saxz_library's Reviews (144)

Remarkably Bright Creatures

DID NOT FINISH: 26%

I know this book has a high rating but I was so bored at only 26% and while I think it has potential it felt like it was going nowhere slowly
I'd probably only continue the story for Marcellus because his character was quite funny & unique (iykyk😅)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

V.E. Schwab

4.25

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a slow, poetic, and introspective read—less about plot and more of a deep character study. While the first half took time to get through, the writing style added to the book’s haunting, lyrical feel.
The novel beautifully explores themes of memory, identity, and the human need for connection. Addie’s journey raises thought-provoking questions: What does it mean to leave a mark on the world? How far would you go to be remembered? And is love ever truly free? While I wasn’t particularly attached to the characters, I still felt their emotions by the end.

Luc intrigued me—was his love for Addie genuine, or was it simply her defiance that captivated him? Henry and Addie’s story was bittersweet but felt slightly underdeveloped

and I think the book could have been shorter to focus more on their dynamic.
Despite its slower pace, Addie LaRue left an impression with its themes, atmosphere, and thought-provoking messages. A poignant, unique read that lingers long after the last page✨

The Dead Romantics

Ashley Poston

3.75

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Dead Romantics had such a unique premise and some lovely writing moments, especially in how Florence's hyper-independence as the oldest daughter was portrayed. I appreciated the cozy setting, the blend of grief and romance, and the slightly paranormal twist, though I saw it coming fairly early on.

That said, the pacing felt repetitive and drawn out, with a lot of buildup that got quickly resolved in the final chapters;

the tasks that needed to be completed for her dad's funeral

Florence as a narrator sometimes confused me; her actions didn’t always align with her internal monologue, and I wish we’d had more depth in both her grief arc and the romance with Benji.

The emotional moments were almost there but often overshadowed by the love story, which made it harder for the heavier themes to land as powerfully as they could have.

I really enjoyed the family dynamics - those scenes felt warm, genuine, and emotionally grounded - and I wish the story had spent more time on that connection.
A sweet and original story, but one that didn’t fully deliver on all the emotion and character depth I was hoping for.

Content Warnings

Starling House

Alix E. Harrow

3.75

dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Starling House was a solid introduction to the gothic genre for me. The haunted-house premise and the underlying mystery surrounding the town’s past were what pulled me in most.

I loved how the truth was hidden in all the different versions of the tale, and how it quietly touched on deeper social themes.

Arthur was your classic broody, burdened MMC with a soft side, and I enjoyed his dynamic with the FMC, though I wish the romance had been developed a bit more for the payoff to really land.
The FMC herself felt a bit repetitive at times, her internal monologue circled around the same ideas (mainly about her being selfish, even while constantly proving otherwise), which slowed the pacing for me.

The writing was rich and immersive, though occasionally too descriptive — I felt like the story of the house, which was my favorite part, got a bit lost in all the atmospheric detail. I would have loved more time spent exploring its origins and magic.

In the end, it had all the right ingredients - a brooding house, morally gray characters, mystery, and romance — but it just didn’t fully stick the landing for me. Still, a unique read that I’m glad I picked up!

The Book Club Hotel

Sarah Morgan

3.0

lighthearted fast-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

The Book Club Hotel felt like a cozy Hallmark Christmas movie in book form — sweet characters, a festive setting, and predictable (but comforting) story-lines. I did enjoy the themes of change and growth, and

Erica’s

character had the most consistent and layered development. However, the book often told more than it showed, which made the emotional moments less impactful. The setting was cute, but I would have loved more vivid descriptions of the town and the people to truly bring it to life. The multiple POVs of each character also became a bit repetitive, and the quick, neat resolutions at the end felt rushed. Still, it was an easy, cozy read perfect for when you’re in the mood for something light and heartwarming! 🎄📚

The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The Nightingale is a story that gutted me in the most beautiful and heartbreaking way. I cried ugly tears by the end — not just for the characters, but for everything they represent. This book captures the haunting reality of war, not through grand battle scenes, but through the quiet, everyday courage of women who endured it.

The quote that opens the book: “In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are”, truly encapsulates the entire novel. Love is what drives these characters, but war shapes them.

Vianne’s quiet resilience and Isabelle’s fierce bravery both offered different sides of survival. At first, I resonated more with Isabelle and her fire, but by the end, it was Vianne’s strength that stayed with me the longest.

More than anything, this book made me deeply aware, from an emotional perspective, of the sheer cruelty and brutality inflicted by the Nazis on innocent people. I’ve read about it in history, but this book made me feel it: the fear, the humiliation, the hopelessness.

Rachel’s death broke me

. Crammed cattle cars, stolen children, broken bodies, these weren’t just statistics, they were lives shattered. And through Vianne’s and Isabelle’s eyes, you experience how war ravaged hearts just as much as it ravaged homes.

Vianne’s line near the end, “Men tell stories. Women get on with it.”, just pierced my heart. The novel shines a light on how women fought a war of their own; in silence, in shadows, and often without recognition.

The writing is poignant and lyrical, though the pacing felt uneven at times. Still, that didn’t take away from the emotional impact. This book reminded me that survival isn't always about heroism in the traditional sense - it’s about enduring unimaginable circumstances and finding a way to carry on, even when everything inside you is breaking.

Content Warnings

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Rereading The Hunger Games as an adult was an entirely different experience—one that left me unsettled by how eerily close Panem feels to our own world. Suzanne Collins masterfully crafted a dystopian society that remains terrifyingly relevant, exposing themes of oppression, media manipulation, and the commodification of human suffering.
The brutality of the Games never loses its impact, and Katniss' journey as a reluctant hero is just as gripping now as it was the first time I read it.

Collins' worldbuilding is unmatched, and the social commentary woven into the story makes it clear why this series still resonates today. However, I wish the book had been longer to flesh out certain aspects, and the love triangle—while thematically significant—felt unnecessary at times. That being said, it serves as a powerful tool to highlight Katniss’ internal conflict and how even personal relationships are twisted into tools of control under a dystopian regime.

I cried during Rue’s death—not just for her, but for the way Katniss recognizes that the real enemy isn’t the tribute who killed her, but the Capitol for forcing children to become pawns in their brutal spectacle. And Cato’s death? Equally heartbreaking. Beneath the ruthless Career tribute was just a child, fighting to survive a game, he was conditioned to believe in. Katniss’ final arrow was an act of mercy, a quiet rebellion against the Capitol’s thirst for suffering.

It’s horrifying to realize that the very people meant to protect their citizens are the ones orchestrating their suffering. Collins makes one thing clear: those in power manipulate, deceive, and use others for their own survival—and they do it under the guise of control, entertainment, and order.

The Hunger Games isn’t just a dystopian novel; it’s a chilling reflection of the world we live in. And that’s why it will never lose its relevance.

If We Were Villains

M.L. Rio

3.75

dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

If We Were Villains is an atmospheric, eerie dark academia novel that fully immerses you in the world of elite Shakespearean theater students. The setting was hauntingly beautiful, and the tension kept me intrigued—I just had to know how Oliver ended up in jail.

That said, I struggled to connect with the characters. Their morally gray decisions and tangled secrets made for an interesting read, but I never truly felt for them. While many say you don’t need Shakespeare knowledge to enjoy this book, I personally felt that understanding the plays would have deepened the experience. So much of the plot revolves around the characters using Shakespeare’s words as a figurative and metaphorical way of expressing themselves, and I know I missed some of the clues because of it.

The ending left me with more questions than answers, which I guess added to the book’s dark academia nature, but also left me wanting more. A solid read, but not an all-time favourite for me!

Heartbreak Houseshare

Emily Merrill

4.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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: Complicated

Heartbreak Houseshare beautifully captures the uncertainty of your twenties—the feeling of falling behind while everyone else seems to have life figured out. This book reminded me that life isn’t a race; we’re all on our own paths, moving at our own pace.

I adored the portrayal of strong female friendships and the way the book also discussed mental health, especially through

Felicity’s sister’s struggles

. However, I wanted more depth—

more exploration of Felicity and Teddy’s individual breakups, more shared moments between the girls rather than just being told about them, and a deeper dive into the “Agony Aunt” column

. The romance was sweet but felt slightly rushed, even for a friends-to-lovers arc.

That said, as someone navigating my twenties, this book hit home in many ways, and I saw pieces of myself in Felicity’s journey. However, I also think my experience played a role in my rating, as I’ve never been in a relationship or had a breakup like Felicity’s, so I didn’t connect with that aspect as much.
Still a heartfelt, relatable read that I enjoyed! 💙

The Wishing Game

Meg Shaffer

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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: Complicated

“Hate is a knife without a handle. You can’t cut something with it without cutting yourself.”

This book was pure nostalgia wrapped in heartwarming storytelling. It gave me Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibes mixed with Matilda, where Lucy felt like a real-life Miss Honey. I laughed, cried, and smiled right along with the characters.

Christopher and Lucy’s relationship was the heart of this book, and I loved how it unfolded with warmth and care. Jack’s riddles were more than just clever games—they carried lessons that made the story feel even more magical. And Hugo? Not my favorite at first, but he completely grew on me with his perfect mix of grumpy and golden retriever energy.

The setting of Clock Island was mesmerizing—I wish I could get an invitation myself! The book within a book concept was so creative, with snippets of the fictional Clock Island stories woven into the plot. And even though there’s no actual magic, Meg Shaffer’s writing felt magical, making this entire book an absolute dream to read.

A beautifully written, whimsical story about second chances, found family, and the power of books. If you love heartfelt stories that make you feel like a kid again, this is the one for you!😊

Content Warnings

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