thebookssmuggler's reviews
107 reviews

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

Wow, wow, WOW! πŸ€―πŸ‘ I absolutely adored this book! House of Hollow is fascinating and beautifully written mystery novel that has taken a spot in my favorite books now 🫢. I love dark and extravagant books like this one, written like a horror movie, but not being horror per se. More like disturbingly fascinating and mysterious πŸ€­πŸ‘€.

If you are in the mood for this kind of read and are in a reading slump of sorts, this book is bound to help you out of it! 🀌 The storyline is intriguing and keeps you hooked, and you'll stay for the characters too! The Hollow sisters will charm you just like they did me, I promise πŸ’–. I loved the twists and turns and surprises, I adore those. And in this book you realize how, in the end, things are much more complicated than they appear to be... 😳. I am obsessed. 10/10. Would recommend πŸ™Œ.  
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? N/A

5.0

I am absolutely fascinated with this book! πŸ˜­πŸ‘πŸ₯° I must first admit that I have never read The Great Gatsby so maybe I couldn't appreciate the remixed version Anna-Marie wrote πŸ˜‚- BUT! I can appreciate the story as a whole and that's what I'm fascinated with 🫢. I loved everything about this book and now I won't stop recommending Self-Made Boys πŸ₯‚.

The writing is so captivating that once you start reading, it's very difficult to stop. I started this book a month ago and despised not having time to read during college πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚- but now that I've had a week off school, I've gotten to finish it. It's just an absolutely worth it, enthralling and charming story to follow!! 😌

The diversity and representation in this book is wonderfully written and having these, alongside the time period and challenges faced by all of our main characters back then- it's a treasure to read. Lots of lessons woven in between these pages ❀️. I think that McLemore has become my new favorite author and I'm so excited to read more of their books!! πŸ‘ 
Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie

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adventurous funny informative mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This book is a collection of Hercule Poirot short stories- eleven of them altogether- and each case more deviously clever than the last. Agatha Christie writes intriguing and engaging short stories SO very well. The pace is fast and it always has sufficient sides to keep Poirot and Captain Hastings on their toes. The mystery genre is incredibly entertaining and I have been reminded why I adore it so much. 

First there was the mystery of the film star and the diamond... then came the β€œsuicide” that was murder... the mystery of the absurdly cheap flat...a suspicious death in a locked gun room... a million dollar bond robbery... the curse of a pharaoh’s tomb... a jewel robbery by the sea... the abduction of a prime minister... the disappearance of a banker... a phone call from a dying man... and, finally, the mystery of the missing will. All solved by the brilliant deductive powers and little gray cells of Hercule Poirot!
You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky

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adventurous 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

4.0

After 2 months of reading, I've finally finished this book πŸ‘. Don't panic though, it's not more than 300 pages long- I've just been too busy to sit down and finish it in 4 hours πŸ˜‚. But it's definitely that kind of book! It captures your attention and keeps you engaged with the story of these young boys and they're slow burn romance πŸ₯°. It's entertaining and funny to read, has some charming and kindhearted characters that'll make you smile and also warm your heart. The lessons engraved in this one! Amazing πŸ™. Despite it being a romcom, it feels more like a contemporary and self-discovery story to learn from. I adored seeing Matthew's arc and development and the ending- couldn't have been more perfect. His story is wonderful to read about πŸ’š. 
 I also adore how Timothy Janovsky's books always include mental health representation and awareness; I think this is something that we need more of in New Adult and Adult fiction πŸ™. Especially on a genre like romance- it's so important to highlight and teach how mental health and wellbeing are just another aspect of our characters and have to be embraced and included in our love stories. Someone can be there for you, stay and love all that you are, lovers and friends, no matter our dark side and struggles. I adore seeing that kind of storylines in Romance and Fiction, especially in queer and lgbtqia+ novels! ⭐️❀️
EnamΓ³rate de ti: El valor imprescindible de la autoestima by Walter Riso

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.25

10/10. quΓ© importante es aprender a amarse. PS: viva el hedonismo
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

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

4.0

Aru Shah and the City of Gold by Roshani Chokshi

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adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring 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

4.5

I absolutely did not predict that ending at all 😭. everything was going SO good and they were finally having a moment of happiness- but he had to show up and ruin it all... 10/10. I enjoyed this one so much πŸ₯°. I'm excited for the finale omg <33
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

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adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? N/A

4.0