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megan_bbender's reviews
87 reviews
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.75
This book was just simply beautiful, I absolutely loved this book and all the meaning it holds.
This book has lots of important messages that I think everyone should read and learn from. I really reflected on my own life after reading this book.
This book has lots of important messages that I think everyone should read and learn from. I really reflected on my own life after reading this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, and Death of parent
Lord of the Flies: Introduced by Stephen King by William Golding
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
Honestly, this book is not what I was expecting at all. I was expecting something along the lines of someone working as a content reviewer and readers seeing into that role. However, readers get a weird love story instead.
I'm a bit disappointed that the whole premise of the book was this grueling job that impacted their personal lives, yet we barely got to see into this job, just saw the impact of it, and even then we hardly saw any.
The only reason I gave this book 3 stars was because of how short it was, I am just glad that I was able to read it so quickly. If it was any longer, I don't think I would have enjoyed it at all.
I'm a bit disappointed that the whole premise of the book was this grueling job that impacted their personal lives, yet we barely got to see into this job, just saw the impact of it, and even then we hardly saw any.
The only reason I gave this book 3 stars was because of how short it was, I am just glad that I was able to read it so quickly. If it was any longer, I don't think I would have enjoyed it at all.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this rating as it seems too low, but a 4 star feels to high.
I really did enjoy reading this book, I thought it was a cool concept, with that being said, the reason I docked a couple of points was because I thought the beginning was slow and towards the end I thought it was really dragged out, I think it could have been a couple of chapters shorter.
While reading this book, it genuinely felt like I was having a conversation with someone and they were telling me about the things going on in their life. I read through it really quickly and loved the switch up of genre, as this is quite different from what I normally read.
I'll definitely be on the look out for some other R.F Kuang books in the future.
I really did enjoy reading this book, I thought it was a cool concept, with that being said, the reason I docked a couple of points was because I thought the beginning was slow and towards the end I thought it was really dragged out, I think it could have been a couple of chapters shorter.
While reading this book, it genuinely felt like I was having a conversation with someone and they were telling me about the things going on in their life. I read through it really quickly and loved the switch up of genre, as this is quite different from what I normally read.
I'll definitely be on the look out for some other R.F Kuang books in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation
Stranded by Selena Winters
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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
2.75
This book didn’t have the greatest writing of all time, but I still enjoyed it for the very quick read that it is.
Not sure if this is ever something that I would pick up again as I thought some parts were a bit weird but since it is such a short book, I’m not mad at the time I spent on it.
Not sure if this is ever something that I would pick up again as I thought some parts were a bit weird but since it is such a short book, I’m not mad at the time I spent on it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
I absolutely loved the first book and I’m so glad that this one did not disappoint. I cannot wait to get my hands on the third one.
To be honest, for some reason I was struggling in the first half of this book to understand what was going on, but when I eventually figured it all out, I really enjoyed it.
I love these characters so much and I’m so sad that these books have to come to an end. I truly wish I could read about their lives forever.
To be honest, for some reason I was struggling in the first half of this book to understand what was going on, but when I eventually figured it all out, I really enjoyed it.
I love these characters so much and I’m so sad that these books have to come to an end. I truly wish I could read about their lives forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Cursing
Blossom by Helen Hardt
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
For the most part, this series has been super easy to read and it’s remained enjoyable throughout. I really enjoyed the first and second book so I had super high hopes for the third one however I feel like this one fell really flat. Unfortunately, it wasn’t anywhere near as exciting as the other books were.
While I can understand that not everyone reads these books for the plot in between, I personally enjoy the smaller details and plot development. When I was reading, I often found myself saying “when am I gonna get to the good part” and unfortunately, it never really came. I unfortunately found myself getting bored throughout this book versus the other two had my full undivided attention throughout.
Not only did this book seem very similar to the second one in terms of storyline but there’s about 50 pages of the two main characters just eating an eight course meal together and then about another hundred pages of them just touring New Orleans, in my opinion, not really doing anything interesting as if I wanted to know everything about New Orleans history, then I would’ve picked up a different book.
I also feel like there’s not the same chemistry between these two as there was in the previous books I still did like their relationship, but it was different and I think I prefer the other tropes more.
In all honesty, save your money and skip the third book. There’s no continuation of the story from the first two books, so I truly don’t think it’s important to read the third one. With that being said, this was my first Helen Hardt series and I did enjoy it, so I will be looking for her books in the future.
The more that I think about, the more I realize that this third book is just all recycled ideas, it's as if all the ideas in the first two books were combined to create this third one. For example, the two characters are scared to fall in love because of their past, the man gets hurt and ends up in the hospital, the one character has a family member die in a car crash, the falling in love in a short period of time, the very abrupt ending of them getting engaged during a scene, and more. It seems like not a lot of effort or originality was put into this book.
While I can understand that not everyone reads these books for the plot in between, I personally enjoy the smaller details and plot development. When I was reading, I often found myself saying “when am I gonna get to the good part” and unfortunately, it never really came. I unfortunately found myself getting bored throughout this book versus the other two had my full undivided attention throughout.
Not only did this book seem very similar to the second one in terms of storyline but there’s about 50 pages of the two main characters just eating an eight course meal together and then about another hundred pages of them just touring New Orleans, in my opinion, not really doing anything interesting as if I wanted to know everything about New Orleans history, then I would’ve picked up a different book.
I also feel like there’s not the same chemistry between these two as there was in the previous books I still did like their relationship, but it was different and I think I prefer the other tropes more.
In all honesty, save your money and skip the third book. There’s no continuation of the story from the first two books, so I truly don’t think it’s important to read the third one. With that being said, this was my first Helen Hardt series and I did enjoy it, so I will be looking for her books in the future.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, and Death of parent
Bloom by Helen Hardt
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
I loved the first book and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second one. Now, after finishing this second book I cannot wait to read the third one.
I did actually enjoy this one a little bit more than the first one, but I have been loving the story as a whole. With that being said, I wasn’t the biggest fan at how abruptly this one ended.
Either way, I absolutely love this series. I love the romance side that comes in throughout the book.
I did actually enjoy this one a little bit more than the first one, but I have been loving the story as a whole. With that being said, I wasn’t the biggest fan at how abruptly this one ended.
Either way, I absolutely love this series. I love the romance side that comes in throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Car accident
Blush by Helen Hardt
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days by Lila Monroe
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
I really enjoyed reading this book, it started off a little bit slow but once it picked up, I really got invested. I finished reading this book in one go once it started taking off.
To be honest, it was quite predictable, I knew what was going to happen from the very beginning, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. It's a great, lighthearted and easy read that leaves you feeling good.
However, I wish we got a little bit more from the ending, as it seemed to end abruptly. The plot was tense and it fell a bit flat as the ending seemed a bit rushed.
To be honest, it was quite predictable, I knew what was going to happen from the very beginning, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. It's a great, lighthearted and easy read that leaves you feeling good.
However, I wish we got a little bit more from the ending, as it seemed to end abruptly. The plot was tense and it fell a bit flat as the ending seemed a bit rushed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Alcohol