whattaylorreads's reviews
342 reviews

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Go to review page

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

4.25

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad 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

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted slow-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

3.25

A delightful prequel to Legends and Lattes, one of my favorites from last year. It wasn't quite as fun and cozy because Viv is at a different point in her life, but I still liked it regardless. 
Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Cooke

Go to review page

adventurous informative medium-paced

4.0

Such an interesting story detailing the stories of flight attendants on Pan-Am. I knew nothing about Pan-Am and the Jet Age of aviation before listening to this. I was primarily expecting a story of working women empowered by travel, which was certainly there, but I was surprised to learn how intertwined the commercial flight industry was with US Cold War politics in many different countries around the world. 
Dune by Frank Herbert

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Go to review page

adventurous funny mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H

Go to review page

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

I learned a lot about the Qu'ran from listening to this book, and I liked the chapters that connected to the stories from the Qu'ran. I had a hard time with the non-linear storytelling (which is usually a problem with listening to audiobooks for me), but that's not a dealbreaker. This book is well-written, deeply personal, and is a prime example of the theme, "there is no one way to be queer." It's always hard to read stories that are so different from your own and trying to find ways to connect with the story, so sometimes I felt like I had to push myself to keep going, but I am glad Lamya was brave and given the opportunity to share her story.