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thebookssmuggler's reviews
107 reviews
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
this book made me realize that the cosmos should be our God <3
You Are Your Own: A Reckoning with the Religious Trauma of Evangelical Christianity by Jamie Lee Finch
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Brain Briefs: Answers to the Most (and Least) Pressing Questions about Your Mind by Art Markman, Bob Duke
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
LA TEORIA DE LOS ARCHIPIELAGOS by Alice Kellen
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Written In The Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
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? N/A
4.0
I had so much fun reading Written in the Stars 😍😭. This story was everything I was expecting- and more! I was laughing out loud one second and wiping my tears the next. Absolutely recommend this witty, sweet, sexy and charming rom-com 🫶.
After a disastrous blind date, Darcy is desperate to stop her brother from playing matchmaker again, so she fibs and says her latest set up was a success... Elle, however, dreams of finding her soulmate and Darcy was definitely not it for her- but she begs Elle to play along, and she's going to have to set a few conditions to save face and her heart because the last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a fake relationship 🫢.
A free-spirited social media astrologer agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve... with results not even the stars could predict! 🌟
After a disastrous blind date, Darcy is desperate to stop her brother from playing matchmaker again, so she fibs and says her latest set up was a success... Elle, however, dreams of finding her soulmate and Darcy was definitely not it for her- but she begs Elle to play along, and she's going to have to set a few conditions to save face and her heart because the last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a fake relationship 🫢.
A free-spirited social media astrologer agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve... with results not even the stars could predict! 🌟
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
funny
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.0
Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.25
Lakelore is the place where emotions take a magical form, and they follow you around in the real world until you're brave enough to confront them. I adored the powerful message in this story, the incredible representation of gender identity and neurodivergency, the found family trope that's so beautifully written it healed my heart and, of course, the enchanting romance 😍.
It's just beautiful. I have no other words for it. This book's writing and storyline and characters and everything is just beautiful 💘🫶. I fell in love with Bastían and Lore 🥹😭. I will never get over this book. My favorite from now on!
I definitely recommend this book if you like magical realism elements in a YA contemporary and if you want to read more about mental health and neurodivergent characters, this is a go-to 🙌. And it'll surely get you out of a reading slump too!
It's just beautiful. I have no other words for it. This book's writing and storyline and characters and everything is just beautiful 💘🫶. I fell in love with Bastían and Lore 🥹😭. I will never get over this book. My favorite from now on!
I definitely recommend this book if you like magical realism elements in a YA contemporary and if you want to read more about mental health and neurodivergent characters, this is a go-to 🙌. And it'll surely get you out of a reading slump too!
Tears in the Water by Margherita Scialla
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed this book! I wouldn't add it to my list of favorite books (I am kind of picky with those), but it's definitely one I'd recommend. Especially if you're interested in a coming-of-age, college set, young adult story. That's definitely the main focus of the book <3. A short, character-driven, contemporary story with lessons of love, friendship, and self-discovery.
I think the author did an incredible job with the anxiety and neurodivergent representation in their characters, especially our main, Alex. So well written, you can feel those emotions being described so accurately. ALSO - the romance is a sweet and loving friends-to-lovers trope that I'm obsessed with! Margherita really knows how to write these. And don't get me started on the ton of lgbtqia+ rep, too! 10/10. I'd definitely say this is a story about the characters and their lives in college and preparing for the competitions- but there's no actual plot behind it.... It's still worth it, though. I enjoyed it!
At White Ravens University, where athletes train to become professional sportspeople, Alex is on the swimming team with her best friend, Xiuying. Having grown up mostly alone, parents absent and brother often busy with his own life, Alex tends not to meet new people unless she and Xiuying are together... After an embarrassing encounter with a boy from the volleyball team Alex soon discovers that the world isn’t so big after all and the universe has a funny way of setting people up, especially when and with whom they’re least expecting...
Despite her reserved character, Alex becomes part of a newly formed friend group consisting of four amazing people with different identities and personalities :D. As she tries to overcome her anxiety and negative past events, Alex finds herself both struggling with romantic feelings for a new acquaintance and a full-blown gender crisis... Tears in the Water is a story of self-discovery, found family, friendship, and love. For fans of queer coming of age stories.
I think the author did an incredible job with the anxiety and neurodivergent representation in their characters, especially our main, Alex. So well written, you can feel those emotions being described so accurately. ALSO - the romance is a sweet and loving friends-to-lovers trope that I'm obsessed with! Margherita really knows how to write these. And don't get me started on the ton of lgbtqia+ rep, too! 10/10. I'd definitely say this is a story about the characters and their lives in college and preparing for the competitions- but there's no actual plot behind it.... It's still worth it, though. I enjoyed it!
At White Ravens University, where athletes train to become professional sportspeople, Alex is on the swimming team with her best friend, Xiuying. Having grown up mostly alone, parents absent and brother often busy with his own life, Alex tends not to meet new people unless she and Xiuying are together... After an embarrassing encounter with a boy from the volleyball team Alex soon discovers that the world isn’t so big after all and the universe has a funny way of setting people up, especially when and with whom they’re least expecting...
Despite her reserved character, Alex becomes part of a newly formed friend group consisting of four amazing people with different identities and personalities :D. As she tries to overcome her anxiety and negative past events, Alex finds herself both struggling with romantic feelings for a new acquaintance and a full-blown gender crisis... Tears in the Water is a story of self-discovery, found family, friendship, and love. For fans of queer coming of age stories.
The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This story was definitely interesting and entertaining to read, and I loved the characters, too- BUT it lost me at times... Don't get me wrong, this has potential and fantastic characters and themes of social justice and equity that are well intentioned and represented. However, it lucks writing fluidity and plot structure.
The opening and first few chapters captivate you, and have you hooked for more... but once we reach the rising plot, it's just a mess :( . It felt like the author wanted to do too much in the middle section of the book, but it wasn't well executed. I do believe that this book is an excellent allegory of oppression and fascist regimes. So, points for that plot! But I must give this one 3 stars... I really hope the sequel follows a better storyline... I'll be reading it at some point later this year, so stay tuned for that one 😉.
The opening and first few chapters captivate you, and have you hooked for more... but once we reach the rising plot, it's just a mess :( . It felt like the author wanted to do too much in the middle section of the book, but it wasn't well executed. I do believe that this book is an excellent allegory of oppression and fascist regimes. So, points for that plot! But I must give this one 3 stars... I really hope the sequel follows a better storyline... I'll be reading it at some point later this year, so stay tuned for that one 😉.