had some interesting pieces, but I can't say it was anything revolutionary to me personally. I also found the amount of swearing detracted from the point and felt so painfully forced... it wasn't adding anything. I guess I should've assumed that from the title, but I had heard good things.
Also, it's been said before in these reviews, but the audiobook quality is literal trash and make it nearly unlistenable. If the book had been any longer, I probably would've given up, but it only took me two afternoons at work to power through this thing. 

The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas

lighthearted medium-paced

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

1.0

i hate it when people don't act like people
also, how did I not even realize it was the second in a series, I guess? 

The Daydreams by Laura Hankin

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

an interesting read! Surprisingly useful advice included in a very easy to read formatting. I have a penchant for picking up any weirdly shaped books I come across at the library

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

challenging emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There have been times when I felt that I might die of loneliness. People sometimes say they might die of boredom, that they're dying for a cup of tea, but for me, dying of loneliness is not hyperbole. When I feel like that, my head drops and my shoulders slump and I ache, I physically ache, for human contact--I truly feel that I might tumble to the ground and pass away if someone doesn't hold me, touch me. I don't mean a lover--this recent madness aside, I had long since given up on any notion that another person might love me that way-- but simply as a human being. The scalp massage at the hairdressers, the flu jab I had last winter--the only time I experience touch is from people whom I am paying, and they are almost always wearing disposable gloves at the time. I'm merely stating the facts. People don't like these facts, but I can't help that.

Definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time. I felt comforted and uncomfortable, called out and understood. I was laughing and I did cry a little (at the end), and, perhaps most importantly, I was reading it very fast! 
I'm always pleased when a book that is heavily adored by (it seems like) everybody and their mother actually turns out to be great, and worthy of the praise.