meeshreads's reviews
747 reviews

The Searcher by Tana French

slow-paced

3.5

This book is a bit of a slow one, not a ton of surprises, kind of obvious plot points, but I liked Cal and Trey and Lena. The audiobook was well read, and I'll probably read the others in the series. Tana French knows how to tell a good story. 

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Read this for a book club. I didn't really know what to expect, but I did enjoy Amara's story and will probably read the other books in the series, as it ends on a bit of a cliff hanger. Life in a brothel in ancient Rome: extremely brutal. Amara is determined to get out of this life. The setting is bleak, there are some truly awful and heartbreaking situations, it's not a light read! 

It's All Relative by Rachel Magee

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

I always liked a Midsummer nights dream, so I was really excited for this book! It's a light-hearted rom-com set around a wedding, told from multiple POVs, and I enjoyed it. Some of the characters fell a little flat (Gage, and the groom whose name I can't even remember), and some situations were a little ridiculous (the Tik Tok dishwashing fiasco, the rehearsal dinner dress fiasco, the lost pet cockatoo, etc), but this is a fun summertime book, perfect for reading poolside. The audiobook was well read, and I do love a happy ending. 

Just Kids by Patti Smith

4.5

This is a lovely memoir, a story of a long and meaningful friendship, of living a creative life. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the audiobook read by the author was wonderful. 

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul

3.25

This isn't the deepest or juiciest memoir, but I did enjoy it and I like the origin story--from being the first person to ask to appear on a public access variety show to the superstar we know today, it was a fun ride. 

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

medium-paced

5.0

This book is great. Told in multiple points of view in a Chinese-American family: second generation Lily, her son Nick who looks nothing like his mother, and her immigrant mother, Mei. The first two portions of the book, with Lily as the narrator, and then Nick, were very different stories of identity and coming of age. Mei's story was by far the most interesting, told at the end of her life, spanning her entire life. There are a lot of themes and ideas in this book, and I would have happily read another hundred or more pages. 

The Singer Sisters by Sarah Seltzer

medium-paced

3.75

This is a fun book. A family of musicians, a handful of secrets, and a happy ending. Told in multiple points of view in different time periods, there is a theme of mother-daughter relationships and of being a woman in a dominated industry, but also being a woman in general. 

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne

medium-paced

4.0

Really enjoyed this book, Lenny is quirky and lovable. The story moves along at a steady pace, and the ending was quite satisfying. A fun read, and I love a happy ending!

Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo

4.0

I wasn't familiar with Drew before reading this, and wasn't sure what to expect, but I appreciate what Drew is trying to do, breaking down the patriarchy and trolling the trolls. This is a very well read audiobook, and the tone is like chatting with a friend or sister who always has your back. 

Smothermoss by Alisa Alering

adventurous mysterious

4.25

This was good!! A story of sisters, a story of not fitting in, a little mystery, a little magic, a lot of heart and grit in these characters. The audiobook was well read.