willoreads's reviews
234 reviews

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

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4.0

Acevedo writes so beautifully and eloquently and though the content is targeted for young adults this book was delightful to read as a 35yo.

I really enjoyed walking the life of Emoni Santiago for a few hours, The author has done an amazing job in creating deep, real, interesting and relatable characters.

Read it if you want a light, heartwarming, quick weekend read.

Don’t read it if you’re after high drama or big adventure.
Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson

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4.0

An amazing story that I now need to go get the novel to read in more detail!

There was some black writing that was placed over dark shadowing that made it difficult to read in parts but other than that the artwork and layout is beautiful done.

Read it if you want to read a heavy topic but softened with fewer written details.

Don’t read it if you are triggered by rape.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

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4.0

“This was a story about many different things, but most of all about idiots.”

A story about idiots alright!
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson

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Audiobook Review

I really enjoyed listening to this. A fascinating look into the minds of psychopaths and identifying the characteristics that peg them as so.

Read it if you enjoy listening to true crime podcasts and books. This might give you a little bit of context and information on the nature of psychopaths.

Don’t read it if you don’t like egotistical and gas lighting behaviour. He interviews a number of people with these traits and it can get frustrating in parts.
It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn

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4.0

This one is probably my favourite in the series, though Penelope is still my favourite character this book actually has adventure and intrigue with Hyacinth and Gareth on a hunt to find his grandmother’s long lost jewels
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

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3.0

This book wasn’t what I expected it to be. I thought with the title Piranesi and the image of a satyr on the cover that it was a Greek/Roman mythology retelling of some sort…. Ahh nope.

This is a mystery/thriller fantasy story with magical realism elements. Clarke has written a beautiful story that keeps you guessing throughout, though it does start off quite slowly and the numbering of the endless halls/vestibules became rather monotonous.

Read it if you’re looking for a weekend mystery/thriller book with beautiful imagery.

Don’t read it if you don’t enjoy the journal/diary entry format. Reading the dates got a little tedious and I found myself skipping over the dates.
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

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3.0

Audiobook Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is the first fiction book I’ve listened to in audio format and I think it was a mistake to start off with a fantasy book…

The narrator has a lovely voice to listen to but being the first book in a fantasy series there’s a magic system and creatures to learn and it was a bit difficult not to be able to flip back a couple of pages to remind myself what they were. I have already started the second book, The Mime Order, via audio as well and it’s already much better as it’s done a fantastic job recapping exactly how the magic system/rankings work and explains what the Rephaim and Emim are in a succinct way.

Overall the story was good though it does have my least favourite trope
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

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5.0


Beautifully written in verse, Acevedo does a brilliant job at writing an engaging, heartfelt story that draws you right into Camino and Yahaira’s different lives, cultures and experiences. I adore the way this author is able to make the reader so emotionally invested in the characters. Another stunningly beautiful story, Acevedo is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine.

From the Author’s Note:
“Most families are messy; most parents will fail to live up to the hero worship of their children. In Clap When You Land, I wanted to write a story that considered who matters and deserves attention in the media, as well as a more intimate portrayal of what it means to discover secrets, to discover family, to discover the depths of your own character in the face of great loss - and gain.”

Read it if you read books to experience lives and cultures that are different from yours.

Don’t read it if you are triggered by plane crashes, the death of a parent, grooming and sexual abuse.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

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2.0

eBook Review: ⭐️⭐️/5

Oh I was so disappointed with this book. It’s everywhere being touted as THE male on male queer romance book to read, instead I got an American politics book with a subplot of male queer romance.

There was too much about the American Presidential campaign and not enough about exploring Alex and Henry’s relationship in my opinion. Also Alex is not a likeable character. It’s starts off with him hating Henry for no better reason other than because the media has represented them as rivals (also do Americans really compare the first family to British royalty? No one was really comparing Trump Jr to Prince William or Prince Harry were they!!?!!!?) then suddenly they’re kissing and all is forgotten…

There were certainly some sweet moments between the two but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it were written from Henry’s point of view instead. He was easily the more interesting and complex character and if it were written from his point of view then the presidential campaign would have been minimal.

Read it if you like books about American politics with a side of queer romance.

Don’t read it if you’re solely looking for a male queer romance. There are better ones out there.
The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

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4.0

Audiobook Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The second book in The Bone Season series and if you read my review of the first book you’ll be glad to know the romance is minimal in this one so once again easy to ignore the eye rolling 200+ year age gap