cassandrahpenny's reviews
153 reviews

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

Read it in a morning! Loved the sweetness of the story, no notes. Cannot wait for Vol. 6!

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

adventurous emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

A solid read. It was a great "get out of your reading slump" book, flowed quickly, and I found the teen angst a little too relatable for my younger self. I think it could've been a shorter book and still had the same effect? A little too repetitive and drawn out. But maybe I'm just too impatient for the friends to lovers trope.

Your Wish Is My Command by Deena Mohamed

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

What a truly fantastic graphic novel! I loved the three main characters and how all their stories intertwined, the art was amazing, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Such a well-built alternate universe, and I am a sucker for magical realism. Can't recommend this enough!

Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

So overall, loved this book! At some points I thought it was going to be a 5 star read. It was written brilliantly, I loved the definitions and the storyline was mysterious and kept me hooked. Unsure if I just didn't understand the ending? It just felt anti-climatic to me, since the whole book was building up to this big event and I wasn't really sure what WAS the big event in the end...? But still, I loved it!

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

This was delightful to dip in and out of for a couple of months. Can't say I retained everything said but everything was written/read so fascinatingly, I loved it! 

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

3.5

Short, simple, and sweet. I think my only complaint is that it could've been a bit longer so we could get to know the characters a little more. 

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Winter Romances by Stephanie Perkins
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

Just wasn't really vibing with the short YA stories?

The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

Absolutely loved this queer festive rom com! Such a light and wonderful read, sad that I didn't finish it at Christmastime, but really looking forward to re-reading. I loved the dual POV between Margot and Ellie, and it was just the right amount of cheese.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The only book I shall rate with a 0.25 margin - loved it, but was so sad to find out there's so little Cindy Lou Who content?! Otherwise, a banging read.

Richard III by William Shakespeare

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

I absolutely LOVE this theatrical audiobook. I love Richard III it is SO incredibly underrated as a Shakespeare play. I encourage everyone to give it a listen once they've had a look over what everything actually means - I think a large part of my enjoyment comes from having engaged with it for two years at Sixth Form.