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senali's reviews
115 reviews
On Principle by Bonnie Callahan
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
To all the girls who don’t love themselves enough, who think they’re difficult to love ; this book is for you ! ❤
I have been a huge fan of the author's writing since her debut, and her newest book, On Principle, definitely deserves to be highlighted. Not only does it feature a swoon-worthy romance, but it also delves into heavy themes like mental health. This book is so beautiful that I have been struggling to find the right words to express my thoughts about this book and how deeply it resonated with me since the day I finished reading it.
On Principle follows Emeline, a dedicated teacher who works hard and hides her trauma beneath the surface. She believes love isn’t meant for her, but one day, she takes a chance on a one-night stand with a handsome Irish man. Things take an unexpected turn when he shows up as the new head of her school. While Emmie believes she’s hard to love, this man loves her effortlessly, like it’s breathing. Not only that, but he helps her understand that mental health and self-love should come first. This aspect of the story made me fall in love with the book even more.
PS: Emmie + Tommy ship is my new favorite 🚢😌
Overall, On Principle is a perfect blend of funny scenes, romance, steam, mental health representation, and so much more. This book was one of that "came for the romance , stayed for the mental health matters themes" books that you would instantly fall in love with.
I have been a huge fan of the author's writing since her debut, and her newest book, On Principle, definitely deserves to be highlighted. Not only does it feature a swoon-worthy romance, but it also delves into heavy themes like mental health. This book is so beautiful that I have been struggling to find the right words to express my thoughts about this book and how deeply it resonated with me since the day I finished reading it.
On Principle follows Emeline, a dedicated teacher who works hard and hides her trauma beneath the surface. She believes love isn’t meant for her, but one day, she takes a chance on a one-night stand with a handsome Irish man. Things take an unexpected turn when he shows up as the new head of her school. While Emmie believes she’s hard to love, this man loves her effortlessly, like it’s breathing. Not only that, but he helps her understand that mental health and self-love should come first. This aspect of the story made me fall in love with the book even more.
PS: Emmie + Tommy ship is my new favorite 🚢😌
Overall, On Principle is a perfect blend of funny scenes, romance, steam, mental health representation, and so much more. This book was one of that "came for the romance , stayed for the mental health matters themes" books that you would instantly fall in love with.
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
5.0
"A Curse for True Love" is the final book in the "Once Upon a Broken Heart" trilogy. If you've read my review of "The Ballad of Never After," you’ll know just how excited I was to get my hands on this book. And I won’t lie, I truly loved how the trilogy came to an end. It gave me the happily ever after that I was looking forward to. The only chapters I didn't care for were Apollo's POV. And oh, Jacks...
I can't wait to reread the entire trilogy to experience the magic all over again. On a special note, "The Ballad of Never After" will always be my favorite of the three.
I can't wait to reread the entire trilogy to experience the magic all over again. On a special note, "The Ballad of Never After" will always be my favorite of the three.
The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan
4.25
If you’re a fan of Asian (specifically Chinese) myths blended with fantasy and romance, The Last Dragon of the East will be your next favorite book. The entire story is portrayed through the POV of the male protagonist, and it’s been a while since I’ve read a book entirely from a man's perspective. I can relate to the MMC in a funny way because he tends to make silly jokes at serious moments—which only lands him in more trouble.
This book has the ability to make you feel both happy and sad at the same time. There are some depictions of violence that some readers might find disturbing, but I devoured the book in a single sitting. It gave me similar vibes to Axie Oh’s 'The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea', yet both books are unique in their own ways. Overall, The Last Dragon of the East will be a strong contender for my favorite read of the month.
This book has the ability to make you feel both happy and sad at the same time. There are some depictions of violence that some readers might find disturbing, but I devoured the book in a single sitting. It gave me similar vibes to Axie Oh’s 'The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea', yet both books are unique in their own ways. Overall, The Last Dragon of the East will be a strong contender for my favorite read of the month.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
4.0
I've found myself in a complicated relationship with Cleopatra and Frankenstein. This book... This book is about two broken people getting together only to break each other even more. I love and hate this book at the same time but my love for this book weighs a bit heavier than the hate. That’s why I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories.
One thing I really loved about the book was the writing style. It was truly addicting. Even though age gap romances aren’t my thing, the writing style kept me hooked. The story was enchanting , unique and unforgettable. This is one of those books that you keep on thinking about at midnight, even months after finishing.
After what happened to poor Oh Jesus How I Adore You - ( yes , that's the name of Cleo & Frank's pet ) , I lost interest in the story. But did I quit? Absolutely not. I devoured every last page.
This review might seem as chaotic as the book itself, but that’s exactly how I feel about Cleopatra and Frankenstein.
One thing I really loved about the book was the writing style. It was truly addicting. Even though age gap romances aren’t my thing, the writing style kept me hooked. The story was enchanting , unique and unforgettable. This is one of those books that you keep on thinking about at midnight, even months after finishing.
After what happened to poor Oh Jesus How I Adore You - ( yes , that's the name of Cleo & Frank's pet ) , I lost interest in the story. But did I quit? Absolutely not. I devoured every last page.
This review might seem as chaotic as the book itself, but that’s exactly how I feel about Cleopatra and Frankenstein.
The Silent Waters by Brittainy C. Cherry
5.0
As hard as it is for a reader to pick a favorite book, it is even harder to review a book they truly love. There's always the fear that their review won't do justice to the book. If I could give this book a million stars, I would. This is one of the most beautiful, heartfelt books I've read in a while.
The story begins with Maggie as a child, who is in love with a boy named Brooks. One day, Maggie experiences a very traumatic incident that leaves her unable to speak. The event that causes her to become mute profoundly changes her life and the lives of those around her. The story flows through different timelines, revealing the depth of their journey. And guess what? Maggie is an avid reader, and Brooks, who isn't much of a reader, starts reading and annotating books because of her. And oh ! it is mentioned that Persuasion & Northanger Abbey are the greatest of Austen and yeah, I can't agree more.
I love how beautifully the theme of love—romantic, familial, and platonic—is depicted throughout the story. I won't lie; I actually cried while reading some scenes that were incredibly emotional. I don't have enough words to describe how much I love this book. So, get ready to see more posts about this book on my feed!
A big THANK YOU to @coloredpagesbt , @sourcebookscasa , and @bcherryauthor for including me in the book tour for this amazing book, which has instantly become one of my favorites.
The story begins with Maggie as a child, who is in love with a boy named Brooks. One day, Maggie experiences a very traumatic incident that leaves her unable to speak. The event that causes her to become mute profoundly changes her life and the lives of those around her. The story flows through different timelines, revealing the depth of their journey. And guess what? Maggie is an avid reader, and Brooks, who isn't much of a reader, starts reading and annotating books because of her. And oh ! it is mentioned that Persuasion & Northanger Abbey are the greatest of Austen and yeah, I can't agree more.
I love how beautifully the theme of love—romantic, familial, and platonic—is depicted throughout the story. I won't lie; I actually cried while reading some scenes that were incredibly emotional. I don't have enough words to describe how much I love this book. So, get ready to see more posts about this book on my feed!
A big THANK YOU to @coloredpagesbt , @sourcebookscasa , and @bcherryauthor for including me in the book tour for this amazing book, which has instantly become one of my favorites.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
3.75
The pacing does slow down a bit in the middle and can feel somewhat dull, but after certain events, it picks up again in a unique way, portraying the story of a small hockey town and its people. I know this will be one of those books I find myself thinking about late at night, even months or years from now.
Overall, this was a good read. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys slow-paced, character-driven , socially reflective books.
Overall, this was a good read. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys slow-paced, character-driven , socially reflective books.
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
4.75
Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey stands out from her other novels with its focus on satire on the values and conventions of the society , coming of age and character development, beyond just romance and family dynamics. For me, Henry Tilney is one of Austen's greenest flags—he's very close to his sister, values his loved ones, enjoys reading, is witty, and appreciates muslin.
As one of Austen's final works, I think this plot is better and intriguing than her other books. Northanger Abbey offers a rich set of themes, including coming of age, friendship, deceit, hypocrisy, social class, vanity, and the satirized gothic elements. It explores love, life, literature, and uses humor and sarcasm effectively.
Despite my deep affection for Northanger Abbey, Persuasion remains my favorite, with Northanger Abbey and Pride & Prejudice sharing a close second place. I highly recommend this novel to beginners who would love to explore classics and Jane Austen.
As one of Austen's final works, I think this plot is better and intriguing than her other books. Northanger Abbey offers a rich set of themes, including coming of age, friendship, deceit, hypocrisy, social class, vanity, and the satirized gothic elements. It explores love, life, literature, and uses humor and sarcasm effectively.
Despite my deep affection for Northanger Abbey, Persuasion remains my favorite, with Northanger Abbey and Pride & Prejudice sharing a close second place. I highly recommend this novel to beginners who would love to explore classics and Jane Austen.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
5.0
Anxious People is about a set of anxious people (idiots, according to the narrator) who are in different ways connected to each other. I love how the author intertwines every incident with each character, creating a complete and intriguing picture.
The story revolves around an apartment viewing gone chaotic when a failed bank robber takes hostages. The group includes a retired couple, a wealthy banker, expectant parents, an elderly woman, a frazzled agent, and a mystery guy. They all have secrets and grudges, leading to surprising twists and turns. It's a book about peculiar solidarity and much more.
This is one of the best, most intriguing, gripping, and unique books I've read in a while. It wasn't the mystery but the portrayal of small social exchanges & human behavior that made me fall in love with the book. The book felt like a social mirror. I also want to appreciate the author's incredible writing style mixed with humour which kept me hooked till the end. This is a book we all must read. Perhaps, it might be the book you've been searching for.
The story revolves around an apartment viewing gone chaotic when a failed bank robber takes hostages. The group includes a retired couple, a wealthy banker, expectant parents, an elderly woman, a frazzled agent, and a mystery guy. They all have secrets and grudges, leading to surprising twists and turns. It's a book about peculiar solidarity and much more.
This is one of the best, most intriguing, gripping, and unique books I've read in a while. It wasn't the mystery but the portrayal of small social exchanges & human behavior that made me fall in love with the book. The book felt like a social mirror. I also want to appreciate the author's incredible writing style mixed with humour which kept me hooked till the end. This is a book we all must read. Perhaps, it might be the book you've been searching for.