russellreitsema's reviews
109 reviews

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

2.5

another solid story from the mind of Carley Fortune. I sped through this one pretty quick as it didn't quite have the same effect as her other contributions. fun characters, decent romance, and a quaint setting all coalesce into a cute little love story.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

funny

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.25

I definitely enjoyed rhe fresh modern take on this love story, and the fun, twisty way it all revealed itself. the romance is predictable but it's layered between characters with real issues of family and mental health and generational trauma. this was a satisfying read.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

So glad I gave Carley Fortune another chance after "every summer after" I was very pleasantly surprised by this book! the setting on PEI and the smattering of East coast culture definitely helped to win me over, not to mention the twisty 3rd act had me on my toes, which is impressive for a modern mainstream romance! the characters shone and the side stories and secondaries were well laid out and provided great padding for the narrative. A smooth, satisfying novel with that inescapable east coast allure 😊

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.25

I have very quickly become an immense Poston fan. this romance is a love letter to all the book-loving, cozy romance lovers out there and I am definitely along for the ride. it instantly felt like I was entering a new world when I dove into this story headfirst. the characters are fresh, the magical realism is snugly placed without it seeming odd or over the top, and the ending had me smiling gleefully for ages. whimsical and fun!

The Glass Château: A Novel by Stephen P. Kiernan

hopeful inspiring 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

3.75

a wonderful, healing story of broken souls bonding over common ground and honest work. this post-WWII tale centers around a group of strangers brought together under the guise of crafting stained glass windows. through setbacks and success these desperately human characters find their way out of the miasma of the war and open themselves up to new ideas of faith, acceptance and love. This book was a treat to get through and left my heart a little lighter and a little larger.

Uzumaki by Junji Ito

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

this book was wild. the way the author portrays the spiraling descent into chaos strung throughout the story from the eyes of the main character was original and haunting. the imagery is fascinating and disturbing simultaneously. the way Ito pulls you into this town and continually surprises you with new and horrific ways that the spiral ruins lives is breathtaking and worthy of praise. a curving journey of suspense and awe. Definitely recomend. I'll be looking at his other work very soon. 

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.75

What I thought would be a refreshing take on the romance genre with a comedic serial killer plot ended up to be another paint by numbers storyline. Not a terrible addition to the genre, heartwarming characters and a quirky love story. Just felt it needed something more. For fans of the modern romance it will hit that spot, but I'm definitely not the target audience. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

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

3.25

My first thriller in a while, I had forgotten how great it feels to be surprised and queasy simultaneously. I know this book was the talk of the town when the film came out but I somehow never got the twists spoiled for me. With that in mind, I found this book very hard to put down and binged the lions share of it in one night. I found the characters abrasive and unlikeable which made the action and culmination all the more intriguing. Takes a bit to get into the story but once I was wrapped up I couldn't walk away until I got my finale, which in itself was refreshingly dour. Definitely will be taking a closer look at Flynn's other work. 

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

adventurous informative relaxing 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? Yes

4.0

Gaiman is a clear example of a creative genius paying homage to his own inspiration. Thoroughly enjoyed these retelling of myths of old through a new, narrative-focused lense. What is most impressive is that Gaiman doesn't feel the need to arrogantly add in his own stories or tear apart the source material. It's a fresh update on beautiful stories. Absolutely recomend. 

Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert

tense slow-paced

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

3.25

Another epic addition to the DUNE saga. Definitely a transition for me, going from God emperor to this one, so it took some mental gymnastics to wrap my head around the time jump and new characters. Loved the added lore with the scattering and new factions, and enjoyed this version of Idaho. As I near the end of Herbert's series I'm starting to fully grasp the entire story he wanted to bring to life and I am thrilled to finally experience his vision.