mgitelman8's reviews
370 reviews

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Cutie but so frustrating how they were both too scared to admit how they feel for so many years.

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Stephanie— why do you have to re-explain all the relevant plot points from the first book in this one? And why does Evangeline’s train of thought always reexplain something we just learned??? It was more obvious in this book than the previous, and it really dragged the story down. Please! We can handle it! We don’t need everything broken down over and over for us! Also Jacks was too infuriating in this book for me to put up with his BS… the whole third act conflict was his fault in the first place, and then he resolves it by taking out his anger on Evangeline right before the end. Let’s not put this kind of man on a pedestal. That being said, I will be SEATED for the final volume because, Stephanie, you got me with that cliffhanger. Iykyk but the random side character suddenly capturing center stage like that…? I’m sat.

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The audiobook didn’t hit… but the last 100 pages that I read did. The plot is so good and the writing is great at showing, not telling, which I feel like should be a given, but certainly isn’t in this genre. Giving 5 stars because there wasn’t anything I can think of that I didn’t like (except the audiobook narrator). 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I liked the writing style, better than other books in this genre. The gasp I gusped at the plot twist at the end.. however, I felt that the romance between Jude and Cardan was a bit forced... like why are they suddenly making out after hating each other (justifiably) for the first 80% of the book?

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Had me kicking my feet, but also rewriting lines in my head as I read them. Pages 331-334… had my heart racing tho. Excited to read the rest of the series.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.75

I loved it. Finally an MMC I can get behind— she falls in love with him for real reasons, like the way he treats others and his earnestness, and not just because he’s hot. I ship it! The plot was probably a little too secondary to the romance, but it’s a romance book after all. HEAs for all who are deserving. Not a 5-star mainly bc the villain had a whole monologue at the end overtly explaining his evil plans, and that’s just a bit too much telling-not-showing for me.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

My least favorite part is the romance! Two books and they’re just lusting after each other, like name one non-physical thing they like about each other, bet you can’t.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

Comfortingly predictable and sweetly romantic, a feel-good read

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It was a long journey, but an exciting one. Definitely an original plot and it kept me interested despite its length.