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roemsy's reviews
415 reviews
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Impressive debut with beautiful writing. Brings to light how the systems in place have failed so many. Some lulls in the chapters but I think this was to balance out the tough content. Plz read the content warnings before you proceed with this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Police brutality
Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison Weir
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
Men will literally give you syphilis, leave you for one of your maids, break an entire country away from the church to marry said maid, then behead her 5 months after your death before going to therapy.
All jokes aside this was such a well written book and I can tell the research that went into it. Even though it is historical fiction I’ve heard these books are more accurate than Philipa Gregory due to the author’s extensive knowledge and research. I will definitely read more in the series.
All jokes aside this was such a well written book and I can tell the research that went into it. Even though it is historical fiction I’ve heard these books are more accurate than Philipa Gregory due to the author’s extensive knowledge and research. I will definitely read more in the series.
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I was so excited to read this after loving The Push but I sadly found it pretty lackluster. It has a lot of the same elements (I guess mom trauma is just Ashley’s thing?) which I just feel are not for me. I also wouldn’t recommend this to any mom though so I’m struggling with who I would say this book is for?
While I do enjoy the author’s writing style and how things always leave off on a cliffhanger, I found most of the drama to be typical and not exciting enough to be a thriller. It gave Big Little Lies vibes with all of the neighborhood drama but unlike BLL, this one wasn’t riveting. There were also so many characters that it was hard to distinguish who was who at first (4 POVs of the same type of woman is too many IMO) and their husbands were not developed at all and so indistinguishable. Similar to The Push, the last sentence really sticks with you so I will give kudos there.
Overall, not my favorite, if you like suburban drama that focuses on every type of trauma a mom could possibly endure, you might enjoy this but I’m sadly not rushing to recommend it.
I will also give a big BIG CW for miscarriage described in explicit detail.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and Ashley Audrain for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While I do enjoy the author’s writing style and how things always leave off on a cliffhanger, I found most of the drama to be typical and not exciting enough to be a thriller. It gave Big Little Lies vibes with all of the neighborhood drama but unlike BLL, this one wasn’t riveting. There were also so many characters that it was hard to distinguish who was who at first (4 POVs of the same type of woman is too many IMO) and their husbands were not developed at all and so indistinguishable. Similar to The Push, the last sentence really sticks with you so I will give kudos there.
Overall, not my favorite, if you like suburban drama that focuses on every type of trauma a mom could possibly endure, you might enjoy this but I’m sadly not rushing to recommend it.
I will also give a big BIG CW for miscarriage described in explicit detail.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and Ashley Audrain for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Happy Place by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow, Emily, wow. How does she absolutely knock it out of the park every time? Happy Place is simply ENCHANTING. I read it slowly because I truly never wanted to leave Knotts Harbor, Maine and these phenomenal characters.
Of course I adored the love store of it all and the LONGING and PINING between Wyn and Harriet was just truly incredible…. But more than that this felt like a love letter to FRIENDSHIPS and friend soulmates and as someone who values their friendships more than anything, this spoke to me. I loved the message of growing and changing but never becoming less important to your friends. And that no matter how much changes you can still honor those special relationships above all else.
I highlighted so many quotes because Emily is truly a sorceress with her words and I’m gonna end this with my favorite: “She smiles. Like when she looks back at it, all she sees is the happiness of that day she spent here with her parents, rather than the pain of what came after. Like even when something beautiful breaks, the making of it still matters.”
Pick up HAPPY PLACE THIS SPRING Y’ALL
Of course I adored the love store of it all and the LONGING and PINING between Wyn and Harriet was just truly incredible…. But more than that this felt like a love letter to FRIENDSHIPS and friend soulmates and as someone who values their friendships more than anything, this spoke to me. I loved the message of growing and changing but never becoming less important to your friends. And that no matter how much changes you can still honor those special relationships above all else.
I highlighted so many quotes because Emily is truly a sorceress with her words and I’m gonna end this with my favorite: “She smiles. Like when she looks back at it, all she sees is the happiness of that day she spent here with her parents, rather than the pain of what came after. Like even when something beautiful breaks, the making of it still matters.”
Pick up HAPPY PLACE THIS SPRING Y’ALL
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
2.75
This is not well written by any means but if you’re looking for a romance that takes place in Disneyland with the rich grandsons of the Walt Disney-esq figure then it will scratch that itch lol
Maame by Jessica George
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a beautiful, heart-wrenching, real, and captivating story. When the book starts out we’re introduced to Maddie living her life but not really living it. Throughout the course of the book we see her go through a number of life-altering events and experience the beauty of life’s greatest joys as well as the heartbreak of life’s biggest losses. Anyone who has experienced immense grief will tell you how real this book felt and how incredibly moving it was to go on the journey alongside Maddie. The story also deals with race, culture, religious and familial guilt, navigating jobs, etc. and it was all done so well. I can’t say too much more without giving parts of the book away so I’ll end this by saying I hope you pick up Maame, and I hope you see a piece of yourself in it, but even if you don’t, I hope you appreciate the journey. Because at the end of the day, we’re all just humans, trying to figure it out as we go. Congrats on one incredible debut, Jessica George. I can’t wait to read whatever you write next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This book was so good and I can’t believe more people haven’t read it! It gave me mild Spiderwick Chronicles vibes which I loved. I also really enjoyed the unexpected Greek mythology tie ins. Also those twists at the end?! I will be reading book 2 immediately following because I can’t wait to see what happens. If you’re even remotely a fan of YA or fantasy, try this book out!