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t0ast_and_t3a's Reviews (494)
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know I can’t say something about Hemingway that hasn’t already been said, but here goes…
I understand the celebration of his work in two ways: 1. Historically and 2. Stylistically.
It must have been deeply moving to pick up something to read after WWI that people could relate to. The ebb and flow of their lives, the repetitive nature of said world, and have it was all lain out so simplistically in its depth.
I—though I couldn’t find true connections with any of the characters—still saw all this and understood its value. Is this something I’d reread? No. But is it something I’m glad I read, if only to understand its reputation? Yes.
Most impactful line: “Maybe if you found out how to live in it you learned from that what it was all about.” (Page 136)
I understand the celebration of his work in two ways: 1. Historically and 2. Stylistically.
It must have been deeply moving to pick up something to read after WWI that people could relate to. The ebb and flow of their lives, the repetitive nature of said world, and have it was all lain out so simplistically in its depth.
I—though I couldn’t find true connections with any of the characters—still saw all this and understood its value. Is this something I’d reread? No. But is it something I’m glad I read, if only to understand its reputation? Yes.
Most impactful line: “Maybe if you found out how to live in it you learned from that what it was all about.” (Page 136)
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pacing slowed down a bit again, but in retrospect I understand it was done to help build the tension for the big twist/reveal. The theory I’ve had since book one was proven, and though the series was more predictable than surprising, overall it was a pretty good story with loveable characters and a satisfying arc for characters and plot.
Series overall rating: 3.75🌟
Series overall rating: 3.75🌟
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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
6🌟 guys. 6.
This is a book about humanity. About what is means to be human even when you aren’t even sure you’re human yourself. The unnamed narrator is as uncertain of her origin as she is of her destiny, but she still hopes, she still wants, she still becomes. There is a hefty amount of ambiguity, but its purpose to the novel and its characters is more important. I’d argue it’s what makes the book so impactful.
It’s wild this book isn’t assigned in classes—all my college classes and not once have I heard of this book until a friend randomly read it and told me about it.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Harrow knows how to sink her claws in tenderly and effectively. Reading anything she writes is like a dull sting of pain that she always manages to find the right salve for. The language, the story, the characters—the EVERYTHING. This is a story about adventure and freedom and love, and all the doors they open. You won’t regret reading.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such an interesting story, with a unique twist on fairytales and the gender roles assigned among them. However, the pacing is a bit off—the first 100 pages gripped me, had me questioning what had happenED in order to explain what was happenING. But somewhere around 40-50% the story plateaued. There were a few random chapters from a completely different character that were unnecessary and information just kept being repeated for no purpose. The characters were interesting and complex, especially Cai, but it wasn’t enough to counter the pacing/structure issues. I loved the darker themes, though, to represent everyday complexities, and the original take on “devouring books.”
Favorite line: “For here was the thing that no fairy tale would ever admit, but that she understood in that moment: love was not inherently good.” (Page 160)
Favorite line: “For here was the thing that no fairy tale would ever admit, but that she understood in that moment: love was not inherently good.” (Page 160)
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
Steady pacing for the third book in the series and a return to focus on the plot of the story, balancing the romance far better than book 2. Still predictable but again, doesn’t take away from the story. I really enjoyed Thea’s struggle/character-build this book, and the ending, which I did NOT see coming—so it hit perfectly after everything we learned in this book. Eager for the conclusion!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one was far more action-packed than the last and the stakes were raised, but some of the scenes were a bit repetitive (mostly the 🌶️ scenes) and the overuse of ”a familiar voice from behind”. This one was still predictable, but it didn’t take away from the story for me—I actually liked that I saw the twists coming because it made me question a few things I didn’t in the first book. I also really liked more of the back and forth in this one—it balanced out the story better than the first. Ready for the third!
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First, this is a book you should listen to—they do a great job of producing the podcast aspects of the story, as well as dual narration.
Aside from that, this has everything a good, solid “whodunnit” needs. Many red herrings, twists and turns, and an ending where it comes together. I had MANY theories, and one of them was right, but not my first one, which explains its rating because I typically figure it out in the first quarter of the book. There was just one—well, two things, really, but with all the clues, I’d argue they were connected—thing that felt a bit open-ended for me, so that’s where the story lost half a star. (Only a half a star because I might just be making connections where there really were none due to spoken-narrative inference.)
Aside from that, this has everything a good, solid “whodunnit” needs. Many red herrings, twists and turns, and an ending where it comes together. I had MANY theories, and one of them was right, but not my first one, which explains its rating because I typically figure it out in the first quarter of the book. There was just one—well, two things, really, but with all the clues, I’d argue they were connected—thing that felt a bit open-ended for me, so that’s where the story lost half a star. (Only a half a star because I might just be making connections where there really were none due to spoken-narrative inference.)
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Welp, Harrow does it again, and this time with less than 40 pages. The visuals! The writing! The characters! And ugh, the romance!! All so complex in their simplicity—Harrow is an absolute master.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am an absolute sucker for Friends to Lovers, but especially when it’s done so well. The only thing that could have made this better was dual perspectives. Borison is quickly becoming my go-to RomCom author, with her character-driven stories and fresh takes on common tropes and the perfect balance of cozy and spice. If you see this, Borison, this is my official application to be your forever beta reader😂