allygator's reviews
302 reviews
Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell by Sy Montgomery
informative
slow-paced
4.0
I really liked this book! It took me a while to read, but I think that's largely because I wanted to really absorb the stories about the turtles and turtle people within it. I found myself so attached to some of the turtles that I went to the internet to find out if they're still doing okay now (hello, Fire Chief, my beloved). I do think that sometimes it got bogged down by the language Montgomery tends to use, which is often overly focused on sounding smart over portraying the information to an audience that is largely amateur turtle enthusiasts.
I also think that my enjoyment of the book would be much greater if I was able to see the final copies of the illustrations within it. I liked the sketches, don't get me wrong, but the depth that would be added with color and shading and the like would make them feel so much more important to the stories being told.
Minor critiques aside, I think this is such an interesting exploration of turtle psychology and life history and how humanity has impacted them. The stories of people coming together to save turtles when they were crossing the road were heartwarming and did a great job of adding levity to what could have been a super sad collection of stories about turtles hurt by human actions. If you are looking for a good introduction nonfiction that while sometimes a little bogged down with academic language is still utterly fascinating and a testament to the power of amateur scientists and the everyday person, this is a book for you.
I also think that my enjoyment of the book would be much greater if I was able to see the final copies of the illustrations within it. I liked the sketches, don't get me wrong, but the depth that would be added with color and shading and the like would make them feel so much more important to the stories being told.
Minor critiques aside, I think this is such an interesting exploration of turtle psychology and life history and how humanity has impacted them. The stories of people coming together to save turtles when they were crossing the road were heartwarming and did a great job of adding levity to what could have been a super sad collection of stories about turtles hurt by human actions. If you are looking for a good introduction nonfiction that while sometimes a little bogged down with academic language is still utterly fascinating and a testament to the power of amateur scientists and the everyday person, this is a book for you.
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
funny
lighthearted
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
This is such a lovely rom-com! I am a massive women's soccer fan, so when I saw this pop up on NetGalley I knew I had to read it. And Meryl Wilsner did not disappoint. The characters were interesting and unique, from the protagonists to the side characters. Each one was distinctive and full of personality and charm. I loved Pheobe's optimism and love of the sport and her confidence both on the field and in her personal life. I loved Grace's steadfast determination and loyalty. They're polar opposites, but they fit together like the most perfect of puzzle pieces. I loved how much casual representation there was! So many races, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities were on these pages without it ever coming across as a checklist of diversity points to try and achieve. I can't even count how many different types of people there are.
Beyond the characters, this plot is lovely. As a big fan of the Women's World Cup with many very strong opinions on how players are treated by coaches and themselves, the fact that the story surrounded a woman learning to speak up for herself and her friends in the face of public scrutiny was super cool to read about. Too often women in sports are made to push themselves until they are too injured or exhausted to go on, and it does infinitely more harm than good to both players and the reputation of the sport as a whole. (Shoutout to the USWNT coach, who finally got fired.) And, in a twist that was beyond shocking to me, the miscommunication in this wasn't obnoxious and drawn out but something that added charm and levity to the story and the characters.
The only thing that keeps this from being a perfect 5 stars is that I wish there had been more of a decrescendo from conflict to end. The story wrapped up so fast and I found myself wanting just 20 more pages to give everything a more satisfying and well-paced conclusion. Not a turn-off of the book as a whole, but I am a sucker for a sugary sweet ending to my rom-coms and this didn't quite deliver.
Beyond the characters, this plot is lovely. As a big fan of the Women's World Cup with many very strong opinions on how players are treated by coaches and themselves, the fact that the story surrounded a woman learning to speak up for herself and her friends in the face of public scrutiny was super cool to read about. Too often women in sports are made to push themselves until they are too injured or exhausted to go on, and it does infinitely more harm than good to both players and the reputation of the sport as a whole. (Shoutout to the USWNT coach, who finally got fired.) And, in a twist that was beyond shocking to me, the miscommunication in this wasn't obnoxious and drawn out but something that added charm and levity to the story and the characters.
The only thing that keeps this from being a perfect 5 stars is that I wish there had been more of a decrescendo from conflict to end. The story wrapped up so fast and I found myself wanting just 20 more pages to give everything a more satisfying and well-paced conclusion. Not a turn-off of the book as a whole, but I am a sucker for a sugary sweet ending to my rom-coms and this didn't quite deliver.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Like all of GF's work I've read, this is tense and very dark, but I don't think it's as solid as some of her other books. This is deeply disturbing and definitely delivered in terms of vibes, but I think the ending failed to live up to the rest of the story.
I don't think this is a bad book, but it's clearly a debut novel. Flynn's writing, like always, catches your attention and keeps it. She is an expert at writing bad people that you can't help but want to read more about. None of her characters are particularly likeable, but that's what makes the mysteries within her pages so interesting. I loved the psychological elements of this, especially the that influenced every part of the mother-daughter relationships the story focused on. I liked the isolating feel of it. When compared to Gone Girl, for example, this was on a much smaller scale -- reading a book set entirely in one small town with occasional phone calls out of it made the reader feel just as trapped as the characters. It was an interesting choice and a good one.
TLDR? This is a good debut mystery/thriller that holds its own until it's let down by an underwhelming ending.
Spoiler
The choice to make the final chapter a montage of what happened instead of going through it the way the rest of the book did. I felt like I left disappointed and wanting more because the ending felt less like an ending and more like a highlight reel. I also found the way that Amma was revealed to be the killer to be a little underwhelming. Like I feel like someone would have noticed the teeth in that dollhouse? Idk maybe it's just me.I don't think this is a bad book, but it's clearly a debut novel. Flynn's writing, like always, catches your attention and keeps it. She is an expert at writing bad people that you can't help but want to read more about. None of her characters are particularly likeable, but that's what makes the mysteries within her pages so interesting. I loved the psychological elements of this, especially the
Spoiler
Munchausen-by-ProxyTLDR? This is a good debut mystery/thriller that holds its own until it's let down by an underwhelming ending.
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-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
3.0
Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau
challenging
emotional
tense
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
4.25
A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Big thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of this in exchange for an honest review!
This is a really solid historical romance that I felt was slightly lacking in a cohesive ending.
THE GOOD:
Characters you can't help but root for and a romance that does them justice! I loved David and Noah -- childhood friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Everlee did a great job writing their relationship both platonic and romantic. Their friendship was always at the forefront, even when their romantic chemistry was undeniable.
Well-handled serious plotlines! In particular, David's storyline was handled with a lot of care and never put me in a possibly triggering mindset.
The plot in general! I think the story was engaging and interesting to read about. I was invested in what was going to happen and whether David and Noah would get their happy ending.
THE NOT-AS-GOOD:
The pacing was a little jarring -- it started pretty mid-paced (good for a romance!) but the ending was really rushed and left me a bit dissatisfied.
In general, though, I think this is a really good introduction to queer historical romance. It's easy to read, engaging, and full of loveable characters. If you can deal with a slightly rushed ending, I highly recommend this!
This is a really solid historical romance that I felt was slightly lacking in a cohesive ending.
THE GOOD:
Characters you can't help but root for and a romance that does them justice! I loved David and Noah -- childhood friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Everlee did a great job writing their relationship both platonic and romantic. Their friendship was always at the forefront, even when their romantic chemistry was undeniable.
Well-handled serious plotlines! In particular, David's storyline was handled with a lot of care and never put me in a possibly triggering mindset.
The plot in general! I think the story was engaging and interesting to read about. I was invested in what was going to happen and whether David and Noah would get their happy ending.
THE NOT-AS-GOOD:
The pacing was a little jarring -- it started pretty mid-paced (good for a romance!) but the ending was really rushed and left me a bit dissatisfied.
In general, though, I think this is a really good introduction to queer historical romance. It's easy to read, engaging, and full of loveable characters. If you can deal with a slightly rushed ending, I highly recommend this!
The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This is a really fun addition to the Heartstopper Universe, but it doesn't add much more than some extra art and fun facts about the path Alice Oseman took to get the story where it is. I really enjoyed watching their art style evolve and learning a little bit about the behind-the-scenes journey to making a comic, but I don't think I would spend the money to buy a brand-new copy of this when I could just check it out of the library for free.
How to Steal a Dragon's Sword: The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup the Viking by Cressida Cowell
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This has been my favorite in the series so far! It's much darker than the other installments -- we get the start of the dragon rebellion hinted at in the last book. The way we get there is much more intense than I thought it would be. I was finishing this late at night and I was constantly getting whiplash. Despite the slower beginning, the ending was 150 pages of pure energy. I was feeling happy because Hiccup and his friends solved the problem they were faced with, then stressed because everything went wrong. I was so worried about the characters because I'm so attached to them now, and I immediately needed to start the next book so I could figure out what was going to happen to them.
I'm beyond excited to see what the last three books will bring to the stage and how Hiccup will find his way to victory even with all the odds stacked against him. Next up? All-out was with Alvin the Terrible.
I'm beyond excited to see what the last three books will bring to the stage and how Hiccup will find his way to victory even with all the odds stacked against him. Next up? All-out was with Alvin the Terrible.
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a perfectly lovely book, but it just isn't for me. It's very very slow-paced, wordy, and character-driven, so if you're into that this definitely could be a book for you! For me, though, the pacing paired with the writing style made it a little boring at times. It took me a while to finish because I kept needing to read fast-paced books to keep my brain interested in reading. I was invested in the characters, largely because Jayber was an interesting character to follow and the town of Port William was so vivid both in world and character. However, Jayber's narration wasn't nearly as interesting as the people around him and the world he inhabited. It was very detailed and winding and what most often bored me. I think that if the narration style had been different I would have liked it much more, but that isn't the type of book this is. In general, I think I'm not really the audience for this, but if you enjoy simple stories about the life of an everyman as told by the man himself, this is something you might really like.
The Sun and the Star by Mark Oshiro, Rick Riordan
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book is basically professionally published, Rick Riordan endorsed fanfiction and I had a great time reading it. There are so many throwbacks to past books and cameos from some of my favorite characters, so I couldn't help but love this while I was actively reading it. I feel like every other page I was giggling and twirling my hair and kicking my feet because something sweet was happening or I was screaming and hitting things because I was worried about Nico and Will's well-being.
One of the most common critiques I've seen for this is that Nico and Will are out of character (with a lot of people blaming Mark Oshiro for that). I don't think they're out of character, I think they're scared and stressed and young and not quite sure of themselves and their relationship. Will, in particular, I've seen get a lot of hate for how he treats the Underworld, but a character having flaws that make sense for him (Will is literally a child of the sun, obviously he doesn't love the Underworld the way that Nico does) isn't a bad thing, it just means that he is finally getting the depth he's never been able to have in the other Riordanverse books where he's just a side character.
I also don't think that Nico is being treated like a baby in this. He goes to therapy and he cries and he gets irrationally angry and he needs Will to take care of him sometimes, but that doesn't mean that he's being dehumanized or de-aged. It means he's a traumatized teenager. Like, be honest, how many of you had everything put together and always acted your age when you were in high school? I sure as hell didn't.
That being said, I do think this book is flawed and very much a product of fan-service and YA/middle grade tropes that don't mesh well with a lot of readers. There are pop culture references that, while funny, don't really match the tone of the rest of the Riordanverse and aren't my favorite things to see in books that I read. There are a few textual errors that I can't believe were overlooked, most notably the fact that at one point Nico says that Bianca di Angelo is his mother. This is far from a perfect book, but it's so much fun and feels so good to read that it really doesn't matter to me. What I care about is the fact that by the end Nico is finally eating enough and he sees that he's worth being treated with kindness and that he doesn't have to hide behind his trauma forever. He's living a life in the open more so than ever, and it's so sweet to read the final few chapters and think about how far he's come since The Titan's Curse.
One of the most common critiques I've seen for this is that Nico and Will are out of character (with a lot of people blaming Mark Oshiro for that). I don't think they're out of character, I think they're scared and stressed and young and not quite sure of themselves and their relationship. Will, in particular, I've seen get a lot of hate for how he treats the Underworld, but a character having flaws that make sense for him (Will is literally a child of the sun, obviously he doesn't love the Underworld the way that Nico does) isn't a bad thing, it just means that he is finally getting the depth he's never been able to have in the other Riordanverse books where he's just a side character.
I also don't think that Nico is being treated like a baby in this. He goes to therapy and he cries and he gets irrationally angry and he needs Will to take care of him sometimes, but that doesn't mean that he's being dehumanized or de-aged. It means he's a traumatized teenager. Like, be honest, how many of you had everything put together and always acted your age when you were in high school? I sure as hell didn't.
That being said, I do think this book is flawed and very much a product of fan-service and YA/middle grade tropes that don't mesh well with a lot of readers. There are pop culture references that, while funny, don't really match the tone of the rest of the Riordanverse and aren't my favorite things to see in books that I read. There are a few textual errors that I can't believe were overlooked, most notably the fact that at one point Nico says that Bianca di Angelo is his mother. This is far from a perfect book, but it's so much fun and feels so good to read that it really doesn't matter to me. What I care about is the fact that by the end Nico is finally eating enough and he sees that he's worth being treated with kindness and that he doesn't have to hide behind his trauma forever. He's living a life in the open more so than ever, and it's so sweet to read the final few chapters and think about how far he's come since The Titan's Curse.