via_email's reviews
42 reviews

ARV-3 by Cameo Renae

3.0

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

I have yet to find a reason why I should care about these characters. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few smaller plot points that keep me invested, but overall, I’ve had difficulty staying focused. Adam’s mental health is obviously a major topic of concern, and I am finishing the book mostly to see how his family continues to instigate his decline into madness. But it’s kind of boring madness. Abby gets framed as one of the more likeable characters but in reality she seems just as bad as the rest, hiding her pregnancy from everyone (thats not the problem, bear with me) and then planning the big reveal for her fathers 70th birthday. Seems like it’s not her first time stealing the spotlight either. Jenny is the only one that has seemed to have any kind of character arc, but it’s not convincing. Ken is clearly the easiest to hate, and his weird obsession with his sister goes beyond any sibling relationship I’ve ever witnessed. I’m pretty convinced he only married Jenny because she was the closest thing he could get to Abby. Are we supposed to praise Ken for going to therapy? Because it doesn’t seem to make me like him any more. Is there room for redemption? Only Abby can decide that I suppose…

Steph made the right decision to only include Abby in her life.

The Dressmaker's War by Mary Chamberlain

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Didn’t live up to the hype. 

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Room by Emma Donoghue

challenging dark hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

5.0

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5