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paperbacks_and_planners's reviews
662 reviews
Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West
4.0
This book was so stinkin' adorable. It was such a fun, light, quick read.
I will definitely be picking up more of Kasie West's books when I'm in the mood for a good YA contemporary/romance.
I will definitely be picking up more of Kasie West's books when I'm in the mood for a good YA contemporary/romance.
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
2.0
2.5
This book was just OK for me - mostly because it was really over the top.
To start off, this had me hooked from start to finish. I needed to know what happened and how everything wrapped up. But the story overall was not my favorite. As read I found myself rolling my eyes a lot. There are just so my over the top crazy characters in this story... Overall just not my favorite..
This book was just OK for me - mostly because it was really over the top.
To start off, this had me hooked from start to finish. I needed to know what happened and how everything wrapped up. But the story overall was not my favorite. As read I found myself rolling my eyes a lot. There are just so my over the top crazy characters in this story...
Spoiler
Between Claire who is a sociopath, Edward who is a stalker/rapist, and Amber who has imaginary friends and suddenly becomes a sociopathic murderer in the end, it was just too much... And I HATED the final "twist" about the bracelet showing up in the room service. It felt like a cop out of an ending. I'm sure it was meant to be foreboding but it felt cliche.
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
4.0
3.5 stars. Maybe even 3.75.
I love Ruth Ware's writing style. She knows how to build suspense and create a realistic and enthralling atmosphere. And overall I really enjoyed this book. I loved the mystery and I definitely didn't see some of the twists coming.
But I'm docking a bit because there were a few things I didn't understand or were left unresolved. And the whole deception began to get away from the loan shark... but that entire arc was left hanging.
Overall this was a well written and enjoyable mystery/thriller.
I love Ruth Ware's writing style. She knows how to build suspense and create a realistic and enthralling atmosphere. And overall I really enjoyed this book. I loved the mystery and I definitely didn't see some of the twists coming.
But I'm docking a bit because there were a few things I didn't understand or were left unresolved.
Spoiler
I can't figure out how she didn't figure out the situation with her mother while looking at the photo Abel gave her... why did she not notice until the photo album? It's driving me crazy...Overall this was a well written and enjoyable mystery/thriller.
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
3.0
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book. It was the perfect atmospheric, spooky read to kick off October. The mystery of the sisters had me entranced from the very beginning. I loved trying to guess who the sisters were and how all the stories intertwined.
I know a lot of people were turned off by the instalove that happened in here, but it honestly didn't bother me much. I really liked Bo as a character and I thought his and Penny's interactions were so well written that I was able to look past it.
I will say that some of the side characters were pretty flat - I didn't care about Penny's best friend at all. And I kept forgetting the names of all the random classmates.
But overall this was a beautifully written witchy mystery. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a quick Halloween-y read!
I really enjoyed this book. It was the perfect atmospheric, spooky read to kick off October. The mystery of the sisters had me entranced from the very beginning. I loved trying to guess who the sisters were and how all the stories intertwined.
I know a lot of people were turned off by the instalove that happened in here, but it honestly didn't bother me much. I really liked Bo as a character and I thought his and Penny's interactions were so well written that I was able to look past it.
I will say that some of the side characters were pretty flat - I didn't care about Penny's best friend at all. And I kept forgetting the names of all the random classmates.
But overall this was a beautifully written witchy mystery. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a quick Halloween-y read!
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
This was amazing. I completely regret putting this off for so long. I have so many theories and need to start the second book immediately!
The Bat by Jo Nesbø
3.0
Going into this I knew it was most people's least favorite of the Harry Hole series so my expectations were pretty low. And I can definitely see why people have problems with this.
First off, this book was written in 1997, it's a translation, and it's the first book in a series. So I'm giving it a little slack because of these things.
Some of the language and dialogue was super cringey but it was written over 20 years ago... So if you're picking this up, be aware of offensive comments about race, sexuality, and gender. I was half way through and stopped to check out the original publication date because of all the comments.
All the characters in this were super unlikeable. Which doesn't bother me too much but it did make it hard to get swept into the story completely.
And I thought this was too long. There are SO many tiny twists, misdirections, and side stories (holy crap the number of fables told was astounding and kind of annoying). So I was ready for it to be over with 100 pages left.
But I really liked the mystery. This is a super gritty, intense mystery and definitely won't be for everyone. But I loved how dark this got.
I already own the second book so I'm hoping to pick that up next month. I've heard the series just keeps getting better.
First off, this book was written in 1997, it's a translation, and it's the first book in a series. So I'm giving it a little slack because of these things.
Some of the language and dialogue was super cringey but it was written over 20 years ago... So if you're picking this up, be aware of offensive comments about race, sexuality, and gender. I was half way through and stopped to check out the original publication date because of all the comments.
All the characters in this were super unlikeable. Which doesn't bother me too much but it did make it hard to get swept into the story completely.
And I thought this was too long. There are SO many tiny twists, misdirections, and side stories (holy crap the number of fables told was astounding and kind of annoying). So I was ready for it to be over with 100 pages left.
But I really liked the mystery. This is a super gritty, intense mystery and definitely won't be for everyone. But I loved how dark this got.
Spoiler
Definitely don't get attached to any of the characters!Spoiler
I also really liked how real and screwed up Harry was. He was completely different than other detectives I've read before.I already own the second book so I'm hoping to pick that up next month. I've heard the series just keeps getting better.
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
4.0
Such a good, classic mystery! And that final twist at the end, amazing.
Hate Notes by Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland
3.0
When Charolette finds a note on the inside of a wedding dress in a second hand store, she decides to find out who wrote the romantic note. After the worst possible first meeting, her image of this man is shattered. And to make matters worse, the cynical, arrogant man is now her boss.
This romance was so. damn. slow. burning. I love office romances and was so excited to pick this up. Sadly it wasn't my favorite. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters but the characters themselves weren't my favorite.
Things I Liked
1. The banter between Charolette and Reed was really entertaining. Their relationship was cute and funny and I liked how they pushed each other.
2. I liked that this did have a slightly deeper more serious side to it.
Things I Didn't Like
1. The characters themselves felt a little bland to me. I never really connected with Charolette in particular.
2. I didn't love the ending..
Overall this was fun but predictable and a little cheesy.
This romance was so. damn. slow. burning. I love office romances and was so excited to pick this up. Sadly it wasn't my favorite. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters but the characters themselves weren't my favorite.
Things I Liked
1. The banter between Charolette and Reed was really entertaining. Their relationship was cute and funny and I liked how they pushed each other.
2. I liked that this did have a slightly deeper more serious side to it.
Things I Didn't Like
1. The characters themselves felt a little bland to me. I never really connected with Charolette in particular.
2. I didn't love the ending.
Spoiler
That proposal was so cringe-y...Overall this was fun but predictable and a little cheesy.
The Final Six by Alexandra Monir
4.0
This book took my total surprise. I saw this on BooksAndLala's overly specific recommendation video and on a whim picked it up on audiobook. And I'm so glad I did!
Synopsis
After climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the need to inhabit other planets have risen. Twenty four teens have been drafted for a new mission to travel to and settle Jupiter's moon Europa.
Overview
This is told from 2 alternating POV - Naomi, a scientific genius from the US who has no interest in traveling to space. And Leo, an Italian swimmer who recently lost his whole family and needs this to give purpose back to his life.
This is a fun, fast paced story perfect for those looking to dip their toe into science fiction.
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it! It's a cast audiobook, so there are different narrators for the 2 main characters/POVs.
What I Liked
1. The characters were really likable and they were easy to get attached too and invested in. Leo is the lovable underdog while Naomi is uber smart and stubborn. I liked their dynamic and relationship. It was a little fast for sure, but it was cute nonetheless.
2. The spaces mission was really interesting. I enjoyed hearing about all of their training sessions and practices. I even would have loved seeing more of them!
3. I thought the twist at the end was really well done! I knew the character would be brought in somehow, but the way it was executed still took me by surprise.
What I Didn't Like
1. Some bits were a little over the top and unbelievable (Naomi's hacking for instance) but if you go into this with the right mindset, it's not a huge enjoyment hinderance by any means.
This was such a fun YA, sci-fi. I definitely recommend this for anyone trying to get into the sci-fi genre or looking for something quick and lighthearted. I definitely plan to continue with this series!!
Synopsis
After climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the need to inhabit other planets have risen. Twenty four teens have been drafted for a new mission to travel to and settle Jupiter's moon Europa.
Overview
This is told from 2 alternating POV - Naomi, a scientific genius from the US who has no interest in traveling to space. And Leo, an Italian swimmer who recently lost his whole family and needs this to give purpose back to his life.
This is a fun, fast paced story perfect for those looking to dip their toe into science fiction.
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it! It's a cast audiobook, so there are different narrators for the 2 main characters/POVs.
What I Liked
1. The characters were really likable and they were easy to get attached too and invested in. Leo is the lovable underdog while Naomi is uber smart and stubborn. I liked their dynamic and relationship. It was a little fast for sure, but it was cute nonetheless.
2. The spaces mission was really interesting. I enjoyed hearing about all of their training sessions and practices. I even would have loved seeing more of them!
3. I thought the twist at the end was really well done! I knew the character would be brought in somehow, but the way it was executed still took me by surprise.
What I Didn't Like
1. Some bits were a little over the top and unbelievable (Naomi's hacking for instance) but if you go into this with the right mindset, it's not a huge enjoyment hinderance by any means.
This was such a fun YA, sci-fi. I definitely recommend this for anyone trying to get into the sci-fi genre or looking for something quick and lighthearted. I definitely plan to continue with this series!!
What He Never Knew by Kandi Steiner
4.0
Arc was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis
This picked up immediately where What He Always Knew left off. Reese is still broken over the loss of Charlie but finally knows it's time to let go. When his boss's niece, Sarah, comes to Pennsylvania to work with him on piano, there is an immediate connection. But he knows she is off limits - not only is she his student, but she is 16 years younger than him. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to fight the draw to each other.
Overview
Content warnings: Sexual Assault, Depression.
This is told in alternating perspectives from Reese and Sarah. It is dark, intense, angsty, and really beautiful. Be prepared for an emotional ride with this one.
What I Liked
1. Just like in the previous two books, Kandi's characters are so raw and complex. They are extremely flawed with dark pasts, but I immediately connected with them. And while I have never experienced any of the things they had gone through, they still felt so relatable.
2. I loved the relationship that Sarah had with her mother. Her mother supported her and was always there when needed, but still gave her space to grieve and breath. It was such a wonderful representation of a healthy mother/daughter relationship. I dream of being this type of mother one day.
3. In the ebook, there were links to Spotify so you could listen to the songs that the characters were playing/listening to. This was so unique and I loved it! It just added another layer to the story and made each scene come to life.
4. Sarah's story was handled with such respect. Sarah is a biracial pianist who was assaulted by her college piano professor. She had such a difficult past, but her character still had such personality, grace, and strength. I really appreciated that her character was so much more than her struggles.
5. I loved how this touched the difficulties women face while chasing lofty goals. Sarah's professor kept telling her she would sleep her way to the top, and those words stuck with her. As they did for me. I love when authors take on relevant, difficult topics like this, and Steiner handled it wonderfully.
What I Didn't Like
1. There is quite a large age gap between the 2 main characters - Sarah is 21 where as Reese is 37. But they are both mature, consenting adults. However, they way the side characters talked about Sarah irked me to no end. I understand that 21 is young, but the way they referred to her as 'kid' felt so demeaning. And as people discovered their relationship and berated Reese for 'taking advantage of someone so young', I wanted to scream.
2. This did have the ultra common, romance trope of 'conflict created due to lack of communication'. Which I don't love. However! This one did have clarification as to why Sarah didn't communicate so it wasn't nearly as frustrating.
This was an absolutely beautiful sequel to one of my favorite angsty romance series of all time. If you haven't checked out this series, do yourself a favor and pick it up immediately!
Synopsis
This picked up immediately where What He Always Knew left off. Reese is still broken over the loss of Charlie but finally knows it's time to let go. When his boss's niece, Sarah, comes to Pennsylvania to work with him on piano, there is an immediate connection. But he knows she is off limits - not only is she his student, but she is 16 years younger than him. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to fight the draw to each other.
Overview
Content warnings: Sexual Assault, Depression.
This is told in alternating perspectives from Reese and Sarah. It is dark, intense, angsty, and really beautiful. Be prepared for an emotional ride with this one.
What I Liked
1. Just like in the previous two books, Kandi's characters are so raw and complex. They are extremely flawed with dark pasts, but I immediately connected with them. And while I have never experienced any of the things they had gone through, they still felt so relatable.
2. I loved the relationship that Sarah had with her mother. Her mother supported her and was always there when needed, but still gave her space to grieve and breath. It was such a wonderful representation of a healthy mother/daughter relationship. I dream of being this type of mother one day.
3. In the ebook, there were links to Spotify so you could listen to the songs that the characters were playing/listening to. This was so unique and I loved it! It just added another layer to the story and made each scene come to life.
4. Sarah's story was handled with such respect. Sarah is a biracial pianist who was assaulted by her college piano professor. She had such a difficult past, but her character still had such personality, grace, and strength. I really appreciated that her character was so much more than her struggles.
5. I loved how this touched the difficulties women face while chasing lofty goals. Sarah's professor kept telling her she would sleep her way to the top, and those words stuck with her. As they did for me. I love when authors take on relevant, difficult topics like this, and Steiner handled it wonderfully.
What I Didn't Like
1. There is quite a large age gap between the 2 main characters - Sarah is 21 where as Reese is 37. But they are both mature, consenting adults. However, they way the side characters talked about Sarah irked me to no end. I understand that 21 is young, but the way they referred to her as 'kid' felt so demeaning. And as people discovered their relationship and berated Reese for 'taking advantage of someone so young', I wanted to scream.
2. This did have the ultra common, romance trope of 'conflict created due to lack of communication'. Which I don't love. However! This one did have clarification as to why Sarah didn't communicate so it wasn't nearly as frustrating.
This was an absolutely beautiful sequel to one of my favorite angsty romance series of all time. If you haven't checked out this series, do yourself a favor and pick it up immediately!