readcaffeinated's reviews
582 reviews

It Happened One Christmas by Chantel Guertin

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.75

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

informative medium-paced

5.0

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

Land of No Regrets by Sadi Muktadir

challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Land of No Regrets by Sadi Muktadir is a coming-of-age novel centring around Nabil, a teenaged boy transferring to a Madrasa from a public school. Set in Northumberland County Ontario, Nabil navigates his new life with his three new friends: Nawaaz, Maaz, and Farid. After a bit of time, the boys discover a diary from a girl, Cynthia, who went to their school when it was an all-girls Catholic school in the 1970s. Unbeknownst to them, the discovery of the diary would change their lives forever. 

I was completely swept away by this novel. Muktadir does a fantastic job of weaving together the problems of teenaged boys with more complex themes such as religion, politics, and class. With the inclusion of the diary the boys found, the novel also becomes a conversation with time, and differing religions.

I would highly recommend Land of No Regrets to anyone who loves coming-of-age novels. I think that the themes of religion, politics, and friendship make this a novel everyone should pick up. I was captivated by the writing and following along the journey of Nabil and his friends. Although there are many serious and sad moments in the novel, there is also humour and kindness. The ending was unexpected for me, so I may need 3-5 days to process it. 

Land of No Regrets comes out on May 21, 2024! 

Thank you to @harpercollinsca and @sadi_muktadir for my advanced ecopy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Rouge by Mona Awad

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0