obstinateheadstrongcurl's reviews
947 reviews

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

challenging tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I’m not usually one for generational stories but I did like how this cut back and forth between the main character and her grandmother. It was a gripping look at Vietnamese history, which I know very little about. 

Hex by Jenni Fagan

dark sad fast-paced

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

3.75

Interesting idea that feels slightly over the top in its execution (no pun intended). 

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

dark mysterious tense 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? No

4.25

I’m such a wuss when it comes to horror but gothic horror is my jam and I loved this. It hit all the beats: young wife, aloof husband, creepy house and suspicious servants, as well as incorporating themes of class and colonialism. The characters were so good, and I loved Beatriz and Andrés’s relationship. There were some pacing issues, but overall a really good debut and I can’t wait to read more from Cañas. 

Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young

emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

This was so cute! The banter was absolutely top notch and Win and Bo are so sweet and perfect together. I loved the disability rep and the author’s note at the beginning telling her own fears and experience with motherhood. I’m normally not a fan of the pregnancy trope but it was done so well here. Absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read more from Hannah Bonam-Young. 

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was a bit too confusing to work as an audiobook but I think would have been a bit too slow and meandering to hold my interest as a physical book. There’s definitely potential here but it feels like it just misses it. 

Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

As an American living in Scotland, my masochistic tendency is reading romance novels set in Scotland written by Americans and full-body cringing the entire time. 

Even putting that aside, I really did not like this FMC and 97% of my dislike was about her job. She works as a consultant for a travel company, but acts like the most annoying tourist, bringing the wrong kind of luggage, wearing impractical clothes and being rude about local food. The company she works for is brand new after her mentors left a big travel company and asked her to come along, but they’re all about pushing clients to cater to the lowest common denominator of tourists. Which I get is probably a safe business model, but I find it hard to believe they couldn’t have been doing it at whatever corporation they all worked at before. Addie also undermines Logan’s company to vendors and customers, which is not only rude but also really dumb considering his company is her client. 

Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez

emotional sad 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

I wasn’t a big fan of Part of Your World, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I loved the main characters, especially Justin. He was so funny and sweet and supportive. (Formally nominating Simu Liu to play him if there’s ever a screen adaptation - the narrator sounded just like him and the character has such strong Simu vibes.) I (mostly) appreciated how mental health and trauma were handled. My one big complaint with the book was Amber and Neil. I found their relationship pretty baffling.

I also really didn’t like how in the end Emma sees Amber as pretty straightforwardly bad, which really took away from the empathy over anger message from earlier in the book. I thought that there was enough going on with Amber refusing help to justify Emma walking away from the relationship; the hidden family bit seemed over the top and villainising.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

3.0

VE Schwab is hit or miss for me so I’m not sure if I didn’t enjoy this or just wasn’t in the mood. It was grimmer than I was expecting but it was fast paced and the characters were engaging. The concept of multiple Londons is a bit overdone in fantasy and I don’t know that Schwab’s take is all that fresh. Overall a bit mid for me and I don’t think I’ll continue the series. 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.

Not in the mood. 

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

This is The Hating Game fanfiction, right?