andiehales's reviews
8 reviews
You Should Sit Down for This: A Memoir about Wine, Life, and Cookies, by Tamera Mowry-Housley
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
1.25
This book feels like a writing assignment you rush to type out in Google Docs at 11:00 p.m. when it’s due at 11:59 p.m.
I know that may sound harsh considering it’s a memoir and it’s real, personal stories, but this book seemed very surface level and was so full of grammatical errors that I kept wondering How did this get published? and Did no one proofread this? I counted over ten!
The ending definitely got more personal but most of the book just felt like zooming through her life and only catching split-second glimpses. I borrowed this book from my library to read and frankly I think I’d be upset if I had actually spent money to read it.
I know that may sound harsh considering it’s a memoir and it’s real, personal stories, but this book seemed very surface level and was so full of grammatical errors that I kept wondering How did this get published? and Did no one proofread this? I counted over ten!
The ending definitely got more personal but most of the book just felt like zooming through her life and only catching split-second glimpses. I borrowed this book from my library to read and frankly I think I’d be upset if I had actually spent money to read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Alcoholism
Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abortion and Racism
The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think this story as a whole is a beautiful and crushing one and I understand why so many people love this book so intensely but I just didn’t love it the way I’ve seen others love it. A lot of the times, the way this book was written would throw me off, make me feel disconnected from the story and characters, and made it harder for me to enjoy. I pushed through because I wanted to know what all the hype (and tears) were for lol.
This book definitely had me feeling sick with emotion at times, especially towards the ending, but the writing style unfortunately wasn’t for me.
This book definitely had me feeling sick with emotion at times, especially towards the ending, but the writing style unfortunately wasn’t for me.
Spoiler
Also, I need to note how emotionally attached I became to Briseis. I love her like nobody else. She deserved so much better. Briseis I will avenge you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Genocide, Murder, Violence, War, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Blood, Death, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Abandonment and Cursing
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
This Way To Spaceship, by Rhys Darby
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.25
the way this book was written felt like the way my brain functions being placed into writing
Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
2.75
I didn't hate this but I didn't love it either. Pretty spice heavy if that's your thing. (It's not mine, which definitely contributed to me not loving it lol).
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
In a Holidaze, by Christina Lauren
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
I struggled to keep reading this book to be honest, but I do think it makes for a good Christmas read if you’re looking for a lighthearted holiday romance.
Spoiler
I know that mae and andrew were the main couple in the story but theo and mae’s situation/relationship felt kind of incomplete for me? I don’t necessarily wish I had seen more of them romantically but the fact that we hear about them making out in the opening, then she doesn’t talk to him for most of the book, and in the end it’s just very quickly resolved makes it feel like something was missing for me. Also some of the dialogue made me cringe and I had to pretend I didn’t even read some of the metaphors because I had no idea what they even meant. Overall it isn’t a terrible book; I think it’s a good story, there were just several things in it that I didn’t love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Drug use
Normal People, by Sally Rooney
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I’m a little conflicted on my feelings towards this book and some specific aspects of it, like the ending, but overall I did enjoy it! Also, the no quotations marks was really easy to get used to for me personally.
Update: I think this book gets better the longer you sit with it.
Update: I think this book gets better the longer you sit with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
More...