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bbethcasas's reviews
145 reviews
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Five short stories, of library patrons who each come to the library in search of something. The librarian has a special knack for knowing what they need and suggesting the book that will lead them to discover their destiny on their own! She also throws in a little free gift that adds its own little touch of magic! 🪄
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The Coworker by Freida McFadden
Natalie is an outstanding employee for her company and most things seem to be going her way. The only thing seemingly uncomfortable for her is her unusual coworker, Dawn. Dawn can be downright odd, at times, and suck the air right out of the room. Natalie is over Dawn and tries to avoid her, but Dawn cannot take a hint! Natalie even starts leaving Dawn’s name off the lunch invitations with her friend Kim and THEN, even “forgets” to invite her to work meetings or tells her the wrong time!
Dawn starts to catch on and decides to make Natalie pay. She reports her to the boss, and then the REAL fun begins!
I had loss faith in Freida after the last couple of her books I’d read. But I was very pleasantly surprised with this book!!
Way to go, Freida McFadden!!
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Dawn starts to catch on and decides to make Natalie pay. She reports her to the boss, and then the REAL fun begins!
I had loss faith in Freida after the last couple of her books I’d read. But I was very pleasantly surprised with this book!!
Way to go, Freida McFadden!!
Bonding Over The Amish Baby by Pamela Desmond Wright
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Loved!!
On his way to California to report to a new job and basically a new life, Dr. Caleb Sutter wrecks his car and finds himself unexpectedly stuck in a most unlikely place - an Amish community in Texas! He expects to leave right away, but unforeseen events keep him there far longer, and lead to a complete change in his whole way of thinking!
He is given aid by an Amish woman, Rebecca Schroder. Pretty soon she is a constant companion, opening his eyes to life options he’s never even considered before.
On his way to California to report to a new job and basically a new life, Dr. Caleb Sutter wrecks his car and finds himself unexpectedly stuck in a most unlikely place - an Amish community in Texas! He expects to leave right away, but unforeseen events keep him there far longer, and lead to a complete change in his whole way of thinking!
He is given aid by an Amish woman, Rebecca Schroder. Pretty soon she is a constant companion, opening his eyes to life options he’s never even considered before.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
5.0
A heartbreaking telling of the atrocities that have occurred in Syria for so many years to a people who simply want to live their lives with the ones they love in their homeland, free to live and love in peace.
The rich language and beautiful storytelling in this book will keep your full attention. Readers will want to live within Salama and Kenan’s beautiful story, but pray for the book to end so the anguish and fear will be over.
There are so many other countries enduring these same unthinkable agonies that we know so little about because, for whatever reason, the stories aren’t newsworthy or because the rest of the world has become so complacent to what is going on outside its own borders. Pray for Syria and countries just like her where the innocent are being tortured and suffering to death for their inherent right to live a free life.
The rich language and beautiful storytelling in this book will keep your full attention. Readers will want to live within Salama and Kenan’s beautiful story, but pray for the book to end so the anguish and fear will be over.
There are so many other countries enduring these same unthinkable agonies that we know so little about because, for whatever reason, the stories aren’t newsworthy or because the rest of the world has become so complacent to what is going on outside its own borders. Pray for Syria and countries just like her where the innocent are being tortured and suffering to death for their inherent right to live a free life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
All You Have to Do Is Call by Kerri Maher
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I had a really hard time really sinking my teeth in and getting into a rhythm with this book. There were so many different characters and storylines, I struggled with getting a clear layout of who and what was going on at times.
Overall, though, this is a very good somewhat historically correctish book about the fight for female reproductive rights. (More closely based on historical events, if not the major characters) This is a very timely book due to our shocking recent step back in this fight in many states. A worthwhile read and a story that needs to be shouted from the rooftops!!
Overall, though, this is a very good somewhat historically correctish book about the fight for female reproductive rights. (More closely based on historical events, if not the major characters) This is a very timely book due to our shocking recent step back in this fight in many states. A worthwhile read and a story that needs to be shouted from the rooftops!!
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Such a good book! Really intriguing! Julia Cates is a child psychologist who’s been left reeling after the unimaginable crime committed by one of her former patients ruins her career.
Not knowing who else to call when a seemingly “wild child” shows up in her town, unable to speak and with no identity, Sheriff Ellie Cates summons her sister Julia home to help the child and solve the mystery.
Julia must overcome her own loss of confidence to help the girl discover who she is and be able to tell her story against incredible odds.
Not knowing who else to call when a seemingly “wild child” shows up in her town, unable to speak and with no identity, Sheriff Ellie Cates summons her sister Julia home to help the child and solve the mystery.
Julia must overcome her own loss of confidence to help the girl discover who she is and be able to tell her story against incredible odds.
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
After the trauma of investigating the Andie Bell and Sal Singh murder case, Pip swears she is NOT a detective anymore! She and Ravi made a podcast out of the investigation and it went viral, but after how it consumed her life, she swears she’s DONE! That is, until her friend Connor’s brother, Jamie goes missing, and once again, the police won’t do anything! They claim he a “low risk” of being in danger because he’s disappeared before and also because he’s 24. So, Pip decides she HAS to get involved.
This second installment takes on more risks, more twists, and more danger! We get to know the characters a little better, too! I LOVED this book even better than book 1!
This second installment takes on more risks, more twists, and more danger! We get to know the characters a little better, too! I LOVED this book even better than book 1!
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Such a great series! I loved the characters that returned throughout the series - Pip’s family and friends. I REALLY enjoyed the chemistry between Pip and Ravi and the dynamic in their work relationship! They played well off each other and did the most to bring out the best in each other’s creativity and crime solving skills!
This last book was definitely the darkest and most twisted of the three in the trilogy! Pip’s life is in grave danger by someone leaving cryptic messages and she must work quickly to figure out who it is and what the messages mean before it’s too late!!
This last book was definitely the darkest and most twisted of the three in the trilogy! Pip’s life is in grave danger by someone leaving cryptic messages and she must work quickly to figure out who it is and what the messages mean before it’s too late!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
First things first, I want to go on record as saying I disagree with the age range of 12 - 15 for this book. Call me overprotective, but I wouldn’t allow my daughter to read this until she was 15, MAYBE 14. Depends.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to read the next 2 books in the trilogy right away. I purchased them all at the same time. There’s a really great deal on a boxed set on Amazon!
Pippa Fitz - Amobi, Pip to most everyone, is a senior at Fairview High School, and is doing her Capstone Project researching the 2014 Missing Persons Investigation of Andie Bell, a local high school girl. She’s granted permission and begins interviewing key players including friends and family members of Andie and Sal Singh, the boyfriend and alleged killer of Andie. She begins with Ravi Singh, Sal’s younger brother. Initially, Ravi is confused and a little suspicious of Pip and curious regarding her motivation, but she catches him completely off guard when she reveals that her goal is to prove Sal innocent! Ravi is all for proving his brother innocent because he never believed he killed Andie OR that he killed himself afterward, which is what the final story was! So he agrees to talk to Pip, provided he can work with her. She agrees.
I don’t want to include much more than that as far as the rest of the story because, honestly, the interviews, the twisty, winding lies and discoveries of the half truths and real truths are what make this book so fun! Pip and Ravi are a riot together! Love them! And I think you will, too! In fact, I think you’ll love the entire book just as much as I did!!
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to read the next 2 books in the trilogy right away. I purchased them all at the same time. There’s a really great deal on a boxed set on Amazon!
Pippa Fitz - Amobi, Pip to most everyone, is a senior at Fairview High School, and is doing her Capstone Project researching the 2014 Missing Persons Investigation of Andie Bell, a local high school girl. She’s granted permission and begins interviewing key players including friends and family members of Andie and Sal Singh, the boyfriend and alleged killer of Andie. She begins with Ravi Singh, Sal’s younger brother. Initially, Ravi is confused and a little suspicious of Pip and curious regarding her motivation, but she catches him completely off guard when she reveals that her goal is to prove Sal innocent! Ravi is all for proving his brother innocent because he never believed he killed Andie OR that he killed himself afterward, which is what the final story was! So he agrees to talk to Pip, provided he can work with her. She agrees.
I don’t want to include much more than that as far as the rest of the story because, honestly, the interviews, the twisty, winding lies and discoveries of the half truths and real truths are what make this book so fun! Pip and Ravi are a riot together! Love them! And I think you will, too! In fact, I think you’ll love the entire book just as much as I did!!