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sarahsbooklife's reviews
474 reviews
Mrs. Wickham by Sarah Page
medium-paced
4.5
Funny and engaging. I enjoyed listening to this overall. Although it did take be a bit to get into it.
I liked that this story was a "what if..." for Lydia set after Pride & Prejudice. Offering her a chance of redemption and growth.
I think the only issue I had with it was that Wickham was redeemed in this story. He's not meant to be a likeable character, let alone a redeemable one.
The performances were great too. But i do wish audible would stop putting music tracks on their Originals it's so bloody annoying!
I liked that this story was a "what if..." for Lydia set after Pride & Prejudice. Offering her a chance of redemption and growth.
I think the only issue I had with it was that Wickham was redeemed in this story. He's not meant to be a likeable character, let alone a redeemable one.
The performances were great too. But i do wish audible would stop putting music tracks on their Originals it's so bloody annoying!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
emotional
sad
slow-paced
1.25
I started off liking the poetry in this book, but I found as I kept reading that I just didn't really connect to it.
This book just wasn't for me.
This book just wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gaslighting
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Classism
Minor: Cursing, Vomit, Death of parent, War
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was a fun novella to read. I loved getting to see a bit more about these characters especially as Sorcery of Thorns was left somewhat open ended.
I had a lot of fun reading this I think I could happily read more novellas about these characters getting up to more things like battling their own house to be able to get outside the front door. Or even a whole other full length novel if Margaret Rogerson ever decides she wants to write more in this world. I hope she does because I feel like there's still loads left that could be explored.
I had a lot of fun reading this I think I could happily read more novellas about these characters getting up to more things like battling their own house to be able to get outside the front door. Or even a whole other full length novel if Margaret Rogerson ever decides she wants to write more in this world. I hope she does because I feel like there's still loads left that could be explored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Violence, Grief
Minor: Death, Grief, Death of parent
This was a fun novella to read. I loved getting to see a bit more about these characters especially as Sorcery of Thorns was left somewhat open ended.
I had a lot of fun reading this I think I could happily read more novellas about these characters getting up to more things like battling their own house to be able to get outside the front door. Or even a whole other full length novel if Margaret Rogerson ever decides she wants to write more in this world. I hope she does because I feel like there's still loads left that could be explored.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a book that I've wanted to read for ages, especially after loving Margaret Rogerson's first book so much, but I've been putting it off because I feared I wouldn't like it as much as her debut novel or that it wouldn't live up the hype surrounding it. But I am glad that I did read because I loved it.
It's such a good book.
It has magical books, sorcery, demons and a girl that wields a sword. For me that's a perfect mix of things I love to see in a story. Oh, and with a sprinkling of romance on top.
Great book. Highly recommend.
It's such a good book.
It has magical books, sorcery, demons and a girl that wields a sword. For me that's a perfect mix of things I love to see in a story. Oh, and with a sprinkling of romance on top.
Great book. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Grief
Splintered by A.G. Howard
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I was kinda disappointed with this book. I really love Alice in Wonderland retellings and books that use it as a part of history for the story, but this one just didn't work for me.
At first, I enjoyed this story. Alyssa was an okay main character and I found her more interesting when they were in Wonderland and she kinda took charge of what was happening. But at times she felt like a "pick me girl" which was pretty annoying and I could really feel the 2000s/10s "I'm not like other girls" energy in this story. Her arc did kind of leave some of that behind as the story progressed, and I probably could have even enjoyed this story more because of that. But the thing that annoyed me the most was Jeb.
And the fact this story was drowning in YA tropes.
But first let's talk about Jeb.
Pretty much everything about Jeb annoyed me. I was really hoping that he wouldn't be the main love interest and that it would be Morpheus instead, but sadly Jeb was. I was also really looking forward to him being left behind in the real world when Alyssa went to Wonderland but alas he came along for the ride. And I think it would have been better if he had stayed because he was constantly getting in the way and just being all around unbearable.
He was, I felt, belittling at times. Alyssa's obsession with him put me off him more, especially when they were flirting when he has a girlfriend. (I'm not going to keep going because I could end up ranting forever.) I like when friends-to-lovers is done right and in this book it is far from it. It's honestly a pretty bad attempt at it. And the felt like they were barely even friends 90% of the time.
There were so many things wrong with this book. Like how it talks about mental health and how the MC's mother is treated in a mental health hospital. Which was pretty horrid. The author definitely shoved a lot of misinformation in here, like having the Alyssa's mum in a straight jacket and placed in a padded cell. Something that hasn't been done since the mid-20th century except for in films and TV.
I did like that the author gave a lot of the beings in Wonderland a creepier description, making them seem a little more unsettling. But I felt like she could have taken it a step further. Made it really creepy and maybe a bit more horrifying.
Lastly Morpheus, Alyssa's childhood friend and second love interest, was probably the only reason I finished with this book. He was the only character that I thought was 100% interesting and I think he would've better as the main love interest instead of Jeb.
Honestly, I don't think that this book was worth the hours I spent reading it and I wish I could get them back and I won't be wasting anymore time on this series.
At first, I enjoyed this story. Alyssa was an okay main character and I found her more interesting when they were in Wonderland and she kinda took charge of what was happening. But at times she felt like a "pick me girl" which was pretty annoying and I could really feel the 2000s/10s "I'm not like other girls" energy in this story. Her arc did kind of leave some of that behind as the story progressed, and I probably could have even enjoyed this story more because of that. But the thing that annoyed me the most was Jeb.
And the fact this story was drowning in YA tropes.
But first let's talk about Jeb.
Pretty much everything about Jeb annoyed me. I was really hoping that he
He was, I felt, belittling at times. Alyssa's obsession with him put me off him more, especially when they were flirting when he has a girlfriend. (I'm not going to keep going because I could end up ranting forever.)
There were so many things wrong with this book. Like how it talks about mental health and how the MC's mother is treated in a mental health hospital. Which was pretty horrid. The author definitely shoved a lot of misinformation in here, like having the Alyssa's mum in a straight jacket and placed in a padded cell. Something that hasn't been done since the mid-20th century except for in films and TV.
I did like that the author gave a lot of the beings in Wonderland a creepier description, making them seem a little more unsettling. But I felt like she could have taken it a step further. Made it really creepy and maybe a bit more horrifying.
Lastly Morpheus, Alyssa's childhood friend and second love interest, was probably the only reason I finished with this book. He was the only character that I thought was 100% interesting and I think he would've better as the main love interest instead of Jeb.
Honestly, I don't think that this book was worth the hours I spent reading it and I wish I could get them back and I won't be wasting anymore time on this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Death of parent
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
funny
relaxing
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism
Minor: Death of parent
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really liked this book it was a very interesting start to a series. A lot happened, and some characters didn't stick around as long as I expected catching me off guard. This book had a few hidden surprises.
I liked the characters and how the main four; Cleo, Magnus, Lucia, and Jonas, developed as the story progressed.
Great start to a series and I can't wait to see what happens next.
I liked the characters and how the main four; Cleo, Magnus, Lucia, and Jonas, developed as the story progressed.
Great start to a series and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Incest, Infidelity
Minor: Infertility, Fire/Fire injury