rebekahjoya's reviews
39 reviews

The Lemon by S.E. Boyd

3.0

I read this sooo fast. Interesting enough premise and I like the characters but it wasn’t developed enough. I didn’t understand them and the ending wasn’t satisfying to me. 

The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam

3.0

Reminded me soo much of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow but just not as good. 

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

3.0

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

2.5

Funny Story by Emily Henry

3.0

The Vacationers by Emma Straub

3.0

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

3.5

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

dark medium-paced

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

2.25

The author’s descriptive writing is very good, and they use shock value as a means to draw the audience in, which is why I think people believe this is a good book. Don’t get me wrong, certain scenes and characters are beautifully written, but overall this book is not that good. There’s a lot in here that’s not at all enjoyable to read, I don’t like the lack of POVs, and the beginning to the end feel like entirely different books. I don’t find a lot of the book believable- from certain characters many “skills”, to the doctors not reporting certain things. I think the degree of violence is unnecessary and sadistic. There’s no sense of time (40 years pass and yet it’s all written like the same year.) Some quotes I’ve read from the author make her motives seem questionable when writing about such serious and heavy topics, which leads me to say the rumors of it being “misery porn” are probably true. There’s a way to write graphic abuse that’s respectable and just, and this isn’t it. 

That being said, I love the way friendships are written. I love the descriptions of human connection; of Willem and Jude. It is in some ways a beautiful book. But there’s a lot that feels wrong. 

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

• Loveable characters? No

2.25

I love an enemies to lovers but this one is sooo meh, I don’t understand how it’s so popular. Where’s the chemistry? Why are the side plots so cringey? The ending was absolutely crazy. At least it was a really fast read!

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

lighthearted

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

blushing and kicking my feet!! this is so cute and so cheesy but i loved it! high school crushes are so fun