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sand_between_pages's Reviews (734)
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
" I pour emotions into my journal, write lines of poetry, and yet nothing changes. I can express all the anger and fear and hope I have within me, use the most beautiful words in the English language, or write a stream of muddled rambling thoughts - it makes not one bit of difference. They are, after all, just words on a page. No matter what I truly think of this war, I cannot stop it."
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Oh wow! What a beautifully written epistolary novel. I love this book so much, I am wondering why I haven't read it before!? A very easy 5 stars to Last Christmas in Paris for making me laugh, cry, and rejoice in the hope of humanity.
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Evelyn Elliot watches two of her closest men ship off to war, her brother Will and her childhood friend Thomas. All are optimistic that this War to End All Wars will be over by Christmas, but of course we all know that it will rage on for four more years and create more loss of live and devastation than previously seen in the world. It is always so hard for me to read about World War I and know that World War II is just around the corner. I felt the same way reading Evie and Thomas' letters, knowing how much they suffer and lose during WWI.
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The end of this book is just beautiful. I recommend to anyone who loves an epistolary, or historical fiction, or simply just beautiful writing.
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Oh wow! What a beautifully written epistolary novel. I love this book so much, I am wondering why I haven't read it before!? A very easy 5 stars to Last Christmas in Paris for making me laugh, cry, and rejoice in the hope of humanity.
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Evelyn Elliot watches two of her closest men ship off to war, her brother Will and her childhood friend Thomas. All are optimistic that this War to End All Wars will be over by Christmas, but of course we all know that it will rage on for four more years and create more loss of live and devastation than previously seen in the world. It is always so hard for me to read about World War I and know that World War II is just around the corner. I felt the same way reading Evie and Thomas' letters, knowing how much they suffer and lose during WWI.
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The end of this book is just beautiful. I recommend to anyone who loves an epistolary, or historical fiction, or simply just beautiful writing.
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Thank you so much to Atria for a copy of One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle!
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Folks, this book is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and I could not wait to get my hands on it and read it as soon as possible. I don't know whether it is my high expectation of the book or my mood or what but I am definitely feeling let down :(. (I am almost crying more from my disappointment than the actual content, which is NOT normal for a Serle read!).
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Here are a few genuine facts about me:
1. I love Italy. I especially love Positano. I have been fortunate enough to visit this beautiful town twice in my life, and I hope many more times to come.
2. I love food. Especially good food. Especially food in Italy.
3. I love crying at a good book. I want to feel all the feels there are to feel!
4. I love strong, character-driven stories. Give me the flaws and the realness!
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With the established facts, One Italian Summer truly felt like it was made for me. Add to that list that the book begins with a quote from Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls is one of my most beloved shows) and I was basically bouncing up and down going into this read. But this book just didn't hit me, at all, in the way I expected. While I felt very endeared by the mother-daughter relationship, loved the descriptions of Positano, the Italian food, and the Italian landscape, and enjoyed the magical realism element that Serle does so well, this book just never really reached my heart. I never felt that drive to keep picking it up. The end did not leave me in tears - I didn't feel my feels the way I wanted to feel them... I just found the entire thing to be a bit rushed and contrived.
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I will be really interested to hear other's opinions on this book and I definitely do not suggest anyone take my word for it - the bar was so very high! I also want to reread this sometime in the future to see if it hits me differently. For now, I am giving this one 3/5 :(.
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Folks, this book is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and I could not wait to get my hands on it and read it as soon as possible. I don't know whether it is my high expectation of the book or my mood or what but I am definitely feeling let down :(. (I am almost crying more from my disappointment than the actual content, which is NOT normal for a Serle read!).
.
Here are a few genuine facts about me:
1. I love Italy. I especially love Positano. I have been fortunate enough to visit this beautiful town twice in my life, and I hope many more times to come.
2. I love food. Especially good food. Especially food in Italy.
3. I love crying at a good book. I want to feel all the feels there are to feel!
4. I love strong, character-driven stories. Give me the flaws and the realness!
.
With the established facts, One Italian Summer truly felt like it was made for me. Add to that list that the book begins with a quote from Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls is one of my most beloved shows) and I was basically bouncing up and down going into this read. But this book just didn't hit me, at all, in the way I expected. While I felt very endeared by the mother-daughter relationship, loved the descriptions of Positano, the Italian food, and the Italian landscape, and enjoyed the magical realism element that Serle does so well, this book just never really reached my heart. I never felt that drive to keep picking it up. The end did not leave me in tears - I didn't feel my feels the way I wanted to feel them... I just found the entire thing to be a bit rushed and contrived.
.
I will be really interested to hear other's opinions on this book and I definitely do not suggest anyone take my word for it - the bar was so very high! I also want to reread this sometime in the future to see if it hits me differently. For now, I am giving this one 3/5 :(.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
OH MY HEART! If Lacie Waldon every stops writing books I am going to stop reading. (Okay that's a bit dramatic but like, I need these books in my life.)
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From the Jump is pure delight and I enjoyed every single page. I am SO picky when it comes to romance novels, but Waldon has a way of hooking me and investing me deeply in her characters - and that character connection is what I love the most. I found all the characters in this book, even Simone, to be likable and relatable. The chemistry is so well done and aptly flushed out, and this chemistry is what made it hard for me to put down her first book, The Layover, and now her second book, From the Jump. Waldon also gives me a dose of wanderlust, and I love being able to travel in these stories and live vicariously through the characters.
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This story has some of my favorite tropes, found family, forced proximity, and friends-to-lovers. I am a sucker for friends-to-lovers and the romance and rapport between Liv and Lucas is spot on and gave me all the feels. Honestly, I just had to finish this book ASAP - I didn't want to spend time doing anything else (and isn't that the best feeling when you're reading??).
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Folks, for a light-hearted, swoony sweet read, don't pass this one up. Thank you to Putnam for the e-arc, this book releases July 19, 2022!
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From the Jump is pure delight and I enjoyed every single page. I am SO picky when it comes to romance novels, but Waldon has a way of hooking me and investing me deeply in her characters - and that character connection is what I love the most. I found all the characters in this book, even Simone, to be likable and relatable. The chemistry is so well done and aptly flushed out, and this chemistry is what made it hard for me to put down her first book, The Layover, and now her second book, From the Jump. Waldon also gives me a dose of wanderlust, and I love being able to travel in these stories and live vicariously through the characters.
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This story has some of my favorite tropes, found family, forced proximity, and friends-to-lovers. I am a sucker for friends-to-lovers and the romance and rapport between Liv and Lucas is spot on and gave me all the feels. Honestly, I just had to finish this book ASAP - I didn't want to spend time doing anything else (and isn't that the best feeling when you're reading??).
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Folks, for a light-hearted, swoony sweet read, don't pass this one up. Thank you to Putnam for the e-arc, this book releases July 19, 2022!
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75/5 - Cutie cute cute with a side of ADORBS! Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships hit me at the very best time, gave me butterfly-in-the-stomach feels, and had the most endearing characters of them all! Thank you Berkley for the copy!
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I'd peg Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships as a light-hearted read with a dollop of grief. Sound weird? Yeah, kinda - but it worked here. This book didn't seem to know whether it was a rom-com, and emotional romance, or just a contemporary with a sad side story ... that confused me a bit, but like I said before - it pretty much worked. And I think what made it work was how endearing the characters are. The MC, Jo, is an easy one to root for, likable and sweet - and her gang of teenage girls actually made me want a teenage girl in my life (and I remember myself as a teenage girl, who actually wants that!?). Alex is, as aptly named, Hot Yacht Chef, and very worthy of the title of Book Boyfriend - and the chemistry between he and Jo is spot on throughout.
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Folks, pick this one up! I read it in just under 72 hours and enjoyed every minute :)!
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I'd peg Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships as a light-hearted read with a dollop of grief. Sound weird? Yeah, kinda - but it worked here. This book didn't seem to know whether it was a rom-com, and emotional romance, or just a contemporary with a sad side story ... that confused me a bit, but like I said before - it pretty much worked. And I think what made it work was how endearing the characters are. The MC, Jo, is an easy one to root for, likable and sweet - and her gang of teenage girls actually made me want a teenage girl in my life (and I remember myself as a teenage girl, who actually wants that!?). Alex is, as aptly named, Hot Yacht Chef, and very worthy of the title of Book Boyfriend - and the chemistry between he and Jo is spot on throughout.
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Folks, pick this one up! I read it in just under 72 hours and enjoyed every minute :)!
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
"Because even in grief, motherhood made me show up. It was my salvation then and had been from day one."
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Wow - just wow... what an incredibly beautiful memoir full of love, good food, Italy, and grief. If I had to pick a central theme for Tembi Locke's memoir, it would be grief - this book is incredibly sad and I can't imagine going through what Locke endured. Through Locke's writing, I too fell in love with Saro and was heartbroken by his death - but I so love how Tembi took us on a journey of how that grief shaped her future, made her a better mother, a better daughter-in-law, and someone who took the time to love and cultivate the land.
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From Scratch is beautifully written and poignant and I absolutely urge you all to pick this one up. Just make sure you have plenty of tissues and definitely a snack or two.
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Wow - just wow... what an incredibly beautiful memoir full of love, good food, Italy, and grief. If I had to pick a central theme for Tembi Locke's memoir, it would be grief - this book is incredibly sad and I can't imagine going through what Locke endured. Through Locke's writing, I too fell in love with Saro and was heartbroken by his death - but I so love how Tembi took us on a journey of how that grief shaped her future, made her a better mother, a better daughter-in-law, and someone who took the time to love and cultivate the land.
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From Scratch is beautifully written and poignant and I absolutely urge you all to pick this one up. Just make sure you have plenty of tissues and definitely a snack or two.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book really makes you think about that "invite any 5 people, living or dead, to dinner" prompt - always a fun question to ponder, but for Sabrina in The Dinner List, that fun little game becomes a very serious reality!
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At the heart of The Dinner List are strong themes of grief, relationships, friendship, growing up, healing, and what it means to love and be loved. While the book started slowly for me, I was endeared to the plot and the characters via the tremendous writing of Rebecca Serle. Having already read In Five Years, I knew Serle could write and weave an intriguing story - and that's what I loved most about this book, the writing and the magical realism element. I didn't feel that can't-put-down vibe, but the end really did pull at my hear-strings.
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I think I would have liked the book even more had I felt a closer connection to Sabrina and Tobias. Mostly, I just did not like Tobias at any point of the book and that made it hard to truly LOVE this story and root for the couple, if that makes any sense. Character connection is just a huge deal to me!
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Overall, I am a massive Serle fan and suspect she will be added to my autobuy list :).
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At the heart of The Dinner List are strong themes of grief, relationships, friendship, growing up, healing, and what it means to love and be loved. While the book started slowly for me, I was endeared to the plot and the characters via the tremendous writing of Rebecca Serle. Having already read In Five Years, I knew Serle could write and weave an intriguing story - and that's what I loved most about this book, the writing and the magical realism element. I didn't feel that can't-put-down vibe, but the end really did pull at my hear-strings.
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I think I would have liked the book even more had I felt a closer connection to Sabrina and Tobias. Mostly, I just did not like Tobias at any point of the book and that made it hard to truly LOVE this story and root for the couple, if that makes any sense. Character connection is just a huge deal to me!
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Overall, I am a massive Serle fan and suspect she will be added to my autobuy list :).
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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:
Yes
Never have I ever so wanted to trade lives with a character in a book - transport me to the Irish island of Salvation, because I am ready for dolphin-watching, a cozy cabin on the sea, and a holiday romance with a Han Solo look alike ;).
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One Night on the Island gets a solid 3.5 stars from me. I loved the beginning and was immediately intrigued, and I also loved the end, satisfied with how the story wrapped up. The middle of the book was slow and left me wanting, and was the main reason it took me almost a month to read this novel. I know Josie Silver often writes slow builds, so I wasn't particularly surprised, more that my mood was dampened a bit because of how exciting the beginning is.
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Overall, this is a very well-written and endearing story and I love the central themes of self-love, perseverance, slowing down, and enjoying the most simple things in life like tending a fire or watching the sunrise. The character development is spot on - and while I found Cleo a weeeee bit annoying, she redeemed herself in the end. Mack could absolutely be one of my new book boyfriends ;).
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One Night on the Island publishes on February 15th, 2022. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy!
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One Night on the Island gets a solid 3.5 stars from me. I loved the beginning and was immediately intrigued, and I also loved the end, satisfied with how the story wrapped up. The middle of the book was slow and left me wanting, and was the main reason it took me almost a month to read this novel. I know Josie Silver often writes slow builds, so I wasn't particularly surprised, more that my mood was dampened a bit because of how exciting the beginning is.
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Overall, this is a very well-written and endearing story and I love the central themes of self-love, perseverance, slowing down, and enjoying the most simple things in life like tending a fire or watching the sunrise. The character development is spot on - and while I found Cleo a weeeee bit annoying, she redeemed herself in the end. Mack could absolutely be one of my new book boyfriends ;).
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One Night on the Island publishes on February 15th, 2022. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy!
emotional
sad
fast-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
*finishes Ugly Love, cries for days*
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"And I realized... just now... that God gives us the ugliness so we don't take the beautiful things in life for granted."
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This book hit me like a ton of bricks - wowza CoHo, you just wanna rip us all to shreds, don't you? I really enjoyed Ugly Love, guys, and I sorta found it brilliant how Hoover told the story. Not only the writing and the character development, but the literal paragraphs and spacing. (Yeah, no seriously, she aligns paragraphs and spacing with character moods and I am here for it.)
.
What I really loved about this book is how love is portrayed, in all of its beauty as well as its ugliness. Love is such a powerful and conflicting emotion, and the realness of it was so nicely written between Tate, Miles, and Rachel - as well as other relationships (LIKE CAP! I LOVE CAP!). I tried really hard not to cry but the end destroyed me totally.
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Folks, 100 percent rec this one to yall. Especially when you need a good cry and a reminder that life is beautiful.
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"And I realized... just now... that God gives us the ugliness so we don't take the beautiful things in life for granted."
.
This book hit me like a ton of bricks - wowza CoHo, you just wanna rip us all to shreds, don't you? I really enjoyed Ugly Love, guys, and I sorta found it brilliant how Hoover told the story. Not only the writing and the character development, but the literal paragraphs and spacing. (Yeah, no seriously, she aligns paragraphs and spacing with character moods and I am here for it.)
.
What I really loved about this book is how love is portrayed, in all of its beauty as well as its ugliness. Love is such a powerful and conflicting emotion, and the realness of it was so nicely written between Tate, Miles, and Rachel - as well as other relationships (LIKE CAP! I LOVE CAP!). I tried really hard not to cry but the end destroyed me totally.
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Folks, 100 percent rec this one to yall. Especially when you need a good cry and a reminder that life is beautiful.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A MILLION STARS and then tack on a few more! Wowza! (Thank you to Libro FM for the ALC! The narration is brilliant, folks!)
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I haven't read anything by Lily King, but I was in the mood for a few short stories so I decided to listen to Five Tuesday in Winter. WOW. I shall now proceed to devour any and all things penned by Ms. King because the writing in these short stories is phenomenal. Additionally, each story - from the longer ones to the very short ones, were rich with character development, thought-provoking premises, and intensely interesting plot points. I had to pause after each story just to let it resonate and digest, and a few of the stories left me with my jaw open. I always respect authors that can make me feel so much in limited pages. And I definitely had the feels.
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Absolutely pick up this book folks. And if you can get your hands on the audio, the narration really brought these stories to life!
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I haven't read anything by Lily King, but I was in the mood for a few short stories so I decided to listen to Five Tuesday in Winter. WOW. I shall now proceed to devour any and all things penned by Ms. King because the writing in these short stories is phenomenal. Additionally, each story - from the longer ones to the very short ones, were rich with character development, thought-provoking premises, and intensely interesting plot points. I had to pause after each story just to let it resonate and digest, and a few of the stories left me with my jaw open. I always respect authors that can make me feel so much in limited pages. And I definitely had the feels.
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Absolutely pick up this book folks. And if you can get your hands on the audio, the narration really brought these stories to life!
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to William Morrow for the gifted copy of Hercule Poirot’s Christmas! Folks, this is a very solid, bingeable little mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed - and believe it or not, got me all in the mood for Christmas! 😁
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I read the majority of this book in a day, and it was a day I especially needed a distraction from life. This book did the trick because it isn’t overly emotional, the mystery and Poirot reveal is solid and fun, and the story moves at a quick place after about the first 30 pages!
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My favorite Poirot is probably still Murder on the Orient Express, but this book is definitely up there! And my favorite AC of all time? And Then There Were None, of course :).
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I read the majority of this book in a day, and it was a day I especially needed a distraction from life. This book did the trick because it isn’t overly emotional, the mystery and Poirot reveal is solid and fun, and the story moves at a quick place after about the first 30 pages!
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My favorite Poirot is probably still Murder on the Orient Express, but this book is definitely up there! And my favorite AC of all time? And Then There Were None, of course :).