withali's reviews
819 reviews

Midas by Ryan North

adventurous challenging fast-paced

2.0

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

emotional funny hopeful sad slow-paced

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

4.5

I may add a higher rating after reflection considering how much I can't stop thinking about this book!
Do not be fooled by the cute, rom-com like cover, this book will pull at your heart strings in some serious ways. This has so little to do with romance and more to do with the complexities of friendships over time and coming-of-age into adulthood when you have no clue where you are headed. 

The beginning felt like a normal romance novel, pulling me in with the comfort of the knowable happy ending and then the year gaps made me realize something was up. I'm a sucker for a right-people, wrong-timing trope and this delivered on that and so much more. 

We focus a lot on insecurities throughout on with different characters, even those who aren't the main characters, and I found myself crying out of relating to them, out of hope, and out of fear and sadness at times. 

This was such an unexpected experience and I am thrilled it turned out as such (even if I do feel a bit bamboozled thinking I was about to read a quick cute little romance). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Dementia

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic

Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism

Minor: Car accident

Dirty Heads by Aaron Dries

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

There is nothing really wrong with the writing or story, it just really was not for me. I could see how many others would enjoy it. I was just bored out of my mind. 

Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

challenging dark tense medium-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? Yes

5.0