mini_minch's reviews
49 reviews

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

challenging dark inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Even though this is considered a must read, it's never been high on my TBR pile. Thank God for bookclub picking this book, this month.  A reflective and important read on censorship. I was gripped with Bradburys reflection on how media shapes and changes the world and  holds our attention. I always find it fascinating, looking at how the past perceives the future and how earilly spot on his takes on it are.  I found the character of Beatty the most compelling and the most tragic. I will be thinking about this book long after I put it down. While there were parts of the book, stylistically, that I didn't gel with, I get the purpose of choosing to write this way. Like he says in his Afterword,  the characters run away with him and his thoughts spill out onto the page sometimes it was hard to follow the scene. But definitely take it off your TBR pile. 

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.75

I loved this book. Witty, well rounded characters. An interesting premise and arc. Just wanted more spice. 

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

lighthearted 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

2.0

After enjoying the show... not so much Belly but all the other characters, I've listened to this full trilogy to see where it went. Unfortunately the characters become more unlikeable with each book. I found myself rooting for no one in the end and I felt if the characters could've reached their arc and realisation of their BS much sooner than the LAST chapter of the LAST book it would've been a more compelling listen. Glad I left this for the audible free credit book. Belly's refusal to learn or grow and remain obtuse is infuriating and some of the characters choices felt out of character from what we've learned in previous books. Their choices were just there to pivot our feelings to how the book ended without regard to whether this is truly how a character would act.  

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

I think I was meant to be inspired by this book but I found it difficult to get through, especially at the end where it was just analogy after analogy on life. Overly sentimental for me. I think a lot of people will enjoy this but just not for me. The premises was interesting enough to keep it from going in the DNF but ultimately a predictable ending. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide attempt

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

I saw this book last year when I was in the States and thought it wasn't for me. As a Brit, the 'Royal Romance' plots are always a bit cringe to read so I swerved it. But I couldn't avoid the hype this book was getting so thought I'd give it a go. The characters are charming, you fall in love with them quickly and you root for their happy ending. Also its spicy, so that's always bumps up the points for me but I felt any obstacles that were  in the characters happy ending were resolved too quickly.  I'm not for flogging queer characters. The coming out trauma has been done to death and we deserve happy queer stories but this is the Prince of Wales!! I expected and was looking forward to a bit more drama and resistance to their love story. Not so much for around them being queer but the politics of it all.  Could've made it more of an intense, interesting read. It was dissapointing when a story that had been ramped up just petered out at the end. Its MEGA cheese which isn't a bad thing but it was a bit much at times. Still loved it. I think if it wasn't so hyped and I was expecting so much I might have ranked it 3.75. 

Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

My Own Worst Enemy by Lily Lindon

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

This is the 2nd book I've read By Lily Lindon and in both book she's  had a way of making me do a 180 on all my opinions of the characters. I genuinely hated the main characters to begin with and the book was quickly heading toward the DNF pile but by the end I was actively rooting for everyone and wishing for them to get their heads out of their ass. 

Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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 marked this as fast paced but honestly it may have just felt fast because I couldn't put it down. Read it it one night. The characters drives and motivations are so well explored , more so I think than any other Emily Henry book I've read that I felt an emotional connection with each one of them , insomuch that I want a prequel book going into the other couplings in the book as well.  Only downside is that I wish there was more Cleo exploration. She feels less rounded out than the other two friends. 

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

5.0

You can't power through this book. I had to put it down a few times and give myself a break. The book keeps you feeling both hopefull and empty all at once,  just like the characters I guess. The voices of the characters are so distinct, so well written that I found myself thinking of them long after I'd put the book down. I agree with other reviews when they say at times the book is too much. Short bursts of reading are probably best if you're an emotional soul like me. Still would 10/10 recommend it's beautifully written and you just fall in love with the characters ... even JB.