nothingforpomegranted's reviews
648 reviews

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

4.5

I didn’t think I liked Emily Henry after reading People We Meet on Vacation, so I haven’t been interested in picking up other of her books, even when some of the plots appealed to me (lots of bookish romance in this woman’s repertoire!) When a friend recommended it to me twice in one week, I figured I might as well give it a shot just for the social perks of discussing a book with a friend. Turns out, I loved it! The tongue in cheek approach to the romance genre was endearing and fun as a committed romance reader, and I found myself laughing along with Nora and Charlie’s consideration of and challenges to tropes. 

I pretty much can’t go wrong with a brooding hero who falls harder, and it’s even more fun when he falls first. The averting of small town romance vibes was so fun, and I’m thrilled that

they wound up back in New York

. On top of all that, the North Carolina-New York pipeline (without looking back) is one I know well. Emily Henry brought the sexual tension, and I really enjoyed the push-pull of Nora’s obligations both within and outside of her relationship with Charlie, who was inarguably sexy. 

I also really enjoyed the backstory of the characters and the relationship between Nora and Libby. Henry accomplished a lot in not so many pages, and I’m glad I picked this one up. I’m still uncertain about her other books, but maybe they’re worth a shot. In the meantime, on to a couple hockey romances by Tessa Bailey. 😅

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

3.5

This was silly and spicy and hit on lots of tropes I typically enjoy. I used to think I liked grumpy-sunshine, but I think I actually find sunshine a bit annoying, though I love grumpy. I definitely like she falls first, he falls harder and mean to everyone but her. The spicy scenes were 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, and Tessa Bailey remains a master of dirty talk, so that was fun. Looking forward to Tallulah’s story! Seems like a really fun premise. 

The Awakening by Nora Roberts

4.25

Maybe I like romantasy? Though the prologue definitely had me skeptical with the worldbuilding, and though it isn’t quite the balance of romance and fantasy that I prefer, I really enjoyed this first book in the series, and once I got about halfway through, I felt like I had to keep going. I’m looking forward to reading the next one! The vibe is rather wholesome, and I love that Breen has such a supportive circle. 

You'll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love by Marcia A. Zug

3.75

interesting subject matter and lots of research and examples, but started to feel a bit dry and repetitive as we moved through the chapters. nonetheless, I enjoyed learning interesting history through this lens, and the anecdotes made it more relatable and memorable. 

Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Told from four perspectives, Home is Where the Bodies Are narrates the story of three estranged adult siblings coming together for the first time in over seven years upon the occasion of their mother’s death. Their reunion is rife with resentment and notably lacking in filial love. As Beth (the eldest, who cared for Mom in her final days), Nicole (recovering drug addict middle sister), and Michael (youngest brother, working in tech in California with no interest in his family) go through the tapes, journals, and belongings their mother left them, they discover a mistakenly recorded tape from June 15, 1999 which documents

their parents burying the body of the town’s missing child, the younger sister of Beth’s high school boyfriend.

This discovery overwhelms all three siblings, and the resentment deepens as they try to figure out what to do with this new information. 

The suspense builds and drops, and I found the obvious withholding of information frustrating. Characters would find out information from a letter, or Laura (the mother) would acknowledge an aspect of her life, and then the chapter would end. This structure felt clumsy and irritating. 

That said, I did enjoy the epilogue, and I was relieved to see the characters together and getting what they deserved. 

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

slow-paced

4.0

I read this book in senior year of high school, and I remember being utterly waylaid by it, my mind blown by Ishiguro’s ability to write a world that is so familiar but just off somehow. The twist shocked me at the time, but on this reread, I was surprised to note how quickly the information came out. Perhaps it’s because I remembered the details, but the clone confirmation came far more clearly and earlier than anticipated. I had a vivid image of the scene with Miss Emily and the cabinets, but in my recollection, it was more violent. I also was surprised by the emphasis on sex throughout the novel. Especially for a book assigned to me in high school, it felt like too significant a plot point. 

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

medium-paced

4.5

Theo Decker dreamt of his mother while he was in Amsterdam, and as he reflects, he shares with us the many twists and turns before he wound up in Amsterdam, beginning, of course, with the death of his mother in a terror attack at the Met, where they were spending a couple of hours enjoying the artwork before a meeting at Theo’s school to explain his suspension. The first hundred or so pages cover Theo’s shock, which is beautifully rendered and utterly heartbroken. This loss, as a thirteen-year-old, is unfathomable, and Theo truly cannot wrap his mind around the possibility. From there, Theo’s childhood unravels into a life of wandering. When his father shows up unexpectedly with his new girlfriend, Theo is forced to move from New York (where he’s been staying with a classmate’s family) to Las Vegas, where he learns to drown his devastation with drugs and alcohol, alongside new friend Boris. 

In many ways, Boris is a toxic friend, and I couldn’t bring myself to like him over the course of the novel, despite his apparent love for Theo. He just continually did the wrong thing and led Theo down paths that made his life worse. On the other hand, I loved Pippa, the young girl who also survived the attack and who was connected to Theo incidentally by her grandfather. At the museum, Theo was struck by the red-headed girl and was following her in the very moment that the blast sounded. In shock, Theo finds Welty buried under the shrapnel and begins a conversation with him. Welty passes Theo a ring and an address, leading him to Hobie, who becomes the stalwart companion that Theo has needed—a sort-of parent figure, but mostly a mentor. 

As Theo leaves and returns to New York, I was most struck by how he remained stuck in his childhood, talking to the same people, leaning on the same supports. The paralysis of childhood trauma is chilling throughout the novel, and I was moved by Tartt’s descriptions, even as I found myself begging Theo to make different decisions (particularly when Boris was involved). 

The last hundred pages of the novel became a bit too dramatic and prosaic for my tastes, which is why I bumped it down a half star. Though I was fully immersed in the stress and tension throughout most of the book,

Boris’s stealing the painting made me unduly angry, and the resolution with the art heist and the murder was excessively dramatic, especially in a book that had been so quietly tense up until that point

. 

I also didn’t love the reflections directly addressed to the reader for the last ten pages or so. 


You might like…
The Lincoln Highway - close narration, adventures with a strong sense of place in New York, toxic best friends, drugs, darkness with loyalty 
A Little Life - New York setting, strong sense of place, tragedy, toxic friendships, quiet tone 

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

5.0

My jaw is on the floor. There were so many twists and secrets and hints, and I need the next book immediately. I have been absolutely consumed by this series, which hasn’t happened in years. I love these characters and truly just want them to have their happy ending. 

Definitely there were some moments of not great writing or dropped plot points, but a book that has me gasping aloud or literally clapping my hand to my mouth in shock, my heart beating in my chest out of suspense or aching out of concern for the characters can only be 5 stars. 

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

fast-paced

5.0

I’m fully bought in to this series. I love Xaden. I rewound every five minutes and basically listened to the book twice just listening to it the first time, and I’m thrilled that I timed it perfectly for the release of Onyx Storm. Basically, all I have to say is just gushing over this whole series, and I just want everyone to be okay. 

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel

lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.0

This is a wholesome and cozy collection of essays that just feels good. I love reading, and there were no revelations here, but it was a perfect one-sitting read for a sick day that reminds me why we love books. I was reminded of why I track my reading and newly disappointed that my reading log was deleted and I lost three years of tracking, but at least I have what I have now.