meghamlton's reviews
8 reviews

Fellow Travelers by Thomas Mallon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

i was absolutely in love with the show and characterization of each of the individuals, and while i didn’t go into the book expecting there to be textbook similarities, i was surprised at how the pacing and explanations were detailed in a way that was personally confusing and therefore not enjoyable. even knowing how their story goes, i couldn’t convince myself to care enough about them in the novel to push through the beginning

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

2.0

“but most of us are too scared to even ask what we want, in case we can’t have it.” 

honestly the pacing and the conflict of this was so, so frustrating. everything felt like it could’ve been avoided or talked about immediately. considering beach read literally made me sob, i was expecting more. sigh. 

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

the pacing in this made me feel >:( 

but i fear i, too, have a crush on gabe

(who’s an icon for taking chani’s last name)

Providence by Craig Willse

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

“is this all the world was? a chain of misplaced longings, never met?” 

this was fascinating; an obvious nod to the talented mr. ripley which i had ironically just finished and likely drove my best friend’s recommendation i pick this up. the story was interesting, a lot of moving parts building to a conclusion i clocked at the beginning—how else could this be a thriller without

a death

? the obsession and longing made the ending inevitable: in place of loving himself, mark would simply love someone else to

to the point of a ruin, a scene in a jail cell all we have as readers as any indication that discussion with the police caught up with him in the end.

i appreciated this, but i wanted more. i wanted more character development, wanted to know more about

cassie, whose introduction to the story feels secondary and then becomes rapidly important

, more of tyler’s drives. 

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

5.0

but Charlie doesn’t know how you show someone they’re worthy of being loved. so he just stays.

U Up? by Catie Disabato

3.0

i’d spent a year thinking about how he broke that promise, when i should’ve been thinking about how selfish it was, after he’d left, to make him stay. 

Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional hopeful reflective 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

we never really know the people we love. 

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

3.5

Have you seen blood in the moonlight, Will? It appears quite black.