rizahw's reviews
392 reviews

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

Building a community is a true antidote to despair and this book is here to remind us of it.
While the mystery is relatively simple, the characters really carry this book as they interact with each other and create a found family I’d love to be a part of.
Also don’t read this book while you are hungry 😉

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing 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? No

5.0

Densely written this dark fairy tale captivates you from the first words and doesn’t let go.

The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

Beautiful poetry collection 

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense 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

This is how you do enemies to lovers right!

The Self-Care Solution A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier, and Fitter--One Month at a Time by Jennifer Ashton

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

2.5

I dunno if id trust the doctor who didn’t drink any water until she was 49…
I like to start the year with a self help book and this one way available on audio at my library.
This book has very strong “same 24 hours” energy, with a heavy touch of privilege. While most of those challenges would be quite beneficial for most people to attempt, the author really doesn’t check in with how privileged she and thus does not attribute her success in most of these challenges to this privilege.
Also the fact that somehow all of those challenges can help you loose weight (yes even meditating or looking less at your phone  🤷🏻‍♀️) and how doing them or not doing them is linked to higher or lower chances of breast cancer… Honestly both of those takeaways got exhausting after a while. 
I think one can just skim over the suggestions for doing the challenges your way part of each chapter and get as much useful information as I did from listening to this whole book.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Fatphobia, and Suicide

Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

5 stars, no notes.
I’m not a big contemporary YA reader, but I would trust Marissa Meyer with my life, and she didn’t disappoint.
So many moments in this book made me audibly gasp, jump with joy and experience heartbreak along with the characters.
Love, love, love 💜

Hollowthorn by Kalyn Josephson

adventurous challenging lighthearted relaxing 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

4.75

Excellent follow up to one of my favourite books from 2023. Love the continuation of the story and seeing the characters grow and develop even more. Can’t wait to read the third book in the series.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

5.0

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

5.0

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, David Stuart Davies

5.0