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mmrohbock's reviews
744 reviews
The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4⭐
No 🌶️
The perfect escapism I needed right now. If you loved the Luxe series with the big dresses on the cover in the 2000s, this is the adult romantasy high drama society meets Irish mythology story that you'll get sucked right into.
No 🌶️
The perfect escapism I needed right now. If you loved the Luxe series with the big dresses on the cover in the 2000s, this is the adult romantasy high drama society meets Irish mythology story that you'll get sucked right into.
Solito by Javier Zamora
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
4.5
4.5⭐ on 🎧
It was only fitting to finish this book in the same week Trump took office and signed an order to unleash ICE on hospitals and churches. We don't have a good immigration solution in this country and that leads to stories of 9-year-old boys lost in the Mexican desert just wanting to be reunited with his parents. A very important read as we re-enter the Trump era.
It was only fitting to finish this book in the same week Trump took office and signed an order to unleash ICE on hospitals and churches. We don't have a good immigration solution in this country and that leads to stories of 9-year-old boys lost in the Mexican desert just wanting to be reunited with his parents. A very important read as we re-enter the Trump era.
Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
4.75⭐
R🌶️
How could I not love an oldest sister and golden retriever friends-to-lovers, romance lovers book? I think this book injected serotonin directly into my brain and I will be riding this high for a while. These two were the sweetest couple and the perfect way to end the series. I think it was also some of Chloe's best writing (like Emily Henry level poetic metaphors about love). If your favorite Chloe Liese Bergman love interests are Ren and Axel, I think you will adore this book.
R🌶️
How could I not love an oldest sister and golden retriever friends-to-lovers, romance lovers book? I think this book injected serotonin directly into my brain and I will be riding this high for a while. These two were the sweetest couple and the perfect way to end the series. I think it was also some of Chloe's best writing (like Emily Henry level poetic metaphors about love). If your favorite Chloe Liese Bergman love interests are Ren and Axel, I think you will adore this book.
Too Soon by Betty Shamieh, Betty Shamieh
challenging
tense
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
4.5⭐
It's only fitting to finish this book with the Israel-Gaza ceasefire imminent. This was a beautiful complex book of motherhood, statelessness of Palestinians, art and theater, and the expectations of culture. And I loved all of it.
This book is so important to understand the impact to people the Nakba had and the lack of statehood for Palestinians continues to have today. And at the same time, it gives such a rich view into 70+ years of culture and how Palestinian American culture has developed in the face of statelessness.
If you enjoyed books like Pachinko and have been heartbroken over unnecessary civilian bombings in Gaza the past 15 months, this book is required reading.
It's only fitting to finish this book with the Israel-Gaza ceasefire imminent. This was a beautiful complex book of motherhood, statelessness of Palestinians, art and theater, and the expectations of culture. And I loved all of it.
This book is so important to understand the impact to people the Nakba had and the lack of statehood for Palestinians continues to have today. And at the same time, it gives such a rich view into 70+ years of culture and how Palestinian American culture has developed in the face of statelessness.
If you enjoyed books like Pachinko and have been heartbroken over unnecessary civilian bombings in Gaza the past 15 months, this book is required reading.
Sonnets for a Missing Key by Percival Everett
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
4⭐
Percival Everett makes art when he sets his pen to paper. Also I've been a moody bitch this week and just needed a dose of poetry.
Percival Everett makes art when he sets his pen to paper. Also I've been a moody bitch this week and just needed a dose of poetry.
The Story of a Soul by John Clarke, Thérèse de Lisieux
reflective
medium-paced
St. Thérèse is one of the saints I have witnessed others have a strong devotion to but never truly understood. Listening to her biography helped me see how beautiful her faith was even if I still think her level of piety would be very challenging to obtain!
Flirting With Disaster by Naina Kumar
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
4⭐
PG-13🌶️
If you wish Sweet Home Alabama changed out the Civil War reenactments for a hurricane, this is the book for you. Through all the chaos of surviving a storm and rediscovering love despite a few plot points that felt a bit naive, Naina creates a sweet and hopeful romance that shows how her books continue to get better and better.
PG-13🌶️
If you wish Sweet Home Alabama changed out the Civil War reenactments for a hurricane, this is the book for you. Through all the chaos of surviving a storm and rediscovering love despite a few plot points that felt a bit naive, Naina creates a sweet and hopeful romance that shows how her books continue to get better and better.
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
3.25⭐
I fear this was far too lit fic-y for me to enjoy. With a narrative that wandered rather than created a clear path, I was left with a book that felt like it had no conclusion and had not added some amazing alien observation of human life. I think this book would have been more impactful if Tony had actually been the one sending the alien superior faxes 😅
I fear this was far too lit fic-y for me to enjoy. With a narrative that wandered rather than created a clear path, I was left with a book that felt like it had no conclusion and had not added some amazing alien observation of human life. I think this book would have been more impactful if Tony had actually been the one sending the alien superior faxes 😅
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
5⭐
What a saga!! I was seated, hands inside the car for this roller coaster ride of a book from beginning to end. This book was so rich in its storytelling from the characters to the mystery to the history of living in colonial Maine. I was viscerally angry at the villains while always rooting for the wonderful Martha. If you love Claire Fraser in her colonial doctor era but want a murder mystery too, you need to pick up this book and maybe get a copy for your mom too.
What a saga!! I was seated, hands inside the car for this roller coaster ride of a book from beginning to end. This book was so rich in its storytelling from the characters to the mystery to the history of living in colonial Maine. I was viscerally angry at the villains while always rooting for the wonderful Martha. If you love Claire Fraser in her colonial doctor era but want a murder mystery too, you need to pick up this book and maybe get a copy for your mom too.
Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
4⭐
PG-13 🌶️
Marriage in crisis novels are my catnip and my spouse and I really like hiking... Obviously I was going to enjoy this book! Sarah and Win's best friendship is what has truly stolen my heart though.
PG-13 🌶️
Marriage in crisis novels are my catnip and my spouse and I really like hiking... Obviously I was going to enjoy this book! Sarah and Win's best friendship is what has truly stolen my heart though.