shakattxck's reviews
10 reviews

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is incredible, I can't put it into words. The storytelling, techniques, characters, everything is just so well done. I love revisiting Daisy Jones and The Six, and I don't believe they aren't real people every time. I become so invested in them and their stories, and I can't wait to finally watch the mini-series

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I absolutely love this book, I think it's one of Reid's underrated releases. I absolutely adore the Riva siblings - but Nina's relationship with her father speaks to me the most.

Her ranting at him towards the end of the party has me on the verge of tears every time I read it

 

This is a story about growing up, wondering who you are and who's gonna love you. It's about daddy/attachment issues, and holding the weight of the world as your father's first born. The book would be a lot better, just for me personally, if there were less POVs from people I just didn't care about. Hopefully we see more of their stories in other of Reid's work - but for now I just wanted to see the Riva siblings and how their inner conflicts were working themselves out. I also kinda find how

Jay is just... fine with Hud and Ashley's relationship after all that build up of tension. The fight between them is at least a little bit what I expected, but Jay seems to get over it pretty quickly. A bit too quickly for me and all that build up

Still a solid read, perfect for the warmer months. Not a huge fan of Reid bringing up Israel in this book, and also in Evelyn Hugo too - and I really hope it's not a pattern. For now I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt, but I really hope I don't have to boycott some of my favourite characters and stories in the future.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad 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

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Vomit, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Violence, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Stalking, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Grief, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Misogyny, Drug use, Sexual violence, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

2.75

This one was a complicated one for me, I read most of the book in one sitting. I liked the overall premise, that depending on each choice we make our lives get different outcomes. I just didn't really gel with the characters that well, although some of their speeches got me at times. It was interesting to see how each perspective (aka MC getting hit by car, and MC not getting hit by car) changed depending on even the smallest of things. However, it was confusing to keep up with both of them at once, the flip flopping also got a bit repetitive. A solid read, but I probably won't be revisiting. Maybe just think of fondly sometimes

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is one of my favourite instalments of Heartstopper! Throughout the volumes, it feels like Nick and Charlie’s relationship has naturally progressed into making bigger, more grown up decisions. This volume is the embodiment of that, with Nick and Charlie becoming more intimate and Nick also thinking about going to uni. I did love the theme of figuring out who you are without your partner. It was super lovely to see Nick and Charlie have really mature conversations about the future of their relationship and considering each other’s happiness. Watching them steadily grow has been fantastic, and I’m super sad that it’s all coming to an end in the next volume. Excited to see what Heartstopper’s “conclusion” will look like!

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

dark emotional informative relaxing sad tense medium-paced

4.0

This is my second time reading The Five, and it was just as fantastic as the first time. An amazing collection of research and beautifully written, this book is really hard to read but equally as hard to put down. There are countless media forms deep diving into Jack the Ripper, but very few make time and space to honour the women he killed. Rubenhold brings each of them alive and tells their story before leaving them to rest once more. The Five is hauntingly gender critical and a must read for anyone interested in history and/or feminism – although it doesn’t take in to account Black women, it’s certainly a great entry point for women throughout history and the ways in which we define them.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I'm really glad that I finally read Klara and the Sun, it's been sitting on my TBR for 3 years now and I've heard nothing but good things. Overall, I really did enjoy the first half of the book. I found the concept of AFs incredibly interesting and Ishiguro's writing in Klara's POV was excellent. I enjoyed the metaphor around autism and masking throughout - as if Klara represents autistic and other neurodivergent individuals who are learning how other people socialise so they can therefore mimic them and blend into society. This also translates to further themes in the book, as Rick is criticized for the way he interacts and Josie masking in front of her friends. I also enjoyed the science fiction aspect, and the potential for darker themes with the story surrounding Mr. Capaldi. I'm however disappointed that

this was not taken as far as I'd liked, and the ending was much too happy for my taste. I wanted this to rip my heart out, and unfortunately did not go where I was hoping.

A lot of important lessons to offer, but could've been better at showing them especially in the latter half of the novel.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.75

So many characters to keep up with, but ultimately a fun little read. Fast paced with charm and humour throughout. I’m excited to read the prequel and revisit this in the future. Audiobook is also fab!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I didn't love this reread as much as I'd hoped, it's seems weird to me that the whole point of Addie making a deal with the devil in the first place was to escape being owned by a man. And in the end, she's defined by a man remembering her and a man owning her soul? I loved a lot of this book, but I forgot how much the ending falls flat. Reduced my rating, which is sad, but life moves on!