paigesonpages's reviews
261 reviews

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

A few years back, I was determined to bake the best lemon bars. I tried numerous recipes, most with intricate glazes, some of them vegan, and others with exotic citrus, but they all fell flat or ended up disastrous. Before giving up completely, I found the most simple recipe I could. They were unanimously voted by my husband and our friends as the best lemon bars, and they’re still requested for birthdays and get-togethers. 

That recipe was from the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten. As a die-hard Food Network fan as a child, I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me sooner to use it. Simplicity and consistency are the games of the Queen of Hamptons, and this comes through in her memoir.

Hearing the story narrated by Ina Garten herself spotlights humorous moments as well as her lifelong goal of being her true self. There were moments I had to pause in order to get out the giggles before moving forward. For example, who knew one could accidentally start working in the back room of a gentleman’s club?And did you know that one of her favorite songs to listen to while cooking is “Shake It Off”? Anecdotes shine through, and the patterns of her life are there in plain sight as she resolves them in the best way she knows how: by not letting anyone hold her back. 

“A barrier to me isn’t a stop sign; it’s a call to action,” writes Garten. This quote rings true for all of us feeling stuck in the mud this month. Maybe we all need to start thinking like the spunky Brooklyn-raised personality herself and show our own barriers who’s the boss. 

The Adventure Zone: The Suffering Game by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage

emotional funny 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? No

4.5

The Adventure Zone: The Eleventh Hour by Clint McElroy

adventurous dark 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

4.5

The Adventure Zone: The Crystal Kingdom by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

The Adventure Zone: Petals to the Metal by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited! by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy

adventurous challenging lighthearted mysterious 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

5.0

The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore

funny hopeful sad slow-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