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selbs2004's reviews
94 reviews
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
T.J.Rs writing has always gotten me emotional, and this book was no different in that way. I still very much had my moments of feeling the heavy feelings of the characters and feeling it relate to my own life. What I love about T.J.R is even though we can feel exactly how things may turn out as you read, it never changes how much you anticipate it, and how excited you get when "that part" finally comes up, and that aspect was absolutely flooded throughout this book, making it honestly really magical for me. The parts where we were focusing on the Riva family (especially in part one) were written nicely and gave the reader a lot of space to interpret things as they see it in different ways. My only criticism is the writing of June. Her character fell flat by being consumed by Mick and truly not having any aspirations outside of him, we should've seen more of her and desires and strength that didn't revolve around him. But overall, part one was decently done.
Part 2, though, was filler upon filler. Now I don't mind filler (it can be fun and definitely add some layers), but my problem was the repetitiveness of the fillers. We learn about different people and celebrities that are this party and their desires, but they all want the same thing every time sex or their one true love. It was atongnizly annoying to go through these half assed written stories of romance for absolutely zero payout at the end. Overall, you started to care less and less about the book altogether. The chapters surrounding the Riva family, though, were beautiful and truly wish this book focused more on them and their family dynamics in part 2.
Edit: The more that I think about this book more I realize how much I loved it, so I am improving my rating to 4, but as more previous grievances still stand it will most likely stay at a 4
Part 2, though, was filler upon filler. Now I don't mind filler (it can be fun and definitely add some layers), but my problem was the repetitiveness of the fillers. We learn about different people and celebrities that are this party and their desires, but they all want the same thing every time sex or their one true love. It was atongnizly annoying to go through these half assed written stories of romance for absolutely zero payout at the end. Overall, you started to care less and less about the book altogether. The chapters surrounding the Riva family, though, were beautiful and truly wish this book focused more on them and their family dynamics in part 2.
Edit: The more that I think about this book more I realize how much I loved it, so I am improving my rating to 4, but as more previous grievances still stand it will most likely stay at a 4
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5.0
This book was absolutely breathtaking! Every moment had me at the edge of the seat or feeling flooded with emotion!
Carries growth as a charcater was written so eloquently, I felt like I was walking with her through her journey.
The tennis was so descriptive and mesmerizing, I could truly see every intense moment in my head, and it always had me gripping the pages. And you could truly tell how much hard work was put into this book simply from that alone.
But by far, my favorite thing about this book was the portrayal of Carrie's and Javiers father daughter's relationship. It was magical, I felt the love flowing all throughout this book.
Overall, I think this is truly one of T.J.Rs' best written books
Carries growth as a charcater was written so eloquently, I felt like I was walking with her through her journey.
The tennis was so descriptive and mesmerizing, I could truly see every intense moment in my head, and it always had me gripping the pages. And you could truly tell how much hard work was put into this book simply from that alone.
But by far, my favorite thing about this book was the portrayal of Carrie's and Javiers father daughter's relationship. It was magical, I felt the love flowing all throughout this book.
Overall, I think this is truly one of T.J.Rs' best written books
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
5.0
God, this book was breathtaking!
It was one of the most beautiful romances I have ever read.
It was one of the most beautiful romances I have ever read.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
3.0
This book was definitely a ride ( negatively)
Don't get me wrong, I liked the ending. It definitely redeemed the book in a lot of ways, but overall there were so much parts where I put down the book and had to silently scream into the abyss because of the amount of time this book had the charcater whom we are supposed to presume has intelligent do stupid, irrational things without thinking it through at all. Or things just played out too conveniently or suspended disbelief to such an extent so many times it would send me into a fit of laughter.
Gosh, and don't get me started on the reason we are giving for why she cares so deeply about proving his innocence. Like, really? He helped Pip with bullies when she was like eight, and now she is the only one in town who believes he was not guilty (besides Ravi), and she will do anything to prove it????
I wished the book had dived more into the genuine racism that led to blatant ignorance surrounding this case, but it was barely discussed. Then, the amount of time she keeps forgetting that Ravi can not do the same stunts as her because of his race is just appalling to me. I assume the author wanted to portray to her as the nice white girl that truly doesn't see race, but it annoyed me so much, especially considering she has a black step father certainly racism is something she would understand and be able to identify more.
Plus, do not get me started on the fact that one of the MAIN RULES in the book was that she couldn't talk to any of the families involved during her research project and then she immediately did on the next page. What was the point of showing us that if it was something she was going to completely ignore?
And then there was Ravi and Pips' relationship, which I didn't like it at all. The romantic part of it felt extremely forced most of the time and I wish she kept it has friendship especially considering he is 20 and she is still 17 in her senior year of high school, which may not sound weird to some, but to me it was uncomfortable. Plus, the added fact that at most times she sounded incredibly young and it overall felt so odd, I truly think there was no reason for any romantic relationship because it wasn't integrated very well.
As I said in the beginning, though, I did enjoy the ending despite the bumpy road it took to get there, and the constant pushing of reality.
Don't get me wrong, I liked the ending. It definitely redeemed the book in a lot of ways, but overall there were so much parts where I put down the book and had to silently scream into the abyss because of the amount of time this book had the charcater whom we are supposed to presume has intelligent do stupid, irrational things without thinking it through at all. Or things just played out too conveniently or suspended disbelief to such an extent so many times it would send me into a fit of laughter.
Gosh, and don't get me started on the reason we are giving for why she cares so deeply about proving his innocence. Like, really? He helped Pip with bullies when she was like eight, and now she is the only one in town who believes he was not guilty (besides Ravi), and she will do anything to prove it????
I wished the book had dived more into the genuine racism that led to blatant ignorance surrounding this case, but it was barely discussed. Then, the amount of time she keeps forgetting that Ravi can not do the same stunts as her because of his race is just appalling to me. I assume the author wanted to portray to her as the nice white girl that truly doesn't see race, but it annoyed me so much, especially considering she has a black step father certainly racism is something she would understand and be able to identify more.
Plus, do not get me started on the fact that one of the MAIN RULES in the book was that she couldn't talk to any of the families involved during her research project and then she immediately did on the next page. What was the point of showing us that if it was something she was going to completely ignore?
And then there was Ravi and Pips' relationship, which I didn't like it at all. The romantic part of it felt extremely forced most of the time and I wish she kept it has friendship especially considering he is 20 and she is still 17 in her senior year of high school, which may not sound weird to some, but to me it was uncomfortable. Plus, the added fact that at most times she sounded incredibly young and it overall felt so odd, I truly think there was no reason for any romantic relationship because it wasn't integrated very well.
As I said in the beginning, though, I did enjoy the ending despite the bumpy road it took to get there, and the constant pushing of reality.
Vengeful by V.E. Schwab
3.0
This did not have as well written and organized of a plot compared to Vicious, but it was still an enjoyable read for sure.
I was disappointed by the immense number of side characters that we never got enough time or depth with to care about all, and I was personally expecting so much more from Marcellas character. I wanted to see an intelligent, strong female character who truly succeeded despite the doubts from others, a women who was a step ahead especially considering that is what Schwabs writing felt like it was it was leading up to, but all we got was a Charcter who made stupid decisions who's ego and ambition was her own down fall. (How cliche and disheartening)
We never got to understand June's motivations, which left me with so many questions and left so many holes in her character.
I enjoyed how much more perspective we got from Elis character. And I was happy we were getting so much more depth to his character, but Victor felt extremely two-dimensional in this book and way more unlikable than I hoped.
(Micth is still my favorite character for sure. Did not have enough of him in this book if you asked me)
There is not much to say about Sydney at all, which is also saddening
I was throughly surprised and how much I liked Stell in this book, and as a lot of reviews mentioned, he was the only character that felt real.
Overall, it just felt so unfinished, like it didn't feel like proper ending to this story. Something felt like it was missing epically, considering the very rushed ending to this book
I was disappointed by the immense number of side characters that we never got enough time or depth with to care about all, and I was personally expecting so much more from Marcellas character. I wanted to see an intelligent, strong female character who truly succeeded despite the doubts from others, a women who was a step ahead especially considering that is what Schwabs writing felt like it was it was leading up to, but all we got was a Charcter who made stupid decisions who's ego and ambition was her own down fall. (How cliche and disheartening)
We never got to understand June's motivations, which left me with so many questions and left so many holes in her character.
I enjoyed how much more perspective we got from Elis character. And I was happy we were getting so much more depth to his character, but Victor felt extremely two-dimensional in this book and way more unlikable than I hoped.
(Micth is still my favorite character for sure. Did not have enough of him in this book if you asked me)
There is not much to say about Sydney at all, which is also saddening
I was throughly surprised and how much I liked Stell in this book, and as a lot of reviews mentioned, he was the only character that felt real.
Overall, it just felt so unfinished, like it didn't feel like proper ending to this story. Something felt like it was missing epically, considering the very rushed ending to this book