sarahgaelsbooks's reviews
144 reviews

Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel by Leigh Bardugo

3.5

The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton

dark informative inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-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? No

3.5

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

There is a lot to love about Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land. It’s a story about the power of stories. About how important stories are to us as human beings. How they are so intrinsically woven into our cultures and ways of life. And how even the oldest stories still have the power to impact us. 

This should be a must-read if you are a lover of stories. 

The story shifts between five characters spread out over hundreds of years, all connected by an ancient (fictitious) text written by Antonius Diogenes, Cloud Cuckoo Land. The story enters all of their lives at the moment when they need it the most and helps them to overcome various struggles.

Read my full review here: https://sarahgael3.wixsite.com/sarahgaelsbooks/post/review-cloud-cuckoo-land

Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman is a graphic novel series that started on Tumblr and is now a popular Netflix series! They follow Nick, Charlie and their friends as they navigate secondary school while also learning about themselves, friendships and first loves. 

They are an easy read, and because they are graphic novels, you can effortlessly get through them in a day. They may be Graphic Novels, but that doesn’t take anything from the story or experience of reading it. The illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity and in conveying the characters’ experiences. 

There are so many elements in these books that everyone can relate to, whatever your schooling life was like. The things that are explored are relatable to so many people. They include topics from bullying to changing friendships, crushes, figuring out who you are, first loves, growing up and mental illnesses. 

It’s an LGBTQIA+ story that is wonderfully positive and leaves you with a warm feeling and just wanting more. 

Read my full review here: https://sarahgael3.wixsite.com/sarahgaelsbooks/post/review-heartstopper