mlsweeten's reviews
229 reviews

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

reflective slow-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

3.5

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

emotional hopeful 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

Unusual writing style but I loved the story. Complicated family. 

Hemingway's Cats by Lindsey Hooper

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

A cute book about a group of friends saving a house full of cats during a hurricane. There are lots of cat puns and references to movies and music. There’s a little mistake on page 212 when Rooster asks Jake to help him and Mack, but at that time Mack was still stuck in traffic and wasn’t back to the house yet. Oh well, still a cute book but not one that’ll stick with me. 

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

4.0

I loved the women in this book and the way they supported each other. I had no sympathy for T Ray. The parts about Mary Day dragged on a bit. 

California Golden by Melanie Benjamin

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.5

Southern California in the 1960s. A book about very intense mother daughter relationships in a surfing family amidst a turbulent time period. Parts of this were very rough but real for that time and it sure held my interest. 

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Beautiful story about life, death, and loyalty told from the perspective of Enzo the dog. There’s a lot about race car driving which I read through quickly, but much was about how skills of racing in the rain also apply to handling life’s challenges. 

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden

emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

This book was okay but reminded me a lot of The Midnight Library, except with lemon drops. Lolly’s character was too much of a martyr. She gave up all her dreams so that nobody else would have to. 

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma

hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

3.75

This was a cute young adult love story with a lot of Indian cuisine and dancing. I found Radha’s mother to be a frustrating character but loved all the others. I think everyone was too hard on Jai. And the ending made me glad I don’t compete in the dance world. Overall I liked the story. 

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

adventurous dark sad medium-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

4.75