readsinfrogpjs's reviews
528 reviews

I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi

3.0

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

The Eye of the Leopard by Henning Mankell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

Just didn't grab my attention. After reading other review I honestly don't think it's a book for me

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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

4.0

Our main character in Death of the Author has hit a rock bottom, loss of her job, single and her latest book rejected by publisher. Zelu decides to take a risk with her literary career and write a novel unlike anything she has written before... a science fiction novel about robots and AI non-human characters. Her life is changed when it becomes an instant blockbuster. 

I loved the present time storyline, loved that our protagonist had a disability, but the way Okorafor created her she was so well developed and rounded that the disability didn't become her defining characteristic. There was such a beautiful blend of intersectionality and personality that Zelu  feels so authentic and relatable. I rooted for her the whole time. The sci fi chapters were a little tougher for me to enjoy, only because that isn't my thing, but I thought even those chapters were well written and loved how they portrayed/related to Zelu in her current life.  I think this novel will appeal to both the literary novel lovers and to those that like science fiction. You get the best of both worlds with Nnedi Okorafor writing the story. 

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review and advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own. 

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Tracey Lange does it once again. What Happened to the McCrays? is a heart wrenching and emotional novel that leaves the reader satisfied but wanting more. Always want more of her beautiful writing and authentic characters. This one did feel a bit slower than her other two novels and for me that almost changed a 5 star to a 4 star only because I thought it was a bit too slow at times. What Happened to the McCrays? tackles some heavy moments, death of a loved one, recovering from the grief, etc. so I understand the need to take the plot a bit slower to engulf the magnitude of the trauma and the decisions of the characters thereafter, I just lose interest sometimes when storylines don't have continuous movement. This is really a me thing, not the book thing. So, a five-star read it is, maybe with an asterisk.  But anyway, a lovely novel. I highly recommend to everyone. The characters will stay with you long after the last page. 

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review an advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

adventurous funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

I was so excited to read Accidentally Amy after reading and loving Happily Never After. Unfortunately I was let down. Not that Actually Amy was bad,  it just was kinda meh.  Had lots of promise at the beginning but then it just sort of stayed flat the entire book.  There were parts that were cute and parts that were funny.  But some repeatative narration and lack of conflict between the love interests left me wishing for a bit more.  Overall,  an okay and quick read.  

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced copy.  

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

Temple of Swoon is Jo Segura's second novel and sort of follow up to Raiders of the Lost Heart.  An adventurous rom-com featuring new main characters and some cross-over characters. The insta- love/lust trope is a hard one for me because a lot of times, it comes across as forced. Temple of Swoon didn't feel that way to me,  but I also felt underwhelmed by the love connection. Maybe that was due to the Amazon expedition, where a lot was going on, but nothing really happened.  It was just a weird mixed bag for me.  The writing was good, and the characters were fine.  Just overall an okay read.  I enjoyed Raiders of the Lost Heart more,  and I do look forward to the next Jo Segura book.  I was provided an advanced copy by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review. Opinions are my own. 

The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn

challenging emotional mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

 Second novels can be a doozy of a situation for authors, especially when their debut novel hits a high note. Unless you are Gabrielle Korn, and not only match the intensity of your debut novel but create a second in series book that, in my opinion, exceeds the first. I absolutely loved The Shutouts and secretly hope we get to visit the characters again in a third book. Hint, hint. Told in a dual timeline dystopian future the novel focuses on what it looks like when select groups of people are shut out of the elite society and left behind to fend for themselves. While not advertised as a second book in a series I do think there is a benefit to reading Yours For the Taking first to get a better background of the characters. As The Shutouts is almost a prequel and sequel built into one novel. Well written, smooth and easy pace, and queer centric characters. This novel makes you feel good even if the plot isn't the fuzzy feeling inducing type of storyline. You will find yourself intrigued, frustrated and rooting for the characters as they venture through a climate ravaged world. I highly recommend to those that love a sci-fi dystopian end of the world kind of novel. 

Thank you to netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.