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thereadinghammock's reviews
590 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A story of love, loss, and the difficulty in refinding joy in life after such great loss. Jean's is a story of finding a way to move on after being afraid to live for so long; Max a story of overcoming the fear of "what's next" after a remarkable success, but that's almost intrinsic of the millennial experience these days. Together, the unlikely pair begin healing the others' unseen wounds through friendship and the remarkable power of books.
On a road trip like no other, the men traverse the French canal system, making friends and changing lives along the way. The Literary Apothecary dispenses its bookish wisdom to customers and passengers both, and Nina George manages to pack remarkably insightful wisdom and worldly advice into a wonderful story of love, grief, found family, and relearning how to live.
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
- 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
4.0
I loved Frankie's openness and efforts to talk things through as openly and honestly with Jay from day one. Jay took her refreshing candor in stride and did his best to match her, and pretty darn well for someone with as rocky an emotional past as he had (from growing up in the foster system to the ex who absolutely gutted him). I appreciated Frankie's friends, all of whom are truly ride-or-die for each other in the best of ways. I look forward to reading their books in the rest of the All Access series.
Overall, as a non-disabled reader, the focus on Frankie's capabilities as a woman in a wheelchair was enlightening and just really cool to read. The accessible adaptations to the things I take for granted as an able-bodied person were interesting and never really focused on in a way that fetishized or glamourized her life in a wheelchair, but instead just told it like it is and the things that make up her everyday life. And I appreciated when she called Jay out for his ableist thinking, which also called me out as a reader to rethink my assumptions!
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
- 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
Gracie is delightfully relatable. Just trying to get by, not feeling much direction in her life, and struggling to pull her life together, one failed task manager/to do list/organizer app at a time. Her skepticism is very warranted, but her need t prove Sam Yao wrong--that she CAN pull this off, is also something I can relate to as well. I appreciated the caregiver representation of Gracie's role in trying to care for her aging, and declining mother, suffering from dementia. That even during the height of her Fangli performance, she still makes time to go check in on her mother when she's having a bad day. I also thought the representation of mental health struggles, for both Fangli and Gracie was poignant and well handled. Everyone's journey is their own, but someone's bravery in sharing their story or path to progress can help inspire someone else to take the first steps.
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Orphaned with two younger sisters to worry after, Eleanor Eastwick fears she has dashed her chances of finding a decent match within the Ton, so The Monster's Ball is her last hope of securing a suitable husband to secure her future, as well as her two sisters. Trough the connections of a close family friend sponsoring her current season, she finds herself in the company of notorious rake Silas Stride, Marquis of Basingstone, a deviously handsome gargoyle, which if The High Tea society papers are to be believed, has slept with at least half the ladies of the Ton. But she has a plan. As long as she sticks to the plan, her sister's prospects will be fine. Right?
I felt for Eleanor as she tumbled her way to finding a solution to save her family's prospects after the loss of her parents. Silas was divine in his smugness, and I couldn't wait for him to see him so helplessly in love with Eleanor. And of course, the all star supporting cast--Maris is a queen and should be respected as such. Kestin and his sister, the ever patient and loyal house staff. Even Cadmus Stride, the sneak peak of whom we only got in letters, but will get more of in To Ravish a Rogue this fall! CM built us a marvelous world of loveable characters, decadent décor, and such a glorious grovel that you can't help but savor that moment with Eleanor in the final chapters.
I can't wait to get more stories the Talons & Temptations universe!
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I went into this book with high enough expectations to have been a bit nervous. I enjoyed Once & Future Witches, and my sister had finished this book before me and praised it as having a Starless Sea vibe (while still being quite it's own book). When someone compares a book to one of your all time favorites, the worry of disappointment is high. After a bit of a slow start, I was quite pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed TTDOJ!
<spoilers>I nearly cried at the Scaller family reunion on the pier. My heart breaking for Yule Ian, warring with the guilt of leaving his daughter behind, against his will, but reuniting with his wife after nearly 20 years apart. With Adelaide, letting him stew in his grief for just a moment, before gesturing to January and Bad, limping their way down the dock to celebrate the family reunion they never thought was possible. I also love the open door left for us, the reader, as January reveals her story is the one she wrote for Samuel, to help him remember. And I truly hope January is able to find Jane and write her a way home too.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Misogyny, Self harm, and Stalking
- 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? No
4.5
- 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
5.0
Desi's big vision was wild and spooky at first, and I appreciated the seriousness the whole pack took with it and trying to decode it's meaning to help Ulla. I loved the text banter among the group too; like I feel like I've had so many of those text exchanges!
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Injury/Injury detail
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Graphic: Misogyny and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Sexism, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved seeing peeks at Chloe and Red's ongoing happiness and getting a few glimpses at Eve before we get to her book next. I almost wish there had been a bit more Gigi, since she's always a wild ride for advice, but I have a feeling we'll get a bit more of her in Eve's book, since I think she still lives at home with Gigi.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
- 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
5.0
Bear is immediately a favorite. He's everything one could want in a protector and just seems like an absolute sweetheart of a brick wall. Chance took a while to grow on me. The chip on his shoulder seemed like a canyon, and I was nervous he was going to be a weak link in the storytelling for me. But once alone, and given even a modicum of support and real purpose, he developed into such a great compliment to Bear in Faith's growing pack. King, while not my favorite of Faith's alphas, came around for me eventually, albeit reluctantly much like the man himself. I think it's much of the same issue I had with Scorch in Baby's book, but thankfully he didn't hold out nearly as long.
Ghost though...that asshole managed to make me fall in love with him in 10 pages or less. I really didn't trust him, thought he was a total sleaze bag, but then he comes in at the 11th hour and I think I texted my friends I was buddy reading with "Godsdammit, Ghost!?! How dare!!" What a perfect addition to Faith's pack.
I'm so sad this is going to be K.Moon's last Sweetverse for a while, but I look forward to someday getting back to revisit some of the new characters she teased at the end there!
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Physical abuse, Grief, and Medical trauma