brittnybuysbooks's reviews
12 reviews
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The House Witch 3: A Humorous Romantic Fantasy by Delemhach
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
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
4.5
The House Witch 2 by Delemhach
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The House Witch by Delemhach
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.75
Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I feel like we didn’t really get to know these characters- why Ian was shocked by Hannah’s interest. Why Hannah was so afraid of being deserted. The most I feel like we hear is that her family is disappointed that she is an engineer not a medical practitioner. I just felt like there was a deeper reason not really explored. I felt sort of lost. I was rooting for the relationship because I was simply supposed to, not because I was rooting for the characters.
In some part, that was due to the nature of it being a novella, so there wasn’t much room for character exploration. However, I feel like she could have shortened or even replaced the spicy scenes, and Hannah’s numerous general references to past ‘flings.’ I wish there was more she unpacked about why she doesn’t let people get close.
To be fair I’m also not a fan of spice- I’ll skim over it to catch important dialogue if it’s there, but it’s not something I enjoy reading. Here, it feels unearned. (And it’s pretty freaking spicy 🌶️, at least to me 😕)
Even if I didn’t understand it the way I wanted to, I do appreciate that Hazelwood at least subverted the trope with having Hannah be the one of the pair fighting against the idea of a relationship. That’s real. There are plenty of women who do that too. Hazelwood’s writing style has great pacing!
I enjoyed reading The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain, so it is hard to give this rating. I considered even a 2.5. I love that the women in those books are more fully rounded and that there are also subplots of them dealing with sexism in STEM. It makes me care about them more, and having to skim over the spice feel more worth it.
In some part, that was due to the nature of it being a novella, so there wasn’t much room for character exploration. However, I feel like she could have shortened or even replaced the spicy scenes, and Hannah’s numerous general references to past ‘flings.’ I wish there was more she unpacked about why she doesn’t let people get close.
Spoiler
When she chooses to follow through with the relationship, it felt sudden. It felt like a “well, he saved my life so maybe he does like me. I guess I could date him. 🤷🏻♀️”To be fair I’m also not a fan of spice- I’ll skim over it to catch important dialogue if it’s there, but it’s not something I enjoy reading. Here, it feels unearned. (And it’s pretty freaking spicy 🌶️, at least to me 😕)
Even if I didn’t understand it the way I wanted to, I do appreciate that Hazelwood at least subverted the trope with having Hannah be the one of the pair fighting against the idea of a relationship. That’s real. There are plenty of women who do that too. Hazelwood’s writing style has great pacing!
I enjoyed reading The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain, so it is hard to give this rating. I considered even a 2.5. I love that the women in those books are more fully rounded and that there are also subplots of them dealing with sexism in STEM. It makes me care about them more, and having to skim over the spice feel more worth it.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Ableism
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Child death, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy and War
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Grief, Death, and Child death
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75