themanicuredreader's reviews
333 reviews

The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman

emotional funny 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? No

5.0

A story of chosen family with touches of holiday magic that made me cry at a few points. I love following this author on Instagram & on Bad on Paper, so it was the most fun to see TCOC come to life! I loved Hannah & Finn’s relationship. Here’s to more books about best friends & chosen family. 

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

So entertaining! It kept me turning the pages. So much happened in this book. Tairn & Andarna are still the best characters. Can’t believe I’m here for a dragon book. And I love redemption arcs! Looking forward to book three! 

The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren

funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

The Unhoneymooners is a favorite CLo of mine, & it was SO much fun to revisit these characters while I was in Maui! I loved getting to know Ami more, & the full cast audio was awesome. Plus, I’m a sucker for this trope. 

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde

emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

Is there a better feeling than immersing yourself in a series? Somehow this book was better than the first, as much as I love Stevie & Zanders? Ryan & Indy were the sweetest, quietest love story & it was so fun to watch their relationship evolve from “roommates”. And this was some of the best “fake dating” I’ve ever read!  

Mile High by Liz Tomforde

emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

Ummm this book is absolutely delightful and un-put-downable?! My friends recommended it, & I was skeptical given I don’t always vibe with the quality of a Kindle Unlimited book, but these characters! So well developed, whole, well-rounded people with good jobs. The mental health representation! The body image discussions! The rescue dogs! I will be reading the rest of this series & thinking about Stevie & Zanders for a long time to come! Also, it’s giving Tayvis in a way! 

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I don’t want kids, & if I did want them before reading this book, I wouldn’t want them now. This book was captivating, & I felt the range of emotions from empathy to frustration, sometimes all at once. While I appreciated Whitney’s honesty in her aversion to parenting, she was also appalling at times. Mara’s story was also heartbreaking & compelling. Rebecca was the best. And I felt so sad for Blair, although I understood a lot of her decisions. Can’t wait to read more from Audrain. I loved THE PUSH, too! 

The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

An unputdownable, eerie, masterfully written thriller. The short chapters & differing POVs had me turning the pages nonstop. What I found most striking was Rachel’s drive to protect Cecelia. She didn’t have to, but it was natural to her to do so. I’m so glad Bad on Paper chose this for the October 2023 book club! 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Total page-turner that lives up to the hype! Never did I imagine myself feeling invested in a couple of dragons (why are Tairn & Andarna the best characters?!) Writing wasn’t the best (how many times can the main character feel nauseous), but easy to overlook when there’s so much action & you’re rooting for Violet & her friends. Can’t wait for book two! 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is one of the most beautiful books. I loved following Lara’s story from her high school days until the present. Her connection to Our Town’s Emily was deep & true & showed the struggle of excelling at something but knowing you’ll grow out of it. I was captivated by her time at Tom Lake & everyone she encountered. While there is conflict, it’s not overly dramatic or shocking. It’s a quiet story with a vast message, & it shows that you can end up exactly where you’re supposed to be & be happy because of it, because you experienced it all & ended up with what you wanted, even if it isn’t the most glamorous. I loved Lara’s family — her daughters & her husband. And the Michigan setting! Just stunning, especially for someone who loves Michigan so much. We need more novels set in Michigan! 

Love in the Dunes: Las Vegas Writers on Passion and Heartache by Jarret Keene, Geoff Schumacher

reflective medium-paced

3.0

Bought this almost two years ago at a local bookstore in Vegas. A good variety of short stories that had me highlighting a lot of Vegas-specific passages. Many could’ve been stronger but I enjoyed them overall. I’d read another collection based in Vegas if this is an annual production.