Scan barcode
beth_loves_books's reviews
133 reviews
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jesus Christ.
The Family that Finds Us by Phoenix Blackwood
4.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It was a uplifting story about found family and has a great diversity of characters. I found the book really easy to get into and engaging from the start which is probably why I finished it in two days! Many of the topics covered in the book were quite sensitive and dark but I felt they were handled very well. The amazing friendships displayed meant the book still felt uplifting to read and there were lots of very heartwarming moments. One small criticism is that I struggled slightly to get a sense of the characters' personalities and connect to them until a good way into the book but this didn't really affect my enjoyment. I also found the writing style relatively simple but this is common in YA books. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read books with diverse characters. I think both readers who do and do not relate to the experiences of the characters in the book will be able to get something out of it, whether that's feeling represented or being able to understand LGBTQ+ experiences better. I would also recommend this book to anyone who struggles to get into books as this one jumps straight into the plot. Overall, a really engaging and uplifting book which I would definitely recommend!
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It was a uplifting story about found family and has a great diversity of characters. I found the book really easy to get into and engaging from the start which is probably why I finished it in two days! Many of the topics covered in the book were quite sensitive and dark but I felt they were handled very well. The amazing friendships displayed meant the book still felt uplifting to read and there were lots of very heartwarming moments. One small criticism is that I struggled slightly to get a sense of the characters' personalities and connect to them until a good way into the book but this didn't really affect my enjoyment. I also found the writing style relatively simple but this is common in YA books. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read books with diverse characters. I think both readers who do and do not relate to the experiences of the characters in the book will be able to get something out of it, whether that's feeling represented or being able to understand LGBTQ+ experiences better. I would also recommend this book to anyone who struggles to get into books as this one jumps straight into the plot. Overall, a really engaging and uplifting book which I would definitely recommend!
Carousel by Sarah McKnight
4.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I've been trying to get into reading horror for ages and this was the perfect book to do it! It was a relatively short read but a lot was packed in. I loved the main characters and the romantic element of the book. It's really nice to see representation of an LGBTQ+ relationship without it being the main focus! I thought the plot was very good and it was far from predictable. There were definitely a few plot points that surprised me! While I didn't find it massively frightening, the plot kept me hooked and I raced through the book within a day! I thought there was a good ammount of horror and gore throughout the book: it was enough to feel like a horror book but without going overboard. The author painted a good picture of the scene without any long or boring descriptions and I could really picture everything that was happening. The book was really engaging all the way through and I thought the ending was really satisfying. I would definitely recommend this book, particularly for those like me who haven't read much in the genre and want a good book to get started!
I've been trying to get into reading horror for ages and this was the perfect book to do it! It was a relatively short read but a lot was packed in. I loved the main characters and the romantic element of the book. It's really nice to see representation of an LGBTQ+ relationship without it being the main focus! I thought the plot was very good and it was far from predictable. There were definitely a few plot points that surprised me! While I didn't find it massively frightening, the plot kept me hooked and I raced through the book within a day! I thought there was a good ammount of horror and gore throughout the book: it was enough to feel like a horror book but without going overboard. The author painted a good picture of the scene without any long or boring descriptions and I could really picture everything that was happening. The book was really engaging all the way through and I thought the ending was really satisfying. I would definitely recommend this book, particularly for those like me who haven't read much in the genre and want a good book to get started!