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sand_between_pages's Reviews (734)
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"That’s what hope feels like: the best air you’ve ever breathed after the worst fall you’ve ever taken. It hurts."
.
Wow okay, so where to even start. I am a bit stunned at my reaction to Where the Lost Wander - I truly, truly expected to love it....
Why?
Because it has some of the elements that I really do enjoy in a book:
- Fantastic writing
- Character building
- Emotion
Additionally, I generally love historical fiction. This is a time period (mid 1800s) that I do not know a lot about, so I always enjoy reading to learn.
.
However, this novel fell short for me, and here is why:
- It took me 3.5 months to read this book, and it isn't a very long book. While I enjoyed it while I was reading, I never felt compelled to keep picking it up to see what would happen next. I just was never super invested in the characters. I feel I could have DNFed at any moment with no regret. I also feel like I should have been gripped by the story of the May Family and John Lowry (because they are well written), but I never was. The insta-love between John and Naomi did not grip me in the beginning, nor did it endear me at the end. I just didn't feel a whole lot towards these characters and that is super important to me in a read.
- There were some REALLY sad parts in this book, and I did not shed a single tear. I cry OVER EVERYTHING, and I did not have an emotional response to this book. Although I was pretty upset when a horse got hurt. *Trigger*
.
Ultimately, I think Amy Harmon is an extremely gifted writer, and the rational part of me recognizes that this is a good book. However, the emotional side of me really wanted to feel something from this read, and sadly, that just wasn't there. I am not giving up on this author, but I may wait a bit before picking up the next Harmon!
.
Wow okay, so where to even start. I am a bit stunned at my reaction to Where the Lost Wander - I truly, truly expected to love it....
Why?
Because it has some of the elements that I really do enjoy in a book:
- Fantastic writing
- Character building
- Emotion
Additionally, I generally love historical fiction. This is a time period (mid 1800s) that I do not know a lot about, so I always enjoy reading to learn.
.
However, this novel fell short for me, and here is why:
- It took me 3.5 months to read this book, and it isn't a very long book. While I enjoyed it while I was reading, I never felt compelled to keep picking it up to see what would happen next. I just was never super invested in the characters. I feel I could have DNFed at any moment with no regret. I also feel like I should have been gripped by the story of the May Family and John Lowry (because they are well written), but I never was. The insta-love between John and Naomi did not grip me in the beginning, nor did it endear me at the end. I just didn't feel a whole lot towards these characters and that is super important to me in a read.
- There were some REALLY sad parts in this book, and I did not shed a single tear. I cry OVER EVERYTHING, and I did not have an emotional response to this book. Although I was pretty upset when a horse got hurt. *Trigger*
.
Ultimately, I think Amy Harmon is an extremely gifted writer, and the rational part of me recognizes that this is a good book. However, the emotional side of me really wanted to feel something from this read, and sadly, that just wasn't there. I am not giving up on this author, but I may wait a bit before picking up the next Harmon!
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
OH. MY. GOSH! Book 11 is easily the best of the lot? Who would have thought it!
.
It is not secret that I am absolutely enamored with this series. If you're unfamiliar with The Chronicles of St Marys, these are books about a group of disaster-prone historians who investigate major historical events in contemporary time (but please, don't call it time travel ;)). These books are quirky, action-packed, hysterical, and if you love history, right up your alley (I always learn a ton).
.
Book 11 was absolutely one adventure after another. From a Viking encounter, to visiting London in 1493 to discover what happened to the Princes in the Tower, to spending three months in Crete studying the Minoan Empire, it felt like 500 pages of pure action. We get plenty of time with our favorites, Max, Markham, and Peterson - and the twists and turns within the plot are FREAKIN EPIC! I literally said "WTF" several times, out-loud, during the read. (My kids weren't around, it's all good!) And in typical Jodi Taylor fashion, I also LOL'ed several times.
.
FOLKS, this series is so good. If you like history, quirky British humor (think Downton Abbey), time travel, and endearing characters, please pick this up.
.
It is not secret that I am absolutely enamored with this series. If you're unfamiliar with The Chronicles of St Marys, these are books about a group of disaster-prone historians who investigate major historical events in contemporary time (but please, don't call it time travel ;)). These books are quirky, action-packed, hysterical, and if you love history, right up your alley (I always learn a ton).
.
Book 11 was absolutely one adventure after another. From a Viking encounter, to visiting London in 1493 to discover what happened to the Princes in the Tower, to spending three months in Crete studying the Minoan Empire, it felt like 500 pages of pure action. We get plenty of time with our favorites, Max, Markham, and Peterson - and the twists and turns within the plot are FREAKIN EPIC! I literally said "WTF" several times, out-loud, during the read. (My kids weren't around, it's all good!) And in typical Jodi Taylor fashion, I also LOL'ed several times.
.
FOLKS, this series is so good. If you like history, quirky British humor (think Downton Abbey), time travel, and endearing characters, please pick this up.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OH MY GAWWWD - I loooooved this book. Love!
.
So, Songs in Ursa Major started slowwww for me but I think that's just my mood (I've been eating up thrillers like they are gonna disappear) because I ended up loving the bejeezus out of this story. I only bring this up to let you know that if this is starting slow for you, do not put it down! Trust me, this one gets hella good!
.
In the same vein as Daisy Jones & The Six, this is a story about love, rock 'n roll, addiction, sexism, and the music industry in the 1970s. I dunno why it's so magical reading about the song-writing process, but I thoroughly enjoyed this theme in Daisy, and now in Songs. Song lyrics are such an emotional expression and creative passion, and I loved reading them in Ursa Major, wishing they were actual songs I could download and sing along with.
.
Jane Quinn is a fantastic protagonist, the kind of woman you root for and want to be like. Jane was so real and my heart went out to her as she navigated the rampant sexism in the music industry. I loved following Jane's journey and was eager to see what happened to her as a result of all the difficult decisions she had to make.
.
This book delves into some very heavy topics, namely addiction. This is definitely a trigger, but I thought the author did a nice job highlighting mental illness and how important it is to take care of yourself and be able to talk about something that so often has a stigma attached.
.
Folks, this is a freaking debut. My eye is on you, Emma Brodie! Can't wait to see what you write next!
.
So, Songs in Ursa Major started slowwww for me but I think that's just my mood (I've been eating up thrillers like they are gonna disappear) because I ended up loving the bejeezus out of this story. I only bring this up to let you know that if this is starting slow for you, do not put it down! Trust me, this one gets hella good!
.
In the same vein as Daisy Jones & The Six, this is a story about love, rock 'n roll, addiction, sexism, and the music industry in the 1970s. I dunno why it's so magical reading about the song-writing process, but I thoroughly enjoyed this theme in Daisy, and now in Songs. Song lyrics are such an emotional expression and creative passion, and I loved reading them in Ursa Major, wishing they were actual songs I could download and sing along with.
.
Jane Quinn is a fantastic protagonist, the kind of woman you root for and want to be like. Jane was so real and my heart went out to her as she navigated the rampant sexism in the music industry. I loved following Jane's journey and was eager to see what happened to her as a result of all the difficult decisions she had to make.
.
This book delves into some very heavy topics, namely addiction. This is definitely a trigger, but I thought the author did a nice job highlighting mental illness and how important it is to take care of yourself and be able to talk about something that so often has a stigma attached.
.
Folks, this is a freaking debut. My eye is on you, Emma Brodie! Can't wait to see what you write next!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I ain't afraid of no ghost!!! (Just kidding, I really, really am - especially the ghosts that Simone St James writes!)
.
Wow! Give me all the creepy vibe! If you haven't read this book yet, might I suggest it for the upcoming Spooky Szn? Seriously, I read this on my Kindle so that I could read it in the dark (yes, I am that person), but ended up having to turn the lights on because I was straight scared. James is the best at writing ghosts and spooky ambience, and I am here for it. She writes so well and her scenes feel so alive and real that I really felt like I was in the book, combing through and trying to survive Idlewild Hall with the rest of the broken girls.
.
The Broken Girls is definitely a whodunnit with a mix of supernatural as well as historical fiction - which I didn't expect at all so I was pleasantly surprised. Just like Sun Down Motel, this book was very well-written with great character development and well-crafted twists and turns. I enjoyed the dual timeline, the delve into the past and those implications on the future, and the GHOSTS!
.
Definitely read this gem, folks!
.
TW - Murder, Nazis, Concentration Camps, Abuse
.
Wow! Give me all the creepy vibe! If you haven't read this book yet, might I suggest it for the upcoming Spooky Szn? Seriously, I read this on my Kindle so that I could read it in the dark (yes, I am that person), but ended up having to turn the lights on because I was straight scared. James is the best at writing ghosts and spooky ambience, and I am here for it. She writes so well and her scenes feel so alive and real that I really felt like I was in the book, combing through and trying to survive Idlewild Hall with the rest of the broken girls.
.
The Broken Girls is definitely a whodunnit with a mix of supernatural as well as historical fiction - which I didn't expect at all so I was pleasantly surprised. Just like Sun Down Motel, this book was very well-written with great character development and well-crafted twists and turns. I enjoyed the dual timeline, the delve into the past and those implications on the future, and the GHOSTS!
.
Definitely read this gem, folks!
.
TW - Murder, Nazis, Concentration Camps, Abuse
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh. My. Gosh! The end of this book...!
.
“Everyone dies. What difference does it make if a few bad apples get pushed along a little sooner than God intended?”
.
This book is awesome. Plain and simple. I've heard great things for quite a while about Peter Swanson and The Kind Worth Killing, and I fully regret not jumping on the Swanson train sooner.
.
What makes this book so good is that it has SO many twists, all of which seem realistic (for a thriller), the writing is spot on, and the character development is deep for a 311 page book. This is my second Swanson, and the second time I've noted his amazing character development. Swanson is good at having you sympathize with the bad guys and almost buy into the twisted justice that there is a "kind worth killing".
.
I don't want to say anything more, go into this blind so you can fully experience the twists and turns!
.
“Everyone dies. What difference does it make if a few bad apples get pushed along a little sooner than God intended?”
.
This book is awesome. Plain and simple. I've heard great things for quite a while about Peter Swanson and The Kind Worth Killing, and I fully regret not jumping on the Swanson train sooner.
.
What makes this book so good is that it has SO many twists, all of which seem realistic (for a thriller), the writing is spot on, and the character development is deep for a 311 page book. This is my second Swanson, and the second time I've noted his amazing character development. Swanson is good at having you sympathize with the bad guys and almost buy into the twisted justice that there is a "kind worth killing".
.
I don't want to say anything more, go into this blind so you can fully experience the twists and turns!
emotional
hopeful
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
I am honestly super, super confused regarding how I feel about Everything After.
.
So let's break it down into things that I quite like, and things that just did not work for me...
.
LIKES
- Emotion. There were lots of lines and happenings that evoked an emotional response. I love when books make me feel because this helps me to better connect to the characters, to remember the book in general, and I found feely books much more thought-provoking.
- Premise. I really like the idea of of exploring how our choices dictate our lives. I've seen this theme in a lot of books, like [book:The Midnight Library|52578297] and [book:Maybe in Another Life|23492661] and I always found it interesting. I enjoyed all the choice exploration from our main character, Emily.
.
NOT SO MUCH LIKES
- Writing. I found Santopolo's writing to be very easy to read, but I don't think I liked it (Yes, "I don't think" is how I will preface all my dislikes because I simply can't get a handle on my feelings atm...). There were times where the subtly was simple and elegant, and other times where the characters and emotion didn't quite seem real because of that simple style. I don't know if that makes sense because it barely makes sense in my head, but the writing almost felt like a very, very watered down TJR. And I love TJR's writing because of how easy it is to read, but Santopolo's just felt too... brief? I DON'T KNOW MAN!
- MC. Emily, while sweet, drove me insane. And the way she described her love for Ezra and her love for Rob and yadda yadda yadda made me wanna gag. Yes you love them and you love music, stop telling us about it.
.
That's it. I'm going to try more from Santopolo but maybe not for a little bit ;).
.
So let's break it down into things that I quite like, and things that just did not work for me...
.
LIKES
- Emotion. There were lots of lines and happenings that evoked an emotional response. I love when books make me feel because this helps me to better connect to the characters, to remember the book in general, and I found feely books much more thought-provoking.
- Premise. I really like the idea of of exploring how our choices dictate our lives. I've seen this theme in a lot of books, like [book:The Midnight Library|52578297] and [book:Maybe in Another Life|23492661] and I always found it interesting. I enjoyed all the choice exploration from our main character, Emily.
.
NOT SO MUCH LIKES
- Writing. I found Santopolo's writing to be very easy to read, but I don't think I liked it (Yes, "I don't think" is how I will preface all my dislikes because I simply can't get a handle on my feelings atm...). There were times where the subtly was simple and elegant, and other times where the characters and emotion didn't quite seem real because of that simple style. I don't know if that makes sense because it barely makes sense in my head, but the writing almost felt like a very, very watered down TJR. And I love TJR's writing because of how easy it is to read, but Santopolo's just felt too... brief? I DON'T KNOW MAN!
- MC. Emily, while sweet, drove me insane. And the way she described her love for Ezra and her love for Rob and yadda yadda yadda made me wanna gag. Yes you love them and you love music, stop telling us about it.
.
That's it. I'm going to try more from Santopolo but maybe not for a little bit ;).
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Every single time I see the ocean, even if I've been there in the morning, it feels like a new miracle - its power, its blueness always just as overwhelming. Like falling in love."
.
Wow, wow, and wow! What a treat Miranda Cowley Heller has given us with The Paper Palace. This book is absolutely gorgeous!
.
The Paper Palace is the story of Elle and her connection to her beloved Back Woods, growing up with all of life's hardships and tragic events, and the two men she has loved in her life, Peter and Jonas. The present-day story takes place over a 24 hour span, but the reader gets to delve into Elle's life growing up and the events that led her to who she is today via flashbacks. I love this sort of story and the character development that accompanies it - the way Heller writes is just stunning and thought provoking and I felt like my brain cells were rejoicing in the beautiful language.
.
Beware, there are several triggers. Rape, death, cancer, and abuse. While several parts of the story were hard to read, I found the exploration of life, its happenings, its relationships, and its hardships to be spot on and so very real. I would find myself reading over the lines multiple times because so many parts just gave me so much to think about. The metaphors Heller writes are like candy, sweet and something you want to savor til the last drop.
.
This is an easy 5 star for me and one that I will recommend to any and all looking for a beautiful book. For those that loved books like Ask Again, Yes and Where the Crawdads Sing, I think you'd really enjoy The Paper Palace.
.
Wow, wow, and wow! What a treat Miranda Cowley Heller has given us with The Paper Palace. This book is absolutely gorgeous!
.
The Paper Palace is the story of Elle and her connection to her beloved Back Woods, growing up with all of life's hardships and tragic events, and the two men she has loved in her life, Peter and Jonas. The present-day story takes place over a 24 hour span, but the reader gets to delve into Elle's life growing up and the events that led her to who she is today via flashbacks. I love this sort of story and the character development that accompanies it - the way Heller writes is just stunning and thought provoking and I felt like my brain cells were rejoicing in the beautiful language.
.
Beware, there are several triggers. Rape, death, cancer, and abuse. While several parts of the story were hard to read, I found the exploration of life, its happenings, its relationships, and its hardships to be spot on and so very real. I would find myself reading over the lines multiple times because so many parts just gave me so much to think about. The metaphors Heller writes are like candy, sweet and something you want to savor til the last drop.
.
This is an easy 5 star for me and one that I will recommend to any and all looking for a beautiful book. For those that loved books like Ask Again, Yes and Where the Crawdads Sing, I think you'd really enjoy The Paper Palace.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Drama, drama, and then more drama! Damn, remind me to never go on vacay with this crew! (Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC of The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones!)
.
The Guilt Trip is a crazy thriller that works because it leads the reader down so many red herring paths. I guessed some of the twists, but not all of them and was happy that there was some mystery left til the very end.
.
Jack & Rachel and Noah & Paige are headed to Portugal to celebrate Jack's brother, Will as he marries the love of his life, Ali. While everything on the surface appears to be a fun couples' trip with a celebration at the end, there are several hidden secrets encompassed within this group of people. Not everyone is as they seem. (Duh duh duhhhhh)
.
I generally enjoyed this story and wanted to know what would happen - it definitely was a page-turner. However, it felt like it took a bit too long to "get there" and there were so many repetitive details that I could have done without. Essentially, this could have probably been a short story and I would have found that a bit more enjoyable. 3.5/5. Fun summer thriller, but not likely one that will stay with me.
.
The Guilt Trip is a crazy thriller that works because it leads the reader down so many red herring paths. I guessed some of the twists, but not all of them and was happy that there was some mystery left til the very end.
.
Jack & Rachel and Noah & Paige are headed to Portugal to celebrate Jack's brother, Will as he marries the love of his life, Ali. While everything on the surface appears to be a fun couples' trip with a celebration at the end, there are several hidden secrets encompassed within this group of people. Not everyone is as they seem. (Duh duh duhhhhh)
.
I generally enjoyed this story and wanted to know what would happen - it definitely was a page-turner. However, it felt like it took a bit too long to "get there" and there were so many repetitive details that I could have done without. Essentially, this could have probably been a short story and I would have found that a bit more enjoyable. 3.5/5. Fun summer thriller, but not likely one that will stay with me.
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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