monicalaurette's reviews
281 reviews

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

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emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

Took me a while to actually get to reading this but happy that I did because I love watching all of these kids growing into adults - feel like a proud older sister. Interested to see what college and leaving brings to all of their journeys.

I just felt slightly weird reading Nick & Charlie's scenes as someone who is in their late twenties - but also nothing was actually on the page so like... ?
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Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This story intrigued me from the first time I heard the concept, following along with a true crime show and trying to find the killer first? I love it. I also love mix media books so it was a fun little read.

Following along with the case and all its turns almost gave me whiplash and I can safely say I was not able to find out the killer before the experts did.
..but then again they learned at the same time as me so they didn't really win either


I was so sure it was one of the sisters...never suspected it wasn't them once it was all coming to a close but it made so much sense

REBECCA NO lmao
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My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird: New Fiction by Afghan Women by Maryam Mahjoba

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dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

I fully enjoyed this collection of short stories and found myself wishing that so many more of them were longer so that I could have read even more of those stories. Highly recommend this to anyone wanting to read more books by Afghani women.
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At First Spite by Olivia Dade

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emotional funny sad 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

5.0

No one with a good heart is a failure.

Hi my name is Monica and I am a very big fan of Olivia Dade and literally broke my buying ban to get this book. The concept I was not fully sold on but I knew Dade's writing would be enough for me to enjoy it and it WAS!

Athena and Matthew were both so complex individuals and together were able to fit into the little spots left by their lives and the people around them. I wanted more of their journey but excited to see who else comes into Harlot's Bay and earns a place in my heart.
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An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Don't know what it was, but I just couldn't get myself to pick the book up and read it, so I'm DNFing for now and maybe at a later time I can get through it. Nothing bad about the book, more just me.
The Book of Lost Tales, Part One by Christopher Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

While I liked the stories and the world of Middle Earth, it was hard to get through this book with the notes and comments.
A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin

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adventurous dark emotional 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

First off with this book, I did enjoy it - I just felt that the sudden switch to two point of views with one being first person and the other being third person was an odd choice. A lot of this book was traveling and just being with Ning while she was walking the universe in search of answers before we came back to Jia, so perhaps I get why we needed to have breaks and see Kang’s POV.

Part of the villain & who he was I was able to pick out before it was somewhat revealed and I can say that even though it was revealed soon, the twist towards the end was a shock but I like how it turned out
and how it was Kang’s father that realized his mistake or what he was taken advantage of and was in a sense willing to go down with the Serpent
.

I am glad that since we had Shu in this book that we got to see more of her and Ning’s sister relationship. I love seeing sisters in books.

Now while I did like both of these books I am not going to keep them on my shelves. I want to get these out in the world again so that a younger person who would connect even more with these characters is able to get their hands on it.

“We all believe we are the center of the universe, but we forget we are merely specks among the stars.”
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

This book was so fun to read and such a fun concept, magic tea and the magic from those who can pour it. I was so upset that I wasn’t able to actually view them pouring or the magic steam and instead just having to try and imagine it in my head. I may have to try and look up some fanart to see it in action.

I also liked Ning and her love for her father and Shu, the reasons she even went to Jia. So much happened, and sometimes when it would I’d say out loud ‘oh of COURSE this would happen/this person would do that’ but even with those moments that just seemed a little too convenient, the story was surprising and I was gripped to it.

“Strangling me with continuous thoughts of my own inferiority and doubt.”

Very happy that I was able to get both books in a thrift store so I can just start the next one now - so wish me luck!

I just always hated when Shao was in a scene because he was like classic rich boy with connections, but I feel like he might have a change in book 2, or pass away
At first I was like ‘Wenyi no I thought you were chill’ when he messed with Kang’s tea and then when we saw him in the dungeon I literally yelled out ‘OH WAIT YOU’RE STILL CHILL’ and got sad that he wasn’t able to be saved
Was Zhen really going to marry her cousin (adopted or not?) or was she like forced to accept the betrothal?
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Pages To Fill by Travis Baldree

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

3.75

 This little short story was a fun look into Viv’s life with the crew before her time in Thune. I liked that it threw me right in and not at the start of them getting the job to find Bodkin. And to have Fennus be wrong and Viv & Gallina be right about stuff made me happy. Glad I had the copy of L&L that had this included! 
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Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

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

3.75

This book was fun and gave me exactly what I expected from it. I wanted a fantasy book that didn’t have a lot of high stakes, and that’s what I got. I also got a little bit of a found family (after the family of Viv’s prior crew) and enjoyed how everything came together.

I’ve seen some people complain about how often Viv had to explain coffee to someone, but I honestly didn’t think it happened much and each time Thimble came up with a new food item I was so happy for him. I think he might be my favorite character out of all of them.

“Things don’t have to stay as what they started out as.”

Not much else I can really say about it without spoiling anything but I’m glad I finally picked this up and interested to see if the prequel story is equally as fun to read.
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