abbymoore06's reviews
334 reviews

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Extraordinary.  I wasn't sure what to expect going in, and I thought I'd be challenged quite a bit.  What I found was such an honest & open discussion about the past, present, and future of evangelicals in America.  Alberta really did his due diligence with his interviews and travels, giving such a vast insight into what the church looks like today.  I felt myself nodding so much with what he was asserting.  Growing up in the South, it's really difficult to separate politics from religion, but Alberta is a gentle guide.  I would like to reread this one with a pen and highlighter in hand.  I very much appreciate the hard work he has done here.  

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

challenging dark informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Absolutely riveting.  I started this on a whim because it's been on my TBR forever, and because I was in search of a Chicago-centered book to help me prepare for my anniversary trip to the Second City!  This did not disappoint in anyway.  I loved reading about the road to the Worlds Fair, and I think it is brilliant how Larson juxtaposed that story-line with one about a psychopath serial killer.  Bravo!  And while the Holmes story was certainly engrossing, I was more drawn to the architects building the fair.  What an amazing time.... feeding off of each other's creativity and ingenuity.  The sky's the limit mentality.  It's really beautiful to read about these people coming together to build something truly extraordinary.  

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Ok, this was cool!!  I read very little sci-fi or action, and this was both.  I was impressed with Crouch's ability to write about such complex topics (gene editing) in a way that is accessible.  The way Logan's mind evolved with each upgrade was fascinating.  The moral and ethical dilemmas were engrossing, and I absolutely loved the end!  I hope they make this one into a movie.

Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

I had no clue what I was getting into with this one... YIKES.  There were parts of the book I liked (I guess?) and the writing isn't awful.  But, I found the mom to be way too perfect.  Every intention and thought she had was altogether too "good" or the best way to handle something.  It was hard to relate to her, and since she is the main character, it put a lot of distance between me and the story.  I thought the subject matter was interesting to take on, and I did like the reflections on the Right to Die stuff at the end.  But the middle stuff was just too difficult to digest.  Not that I don't believe her (the author's) stance on this issue but because it was just too unbelievable most of the time.  I just don't think most people have that much clarity and insight when they are in the thick of the mess.  That being said, she definitely gave me some things to think about.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

4.5

Emily Henry does it again! I loved this very sweet story about a mismatched couple who find their way through a breakup into each other's arms. Of course, the fact that the FMC is a librarian definitely helped! Henry is so good at developing that slow-burn... the only part I didn't like was the miscommunication towards the end. I will overlook it though because, for the most part, the characters were extremely honest with each other. I also wish there had been more of the mom character -- I loved her! Overall, a great edition to her previous works.

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Before I start, I preferred Hello, Beautiful to this earlier novel. That being said, Napolitano is brilliant character development. The way she weaves these distinct characters into the narrative is so skillful and precise. And the way she handles grief and loss and survivor's guilt and PTSD is so beautiful. I loved her description of Eddie/Edward finding his way back to himself -- or at least the new version of himself after the crash. It's interesting that the plane crash itself is not the most dramatic or interesting part of the story. It's the reflection of life and the breaking and tying of bonds -- the human experience altogether. The plane crash weaves them together but it's just the vessel for the story. I admire her ability to do this, and as with Hello, Beautiful, I'll be thinking about this one for a while.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Incredible historical fiction. I loved how SMK used the two perspectives and allowed the reader to discover for themselves the validity of their friendship. So much of this novel was hard to read, but it's so important. The character development is superb and the research is impeccable. Kudos to SMK for adding another brilliant novel to the genre.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

Dang, Abby Jimenez is amazing. I'm going to restrain my gushing of this book, but she's just so incredibly good at writing healthy adult relationships. If everyone could operate more like the characters in her books, we'd have happier marriages and partnerships for sure. What she does in each book is highlight the reality and the struggle; instead of providing an unattainable example of "love," which can manipulate people into to thinking they are lacking something that doesn't exist in the real world, Jimenez shows all sides to a solid relationship. And her incorporation of mental health struggles and treatment is always so refreshing. I love how the characters from other books are related but not essential. I just love her style -- to me, she's the gold standard of contemporary romance writing.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

5.0

Waaaay better than I expected.  I actually loved this so much, and there was a lot of complexity to think about with these characters.  I liked the juxtaposed times & places.  I think that was a creative way to show growth/change, as well as establishing events, memories, etc.  I liked how Henry would return to certain summer trips over and over again....sprinkling bits and pieces to see how the relationship unfolds at each place.  Overall, I feel like the "People We Meet on Vacation" was specifically about those two people, the main characters, and the different versions of themselves that evolve over time.  That's pretty deep for a "rom com," so I'm here for it.  Speaking of the comedy, this book is absolutely hilarious and the banter is A++.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Creative premise with the time-traveling aspect.  I felt that some of the "magic" just didn't make sense though... I know it's supposed to be fantasy, but I wanted a bit more explanation of the reality behind the fantasy if that makes any sense.  That being said, I enjoyed the complexities of thinking about how we change based on our experiences over time and what that means for the relationships we form along the way.