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natbaggett's reviews
45 reviews
The Paris Maid by Ella Carey, Ella Carey
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I found this book very difficult to finish but I am SO glad I did. The ending had me in tears. I wish I had appreciated the entire story as much as I did at the end.
Spoilers below
What I didn’t like:
- I found some details pretty far-fetched. The many family connections are just too coincidental/unrealistic. Also, the way the characters know at least two famous people- Arletty and Coco Chanel. Then they come across Ernest Hemingway. It just seemed like a reach to me.
- For me, it was hard to follow. There were a lot of characters here, several going by other names as well.
- Some important details felt rushed. It needed more to fully develop.
- Finally, it had to many similarities to The Nightingale for me (i.e. estranged sisters, a father who had become a drunk and abandoned his family after WWI only to actually be fighting against the Nazis, extreme bravery as several females rescue and protect displaced soldiers, the main character’s children not knowing their parent’s brave past, etc.). I’m sure this wasn’t the author’s intention but with so many similarities to an extremely popular book, it comes across as trying to also reach that level of popularity without being original.
Big spoilers:
I loved the shock at the end. I was completely stunned to find that their grandmother/mother was actually Sasha. And to learn that the Louise we had believed escaped and lived a wonderful life had actually been murdered- devastating. I cried. I especially cried reading the epilogue. I wanted so badly to find that Charlie and Louise did in fact end up together after the war and that Charlie was their grandfather/father. To know that he always loved her was so sad and beautiful.
I was tempted to give this book just two stars because it was so hard for me to get through for the reasons listed at the top of this review, but that ending really did me in. 3/5 for me!
Spoilers below
What I didn’t like:
- I found some details pretty far-fetched. The many family connections are just too coincidental/unrealistic. Also, the way the characters know at least two famous people- Arletty and Coco Chanel. Then they come across Ernest Hemingway. It just seemed like a reach to me.
- For me, it was hard to follow. There were a lot of characters here, several going by other names as well.
- Some important details felt rushed. It needed more to fully develop.
- Finally, it had to many similarities to The Nightingale for me (i.e. estranged sisters, a father who had become a drunk and abandoned his family after WWI only to actually be fighting against the Nazis, extreme bravery as several females rescue and protect displaced soldiers, the main character’s children not knowing their parent’s brave past, etc.). I’m sure this wasn’t the author’s intention but with so many similarities to an extremely popular book, it comes across as trying to also reach that level of popularity without being original.
Big spoilers:
I loved the shock at the end. I was completely stunned to find that their grandmother/mother was actually Sasha. And to learn that the Louise we had believed escaped and lived a wonderful life had actually been murdered- devastating. I cried. I especially cried reading the epilogue. I wanted so badly to find that Charlie and Louise did in fact end up together after the war and that Charlie was their grandfather/father. To know that he always loved her was so sad and beautiful.
I was tempted to give this book just two stars because it was so hard for me to get through for the reasons listed at the top of this review, but that ending really did me in. 3/5 for me!
Dead Woman Crossing by Jeneva Rose
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
2.0
The main character is so arrogant. I bet she said her official title “Chief Deputy Kimberly King” 20 times throughout the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Body horror
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Abortion
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Bridgett is so moody it is annoying. I understand she has trauma, but her attitude got on my nerves. And Warren was so pushy and arrogant. There were a few sweet moments but overall this was not my favorite.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Kidnapping, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
emotional
inspiring
sad
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? No
5.0
November 9 by Colleen Hoover
emotional
funny
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
4.75
This book was soooo amazing. You fall in love with the characters and you are rooting for them! I was smiling and jaw dropping and all the things.
The only part I didn’t love (and what made my rating a 4.75 rather than a 5) was the mom’s reason for her suicide. I felt like that justification wasn’t good enough for killing herself knowing her teenage son would find her. And her letter was so matter of fact, like suicide was the best option for them. Personally, I would have preferred Fallon‘s dad being a jerk that broke Ben’s mom’s heart and that being the reason for her suicide. I feel like any mother would prefer her kids see her struggle as a fighter and give them a chance to say goodbye rather than find her after shooting herself. Didn’t seem realistic to me and then the boys were just like “oh well in THAT case 👍” lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent and Blood
Confess by Colleen Hoover
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Not bad but I felt like this was a combination of It Ends With Us and Reminders of Him. Too many similarities and the ending was very abrupt. Lots of build up and then bam, problems all resolved and a happy ending that just seemed too good to be true/too far-fetched. Not a bad story, just not my favorite.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Car accident, Addiction, Death, and Sexual assault