staceen's reviews
57 reviews

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

After the death of their friend, 5 college friends make a pact to hold living funerals for each other during the most challenging time of each of their lives. More melancholy than I was expecting from Stephen Rowley. Great characterization, but I would have loved more details about each (a 900 page book).  There was lots of dry, witty humor and banter, but overall very serious, which was actually nice. I listened, and I think it deserves a text reread. The author does do a beautiful job with the audiobook.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Seven Exes by Lucy Vine

Go to review page

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

3.0

With the help of her besties and an old magazine article, Esther goes on a quest through her exes to find the one. It was cute, but could have been 100 pages (or 2 exes) shorter. Dragged for me in the middle a bit. Esther gives strong Bridget Jones vibes, while a little dated, lots of fun at the same time. The ending was sweet. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Throwback by Maurene Goo

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Sam and her mom have an epic fight that sends Sam back in time to the 90s to help her mom win homecoming queen. I loved this book: the characters were fleshed out and flawed but demonstrated growth. I loved the mother/daughter/granddaughter relationships. I loved their Korean heritage. We even got a sneaky romance! I read for book club and one of the (younger) members took issue with some of Sam’s references, saying no young person would say things like that. Not a problem for me. 
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ultra-wealthy New York family dynamics, switching perspectives between the two sisters and their sister-in-law who they call GD (gold digger). Deals with complicated subjects of money, marriage, and family dynamics. I really loved this, although not a ton happened plot-wise. The characters were super compelling and interesting. The first book in a while I couldn’t put down. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is my second read of this brilliant novel. I listened to the audio the first time around. It was just as masterful, thrilling, and emotional this time around. Is this my new favorite book? Maybe. Just read it. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

I thought this was really sweet! I really liked Fern and her complicated relationship with her mom and the resort where she grew up. Very lite spice, and I didn’t really get the Will has anxiety subplot, I guess it was meant to excuse/explain behavior? I loved that t I got a strong sense of place, I had such affection for the resort and the lake. I got chills when Fran finds the drawing and cried through the last 20 pages. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

A multigenerational family story centered around a supper club in Minnesota. The characters struggle with family obligations, children and fertility, and tragedy (
death of a child
).

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked some characters while others felt very flat. It was an ambitious story, and I sometimes with the author focused on one or two storylines or wrote this as a series of short stories, all centered around the supper club. Cute overall though. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death by Corinne May Botz

Go to review page

dark informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

So very cool! I learned about Frances Glessner Lee and the nutshells in Savage Appetites by Rachel Monroe. This book is an incredible companion. So thoughtful, beautiful, informative and scholarly, Corinne May Botz positions the models in not only forensics and criminal justice, but also literature, women’s studies, and philosophy. I bought it for the gorgeous photography but the text is also amazing. 
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

Go to review page

dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

3.5

A very quick read, apparently the contents of her live show, which makes sense. I liked it, and I absolutely adore Carrie Fisher, obviously, I just thought I was in for more of an introspective memoir. I thought she could have dug a little deeper, despite how candid she was. I guess I just want more. 
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Go to review page

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.5

The writing was strong, and I liked the romance and the characters. But the settings, first at a cringey “SNL” show and then during COVID, really took me out of it. The email exchange was the strongest piece for me (very Rainbow Rowell Attachments) and the love story was sweet, but the amount of times someone put on or took off a mask is not what I want in my romcoms.