Scan barcode
namimerijaan's reviews
166 reviews
Beach Read by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As someone who rarely gives out 5 stars (specially to romcoms) this one blew me away. January and Gus are such beautifully written characters, their flaws laid out in front of readers. To judge, love or hate them it's all on us. But for me all I felt was compassion and empathy towards both of them.
Two broken people finding solace in each other, their love being what finally heals them UGH I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
January and Gus had such different perspectives towards love and relationships. Until it wasn't. Until we find they both want same things just in different fonts. January being someone who stays and holds Gus's hand (always) and Gus who blasts cheesy romantic songs to dance with January in thunderstorm (always). The mundane kind of love. I'll be here when you wake up kind of love. Sarcastic bickering kind of love. And the kind of love which doesn't end with happily ever after but strings of I'm happy in this moment together with you.
I cried reading the letters and I cried when Gus professed his love and I cried, I cried, I cried at how my entire heart is left with a warm fuzzy feeling after watching their love bloom. Emily Henry, you might just become my favourite romcom author.
Two broken people finding solace in each other, their love being what finally heals them UGH I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
January and Gus had such different perspectives towards love and relationships. Until it wasn't. Until we find they both want same things just in different fonts. January being someone who stays and holds Gus's hand (always) and Gus who blasts cheesy romantic songs to dance with January in thunderstorm (always). The mundane kind of love. I'll be here when you wake up kind of love. Sarcastic bickering kind of love. And the kind of love which doesn't end with happily ever after but strings of I'm happy in this moment together with you.
I cried reading the letters and I cried when Gus professed his love and I cried, I cried, I cried at how my entire heart is left with a warm fuzzy feeling after watching their love bloom. Emily Henry, you might just become my favourite romcom author.
Circe by Madeline Miller
3.25
I wish Circe was more about her as a character but because we see her life from her eyes, we mostly spend time looking at other characters (most of which I did not care about at all).
I enjoyed Circe being a parent we saw a lot of her character then and after she gave birth my enjoyment for the book increased too. The part comes towards the ending of the book and i wanted more of that.
Icarus and Ariadne left a lasting impression on me even though they were there in a couple of chapters. And I enjoyed reading about Penelope. All the best parts of the book comes in moments and pieces I will cherish, but as a whole I will most definitely forget almost everything soon.
I enjoyed Circe being a parent we saw a lot of her character then and after she gave birth my enjoyment for the book increased too. The part comes towards the ending of the book and i wanted more of that.
Icarus and Ariadne left a lasting impression on me even though they were there in a couple of chapters. And I enjoyed reading about Penelope. All the best parts of the book comes in moments and pieces I will cherish, but as a whole I will most definitely forget almost everything soon.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
4.0
Positives:
- Pip and her relationship with all those around her. She would do anything to protect her loved ones and there's a beautiful charm in that.
- Pip and Ravi's friendship. They're adorable and I liked how Ravi finally had someone he could share his grievances with.
- The little details about Indians? Him bringing cookies in Tupperware? The milk in tea always? These are details you can only know when you have thoroughly researched the setting for your characters and for that I can commend Holly she did a great job.
Negatives:
- Pip frustrated me as a reader because she went into everything head first without thinking through and I could not help but be annoyed like PIP BABY PLEASE TALK TO SOMEONE!!!!
- This is a personal ick but this white saviour complex of white characters bringing justice to a POC boy wrongfully accused of murder just doesn't sit right with me. Even though Holly did try to show hints of rascism and what Ravi has to face I still did not like reading it and that's just on me.
Even with its few negatives I do believe it's a fun and enjoyable book to read specially if you want to get into the genre. It's a page turner with small chapters and it will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next. Currently I cannot digest the Pip Ravi romance relationship because it did feel like it came out so randomly but I know this has 2 more books so I would love to go through their journey together.
- Pip and her relationship with all those around her. She would do anything to protect her loved ones and there's a beautiful charm in that.
- Pip and Ravi's friendship. They're adorable and I liked how Ravi finally had someone he could share his grievances with.
- The little details about Indians? Him bringing cookies in Tupperware? The milk in tea always? These are details you can only know when you have thoroughly researched the setting for your characters and for that I can commend Holly she did a great job.
Negatives:
- Pip frustrated me as a reader because she went into everything head first without thinking through and I could not help but be annoyed like PIP BABY PLEASE TALK TO SOMEONE!!!!
- This is a personal ick but this white saviour complex of white characters bringing justice to a POC boy wrongfully accused of murder just doesn't sit right with me. Even though Holly did try to show hints of rascism and what Ravi has to face I still did not like reading it and that's just on me.
Even with its few negatives I do believe it's a fun and enjoyable book to read specially if you want to get into the genre. It's a page turner with small chapters and it will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next. Currently I cannot digest the Pip Ravi romance relationship because it did feel like it came out so randomly but I know this has 2 more books so I would love to go through their journey together.
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
2.0
I know a book is below average for me when I'm zero interested in a story which ends with a cliffhanger. I did not feel Inez and Whit's chemistry and the final plot twist felt like it was done just for the purpose of having a cliffhanger.
I did enjoy the magic system but unfortunately there was so little about fantasy in the fantasy fiction of this that I could not believe it was promoted as such.
I did enjoy the magic system but unfortunately there was so little about fantasy in the fantasy fiction of this that I could not believe it was promoted as such.