thebookssmuggler's reviews
102 reviews

Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

WOW!! I can't believe the Pandava series finally comes to an end 🥹... I've had so much fun reading these books during the past couple of years - laughing out loud, crying, worrying, and rejoicing over everything these characters go through, experience, and accomplish! My absolute favorite thing about this book were the different trials the three girls had to go through to get their godly powers back (each one tailored for each Pandava). 
Mini's trial and character hold a special place in my heart 🫶😭. 
Roshani Chokshi, you've done it again. Thanks for building this world and telling stories about friendship, girlhood, love, and family - all with a dash of Hindu mythology 🙌😉📚. 10/10, would recommend!!

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

This has become my new favorite romance book <33. Alexis Hall, your writing is astonishing. The way it captures the reader and keeps you hanging for more, the emotions each of the characters feel being felt by us too, through the pages and chapters- I adored it. I love the dual POV too, it makes everything much more exciting- THE YEARNING, OMG. Every time Justin opened his mouth, I swooned. Everything about this book, I loved it. Every interaction between these lovely characters. And that epilogue- that IS what an epilogue should be. I am going to cry now :D. Thanks for writing this, it made my heart happy.
 
PS: Make men like Gracewood come to life, I want one too.

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-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

4.25

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

this book gave me more questions than answers. I can't with James Dashner's cliffhangers 😭. I need to read book 3 ASAP. 
(I am loving these books).

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.25

new favorite book. I could see myself in both of these girls, maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much haha, 10/10 <33

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.75

You Always Change the Love of Your Life (for Another Love or Another Life) by Amalia Andrade Arango

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

new favorite. amazed. 10/10. can't believe I didn't read these sooner.
PS: took away .25 bc the ending was a bit rushed, but loved it, overall.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

adventurous challenging emotional funny 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

4.5

I absolutely adored and enjoyed this book so much! Made me feel all the emotions. It's my new favorite romance book. Would totally fall for a Zaf or a Dani, too ;)

How to Stay in Love: A Divorce Lawyer's Guide to Staying Together by James J. Sexton, James J. Sexton

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

4.25

"I loved this book, from the writing to the helpful advice. As a psychologist genuinely invested in learning how people form and end relationships, this book taught me so much about marriage from the perspective of a divorce lawyer. 10/10."