zuridas's reviews
99 reviews

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, Volume 1 by Dusti Bowling

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

This book was SLOW. As I look back upon my reading experience, I wonder: What actually happened for the entire middle portion of this book? It felt as though no answers nor hints were given until the very end. I found that I was not aching to discover the answer as I would like to feel while reading a mystery. Still, the book does have a satisfactory conclusion.

This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

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3.75

If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-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

2.75

So much happened in this book, yet nothing at all. Each scene felt full of events, but where it was meant to be action packed actually felt slow paced and almost lackadaisical. Furthermore, settings and explanations lacked adequate description. This made it difficult to understand what exactly was going on. As I read, I struggled to form an image in my mind for what was going on.

The romance between Cara and Zach was cute but too direct. In the beginning it is said they quarreled for years; 15 pages later he would do anything for her. There was no middle ground and made their relationship feel underdeveloped. Still, I enjoyed how Zach treated Cara.

Once again, I did not realize this book was the beginning of a series.

American Royals by Katharine McGee

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emotional slow-paced

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

3.25

I struggled to focus on reading American Royals in the beginning and constantly got distracted, but after going through the chore of meeting all the characters I became invested in their stories.

I will say I strongly dislike Daphne, but I understand her point of view was vital to the story. I wish we saw more of her motivation, such as the pressure from her parents. It would have been interesting to see flashbacks of what their dynamic looked like, and quite possibly would have made Daphne more likable. Additionally, I wanted to see more of Queen Adelaide and her relationship with her children. All we know about her is… her husband adores her and her daughters don’t. I want to know why, and we just do not get to see that within the book.

Beatrice and Connor’s relationship was by far my favorite. They seem so well-suited for one another. I think this is making me realize I adore the bodyguard trope.

I had no clue this book was the first of a series. I am obviously aware now, but still–the ending not only provided no conclusion or satisfaction, but it also felt as though any character development was completely unwinded. I will say the final 2 1/2 pages gave me chills.

I believe Mrs. Katharine McGee is a great author with unique ideas. That being said, I do not think this series is for me. I would have much preferred it as a standalone in which all ends were neatly and happily tied up. Even the final sentence on its own–leaving readers endlessly confused and shocked–would have been preferred over a 4-book series.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

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emotional tense