abbymoore06's reviews
334 reviews

Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton

dark funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

I enjoyed this a lot. I never really bought into the idea that Paris was a dumb blonde, and I'm happy to see that she shows her cleverness front and center in this memoir. I had listened to an interview with her on a podcast promoting this book, so I knew a little about what she wrote about, in terms of the torture camp she was sent to as a teen. But listening to her tell about it in detail was really something. As a 90s kid myself, I always heard about those military camps, but the reality of some of these places is just unbelievable. Kudos to Paris for using her platform to shed light on this and provide some real change in this area. As someone who is so protective of her brand, she took a risk doing that and it's paying off. I enjoyed her organization of the memoir and the way she describes different time periods in the context of the movies, songs, etc. of the year. Very cool concept. Also, she has a unique writing style and was super funny and very "Paris." Way to go, Paris... it's hot.

The Last Love Note by Emma Grey

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

Sweet romance(ish) book that puts a great focus on grief and loss, and how to move on after you lose your soulmate. I really appreciated the author's raw honesty, which comes from her own experience of being a widow. I thought the characters were sweet and authentic. This one goes a bit deeper than your typical "rom-com" (there are some funny moments), and I always get frustrated when characters just won't talk to each other about their problems. I felt the flow was a bit stunted at times due to the communication issue, but otherwise, I really enjoyed it.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

 

This was absolutely beautiful. I loved ALL of the characters, and I love the relationships that they formed with one another. I loved the contemplation on life, death faith, and love.... the bonds we make and break. Wonderful concept about two terminally ill patients -- one old and one young -- and how they manage to sift through the days and years of their experiences on earth to prepare for what comes next. Just so sweet and sad and all around lovely.

 

The Women by Kristin Hannah

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

K. Hannah does it again.  I absolutely loved this Vietnam historical fiction book.  I, too, didn't know there were U.S. women in Vietnam, and I'm so glad she decided to tell this story.  Per usual, way too many bad things happen to our beloved FMC... it's rough and very hard to read at times.  This novel is about resiliency overall, but it paints a very real picture of trauma and its deep and lasting effects on our minds and bodies.  War trauma, yes, but post-war trauma too... so important to remember.  I also appreciated the attention to detail in covering such a complicated time in our history.  The nuance is rich, and Hannah pulled on the many emotional threads woven into the fabric of that time period.  I especially loved loved loved the way she ended this one.  No spoilers, but if you tempted to give up on this story, I'd advise you to see it through.

Go as a River by Shelley Read

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

What a superb narrative.  Super impressed with Shelley Read.  First, her writing is so measured and thoughtful.  You feel a steady tug in the plot the entire way.  It's so expertly paced, and she doesn't particularly expound on "major" plot events; rather, you are gently pushed along.  Not to sound cheesy, but as I was reading, it evoked being pulled down a river.... there were places in the narrative that I wanted to capture or stay longer, but Read just gently carries you further and doesn't allow you to linger in any one place too long.... and soon you come to another bend in the story.  For example, I would like to know more about Seth and that whole backstory.... her mother....but, it's just not available to us.  Not in a bad way, but in an intentional way.... like, the understanding of not needing to know everything about everything.  I thought this measured flow was just beautiful.  Kudos to Read. I can tell this novel was a true labor of love.  I look forward to more by her.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

This was a very good audiobook -- highly engaging with the full-cast and audio inserts. Overall I found the story very entertaining, and it was a well-developed mystery. Some twists and turns at the end... I really hoped for something a bit more concrete to hold on to, but I understand that the premise of the book is all about questioning the "truth," so there's that. Very enjoyable.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

emotional informative inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Incredibly well-researched historical novel.  I was so interested in Lawhon's portrayal of the real Martha Ballard, and I'm so glad she decided to make her the star of this latest novel.  At its core, this story is a portrait of life in early America and the unique challenges faced by women of the era (which is not all different, in some respects, to the struggles of women today).  There is so much to learn here about the early justice system, as well as the medical and political landscapes of the time.  Lawhon winds this reality beautifully within the intrigue of a suspected murder and assault.  Fans of Where The Crawdads Sing will find a lot to love here.  Do not skip the author's note!

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Mitch Albom was the first author who deeply impacted me -- back when I was a teenager sobbing over Tuesdays with Morrie. He always does a brilliant job with telling a complicated story in the simplest form. I have read a lot of Holocaust literature, and this one will be near the top of my list of favorites. Well researched and incredibly accessible, this novel reads like a parable. Albom brilliantly entwines these characters from the perspective (literally) of truth. Using Truth as a narrator reminded me so much of my all-time favorite book and Holocaust novel, The Book Thief, where Death is used as the narrator. This type of approach allows the reader to see things through such a unique lens. I 100% recommend this book to grades 8+, and it would be a great gift to an adult who has fallen out of love with reading. This story is a sure thing.

This book should replace The Boy in the Striped Pajamas as common class studies in high school. There is more depth and, ironically, much more truth in The Little Liar.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

Another great read by Emily Henry.  I didn't like this one as much as Book Lovers, but it's close.  Where Book Lovers is a love letter to readers, Beach Read is a love letter to writers.  As writers, the characters feel so real -- introspective and twisty and complicated.  Gus, especially, felt like a tortured soul, and I kind of loved his outlook on life despite his grumpiness.  I also loved the book-within-a-book vibe, and I definitely would want to read Gus's cult book.  The cynic in me was just sure that the backstory of the dad's affair was going to be a big misunderstanding, but I kind of love how it wasn't.  Just flawed characters living flawed lives and trying to atone for them.  I like the reality of that.  

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin

emotional slow-paced

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

2.5

I'm shocked at how much I disliked this book.  Something Borrowed is one of my all-time favorite romance novels, and this one seems like it was written by someone absolutely dialing it in.  The writing wasn't bad in general.  The characters were just SO FLAT -- I didn't like either of them, and I really wanted to.  Very generic issues and no creativity whatsoever, and it was extremely predictable... I mean, she acknowledges that this is her fictionalization of JFK Jr.'s life, but I thought there was be some originality here.  I just can't wrap my head around whyyyyy she would write a book like this.  Oh well, I'm still a Giffin fan.  Maybe the next one will be more like her old ones.