stephsparkles's Reviews (107)

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful 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
challenging emotional funny hopeful 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
adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

Loved the way she told her story and would love another book about the new chapter of life she's in now.
challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Let me start with what I loved: I love the way this book is written! I found myself not wanting to put it down most of the time because I needed to know what was going to happen next! I can also relate a lot to Julie on her journey of finding a new life after a controlling relationship. I love all of the family dynamics between both Andy and Julie's families, and I really love when everyone is together. You can feel the love in the pages. Also... I LOVED THE STEAMINESS AND THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT!! OMG!! Every steamy scene was PERFECTION and frankly I could read those over and over!! Ay yi YI!! Gimme more of that, please and thank you!!

In saying that... I don't love Andy. He's fine, but he has some issues that are maybe only apparent to me, after going through my own personal life experiences. I really don't love the running scene in the beginning of the book. Both Andy and Anthony are being pretty misogynistic the entire time, from being OVERLY concerned about a woman alone (this happens several times throughout the book) and the competitiveness. The other part that turned me a little off on Andy was how he acted when Julie even started to mention going on a date with someone. He acts very possessive and childish and I just didn't like it.
challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Set the Record Straight

Hannah Bonam-Young

DID NOT FINISH: 2%

Just didn't have time, will revisit another time.

The Martian

Andy Weir

DID NOT FINISH: 28%

Had to return to library, but buying my own copy to continue next year.
dark funny fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

October Winters is the villain I want to be and to root for. While all of her motives are selfish and truly dark, she just has so much fun being bad. 
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I found the overall story and writing vaguely boring, but at least wanted to know how it ended. It was just ok. The story could have been a little more detailed and flushed out, but stayed kinda boring and vanilla. Simple story about true love that just wasn't my cup of tea.