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charvi_not_just_fiction's reviews
700 reviews
Kate In Waiting by Becky Albertalli
emotional
funny
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? No
4.5
Reading anything by Becky Albertalli is so nostalgic for me?? I'm immediately transported to someplace warm and comforting, no matter the book. I've shifted away from YA in the past few years and I'm the opposite of a theatre kid which is why I was hesitant to pick this book up for so long but why was I afraid?? It's Becky Albertalli. She's my auto-buy author for a reason <3
I'm probably kinda biased but even though I'm the furthest thing from a theatre kid I LOVED this book! The author has a way of writing such a loveable cast of characters and oh my god Kate?? I saw so much of myself in her. The anxiety, the love for her friends and emphasis on platonic relationships, the extreme second-hand embarrassment and so many other things.
So many lines in this book had me nodding with a hand on my heart because I relate to them so deeply. Ugh, all Becky Albertalli novels do this to me.
This is in no way like a proper review but I loveeeed this. Matt and Andy were such wonderful side characters! Matt was a cutie and omg Andy and Kate's friendship?? Adorable and to die for. I especially love how they subverted the trope of letting a boy get between their friendship, like HELL YEAH!
Also Noah?? WHAT A CUTIE. This boy was smitten from page one and I was so here for it.
Listen, just do yourself a favour and pick it up, I practically devoured this in one sitting <3
I'm probably kinda biased but even though I'm the furthest thing from a theatre kid I LOVED this book! The author has a way of writing such a loveable cast of characters and oh my god Kate?? I saw so much of myself in her. The anxiety, the love for her friends and emphasis on platonic relationships, the extreme second-hand embarrassment and so many other things.
So many lines in this book had me nodding with a hand on my heart because I relate to them so deeply. Ugh, all Becky Albertalli novels do this to me.
This is in no way like a proper review but I loveeeed this. Matt and Andy were such wonderful side characters! Matt was a cutie and omg Andy and Kate's friendship?? Adorable and to die for. I especially love how they subverted the trope of letting a boy get between their friendship, like HELL YEAH!
Also Noah?? WHAT A CUTIE. This boy was smitten from page one and I was so here for it.
Listen, just do yourself a favour and pick it up, I practically devoured this in one sitting <3
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is such a heartwarming and dreamy book!
I was eagerly waiting for its release and I've been seeing everyone pick it up and rave ever since and of course, it doesn't disappoint!
Eileen has gone through a major heartbreak and all she wants is her comfort book club, far away from reality. Instead, she ends up crashing into a stranger in a small town - Anderson. While she only plans to stay the night in the town she quickly realises it's the town from her favourite book series come alive and maybe she would like to be a permanent resident here as well.
I absolutely love Eileen and her enthusiasm and love for Eloraton is so believable. She quickly pulls you in and shows you the heart and charm of the town - its characters. It's so enchanting to be introduced to Eloraton and the myriad of characters. At no point do you feel like they're characters from a book, they feel so real and the reader immediately gets invested in their stories and romances.
And of course, there's Anderson, the grumpy bookstore owner who has an air of mystery and who Eileen believes to be the hero of the next book in the unfinished series. My lips are sealed but let's just say I spent so long trying to uncover his mystery but oh my god the reveal was such a welcome surprise! The mystery aside, Anderson is an intriguing character and together, he and Eileen have a sizzling chemistry and cute banter that I was simply a goner for.
A mystery, romance, small-town charm and well-developed characters - what more does a reader need?
A small side note: I adore every book Ashley Poshton has ever written. I've read every single one of them from Geekerella to the adult romances she writes today. In every book of hers, there's a certain charm. More often than not her books are an ode to reading, to fictional worlds that we immerse ourselves in the ones that save us, some that might overpower us and most that bring us closer to others and teach the meaning of life.
Every time I read a book by Poshton my heart is full and there are tears in my eyes because she truly understands the love for fictional worlds and expresses them in such powerful worlds. This book was no exception. I hope she never stops with books revolving around books <3
I was eagerly waiting for its release and I've been seeing everyone pick it up and rave ever since and of course, it doesn't disappoint!
Eileen has gone through a major heartbreak and all she wants is her comfort book club, far away from reality. Instead, she ends up crashing into a stranger in a small town - Anderson. While she only plans to stay the night in the town she quickly realises it's the town from her favourite book series come alive and maybe she would like to be a permanent resident here as well.
I absolutely love Eileen and her enthusiasm and love for Eloraton is so believable. She quickly pulls you in and shows you the heart and charm of the town - its characters. It's so enchanting to be introduced to Eloraton and the myriad of characters. At no point do you feel like they're characters from a book, they feel so real and the reader immediately gets invested in their stories and romances.
And of course, there's Anderson, the grumpy bookstore owner who has an air of mystery and who Eileen believes to be the hero of the next book in the unfinished series. My lips are sealed but let's just say I spent so long trying to uncover his mystery but oh my god the reveal was such a welcome surprise! The mystery aside, Anderson is an intriguing character and together, he and Eileen have a sizzling chemistry and cute banter that I was simply a goner for.
A mystery, romance, small-town charm and well-developed characters - what more does a reader need?
A small side note: I adore every book Ashley Poshton has ever written. I've read every single one of them from Geekerella to the adult romances she writes today. In every book of hers, there's a certain charm. More often than not her books are an ode to reading, to fictional worlds that we immerse ourselves in the ones that save us, some that might overpower us and most that bring us closer to others and teach the meaning of life.
Every time I read a book by Poshton my heart is full and there are tears in my eyes because she truly understands the love for fictional worlds and expresses them in such powerful worlds. This book was no exception. I hope she never stops with books revolving around books <3
With a Kiss We Die by L.R. Dorn
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book is the reason I'm yawning on a Monday morning and it so wasn't worth it.
First off, a huge shoutout to the entire cast that narrated this book! I'd highly suggest picking up the audiobook since this book is basically a true crime podcast narrations style plus the narrators do a fabulous job.
Our main character Ryanna Raines is reporting on two teenage suspects of an insidious murder. If you're a fan of true crime I suspect you'll really enjoy this one. Inspired by a treu crime, the book digs deep into the psychology and background of the teenage suspects while exploring the suspects.
It took me a bit to get used to the narration style since it's almost like I'm listening to a podcast. And just when I got invested, really eager to get some answers the book ended ambiguously. IT WAS AN OPEN ENDING. Like oh you interpret what happened. NO WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!
This is exactly why I don't listen to true crime, because I hate not knowing who killed the people! The rage and fury I felt alone kept me up last night. It was soooo anticlimatic and I feel like the author didn't know how to end the book so it just ended very abruptly as well.
Such a disappointment honestly, now I'm going to be asking questions about the killer for days in my head. Ugh.
Maybe this might be your cup of tea but it certainly wasn't mine.
First off, a huge shoutout to the entire cast that narrated this book! I'd highly suggest picking up the audiobook since this book is basically a true crime podcast narrations style plus the narrators do a fabulous job.
Our main character Ryanna Raines is reporting on two teenage suspects of an insidious murder. If you're a fan of true crime I suspect you'll really enjoy this one. Inspired by a treu crime, the book digs deep into the psychology and background of the teenage suspects while exploring the suspects.
It took me a bit to get used to the narration style since it's almost like I'm listening to a podcast. And just when I got invested, really eager to get some answers the book ended ambiguously. IT WAS AN OPEN ENDING. Like oh you interpret what happened. NO WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!
This is exactly why I don't listen to true crime, because I hate not knowing who killed the people! The rage and fury I felt alone kept me up last night. It was soooo anticlimatic and I feel like the author didn't know how to end the book so it just ended very abruptly as well.
Such a disappointment honestly, now I'm going to be asking questions about the killer for days in my head. Ugh.
Maybe this might be your cup of tea but it certainly wasn't mine.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-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? No
3.5
This is a book I wouldn't normally read and while I struggled initially I've come to be very fond of the characters and the town of Whistlestop as a whole.
We get introduced to the people of Whistlestop and their lives through Mrs Threadgoode aka Ninny as she tells her stories to Evelyn, interspersed with the POVs of the people as they lived the tales and even weekly news updates. It's a very fun, multi-narration slice-of-life story. I'm absolutely enamoured by Idgie, Ruth, Evelyn, Mrs Threadgoode and so many more characters. They and the cafe are the heart of the story and it kept me invested. Because truly the main annoying thing is how meandering the book can be with chapters from many minor or side characters and perspectives, making it extremely difficult to track who is who or even be invested in them. Like not gonna lie, even though I overall like the book I fell asleep more than once while reading it.
But in the end the journey was worth it and oh my god it has some recipes in the end!!
We get introduced to the people of Whistlestop and their lives through Mrs Threadgoode aka Ninny as she tells her stories to Evelyn, interspersed with the POVs of the people as they lived the tales and even weekly news updates. It's a very fun, multi-narration slice-of-life story. I'm absolutely enamoured by Idgie, Ruth, Evelyn, Mrs Threadgoode and so many more characters. They and the cafe are the heart of the story and it kept me invested. Because truly the main annoying thing is how meandering the book can be with chapters from many minor or side characters and perspectives, making it extremely difficult to track who is who or even be invested in them. Like not gonna lie, even though I overall like the book I fell asleep more than once while reading it.
But in the end the journey was worth it and oh my god it has some recipes in the end!!
The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Sadly, I expected to love this more than I did.
The concept is wonderful but the execution was a bit lacking. I really enjoyed the sense of mystery and the setting, the lore and the ghosts. I did guess the heir very very early on so my enjoyment was slightly ruined but more than that it was frustrating to not have any of the side characters developed or explored. While I liked getting to know our two main characters the author completely skimmed on the rest. Posey was such an intriguing character but the only thing we really know about her is that she's bubbly and loves ghosts. You would think we'd know more about the mc's roommate? I couldn't distinguish between the other characters in their gang for the life of me and even with the ghosts, the backstories came far too late and were far too little. This made all the small conflicts and interactions between the characters seem either off or just meaningless because there was barely any exploration of their relationships or who the other characters were.
The romance was okay, felt a bit rushed honestly so I was kinda meh about it.
I still don't know if some of the plot points have completely made sense in my head but overall it was an atmospheric read and an audiobook that I didn't mind playing in the background.
The concept is wonderful but the execution was a bit lacking. I really enjoyed the sense of mystery and the setting, the lore and the ghosts. I did guess the heir very very early on so my enjoyment was slightly ruined but more than that it was frustrating to not have any of the side characters developed or explored. While I liked getting to know our two main characters the author completely skimmed on the rest. Posey was such an intriguing character but the only thing we really know about her is that she's bubbly and loves ghosts. You would think we'd know more about the mc's roommate? I couldn't distinguish between the other characters in their gang for the life of me and even with the ghosts, the backstories came far too late and were far too little. This made all the small conflicts and interactions between the characters seem either off or just meaningless because there was barely any exploration of their relationships or who the other characters were.
The romance was okay, felt a bit rushed honestly so I was kinda meh about it.
I still don't know if some of the plot points have completely made sense in my head but overall it was an atmospheric read and an audiobook that I didn't mind playing in the background.
Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield
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? It's complicated
4.0
akefdjqblweifabpqlwea the cuteness is killing me, this was just the most adorable thing ever <3
At its core, this is a fluffy time loop story about two lesbians falling in love. Phoebe is stuck in a time loop battling her IBS and waiting for a non-existent day when she has an appointment with a doctor who might finally look beyond her weight and treat her seriously. And yet Phoebe is afraid of change.
And then one day she crashes into her crush Jess and drags them into the loop with her. She has always had a crush on Jess and they were once friends so it's too easy to fall in love with them - which is exactly what Phoebe doesn't need happening in a freaking time loop.
I absolutely flew through this book. It's an adorable romance with two very lovable characters <3 Both Jess and Phoebe are such different personalities so it was fun to see the carefree Jess push the anxious and cautious Phoebe out of her comfort zone. And despite this being a very cute romance their is a lot of depth to all the characters and their relationships which made me love this book so much more <3
At its core, this is a fluffy time loop story about two lesbians falling in love. Phoebe is stuck in a time loop battling her IBS and waiting for a non-existent day when she has an appointment with a doctor who might finally look beyond her weight and treat her seriously. And yet Phoebe is afraid of change.
And then one day she crashes into her crush Jess and drags them into the loop with her. She has always had a crush on Jess and they were once friends so it's too easy to fall in love with them - which is exactly what Phoebe doesn't need happening in a freaking time loop.
I absolutely flew through this book. It's an adorable romance with two very lovable characters <3 Both Jess and Phoebe are such different personalities so it was fun to see the carefree Jess push the anxious and cautious Phoebe out of her comfort zone. And despite this being a very cute romance their is a lot of depth to all the characters and their relationships which made me love this book so much more <3
How to Ruin a Wedding: A Romantic Comedy by Sophie Andrews
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a quick and light-hearted read but also very forgettable.
I honestly didn't fall in love with any of the characters except maybe Zach?
One of my biggest complaints was that even though Tilly is our mc and we get to know what she likes and dislikes we still don't really get to know her. It was hard to form an image of her except that she was in love with Tyler and wanted to break the wedding.
It's a messy and predictable book and the romance was also okay. It developed way too fast in my opinion but was still a bit enjoyable. It's definitely steamy but even the spicier scenes were kinda okay.
One thing I did love was that relationships of all kinds are complex, not black and white and how they explored that through multiple characters. I liked reading about the characters working on things after they messed up even if they knew everything between them wouldn't be the same.
But overall this was an average read, you can skip it if you'd like.
I honestly didn't fall in love with any of the characters except maybe Zach?
One of my biggest complaints was that even though Tilly is our mc and we get to know what she likes and dislikes we still don't really get to know her. It was hard to form an image of her except that she was in love with Tyler and wanted to break the wedding.
It's a messy and predictable book and the romance was also okay. It developed way too fast in my opinion but was still a bit enjoyable. It's definitely steamy but even the spicier scenes were kinda okay.
One thing I did love was that relationships of all kinds are complex, not black and white and how they explored that through multiple characters. I liked reading about the characters working on things after they messed up even if they knew everything between them wouldn't be the same.
But overall this was an average read, you can skip it if you'd like.
The Bird's Nest by Shirley Jackson
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My first Shirley Jackson novel!
And I don't know what to think...
People have been saying this isn't her best work so I'll probably still continue reading her works.
This was, whatever said and done, quite interesting. It's well, not an inaccurate portrayal of multiple personality disorder and it was fascinating to see the confusion and chaos that arose from Elizabeth and her personalities. There were parts where I was quite hooked and yet there were points where the writing seemed to drag unbearably. I also didn't care for either the doctor or the aunt very much though I did get quite fond of the personalities. So overall this was a mixed bag for me.
And I don't know what to think...
People have been saying this isn't her best work so I'll probably still continue reading her works.
This was, whatever said and done, quite interesting. It's well, not an inaccurate portrayal of multiple personality disorder and it was fascinating to see the confusion and chaos that arose from Elizabeth and her personalities. There were parts where I was quite hooked and yet there were points where the writing seemed to drag unbearably. I also didn't care for either the doctor or the aunt very much though I did get quite fond of the personalities. So overall this was a mixed bag for me.
Heroes: The Greek Myths Reimagined by Stephen Fry
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Look this is fully on me. I think I'm bored with reading so much on greek mythology. I cannot bring myself to care for this book. Maybe a few years down the line I might want to pick it up but for now, I'm moving on to other books.
Yesterday Is History by Kosoko Jackson
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Yesterday is History has such an interesting concept! Time travel because of a kidney? Wow, I'm in.
I really enjoyed the set-up of the world and how we are introduced to the characters. I was instantly enamoured by Andre and his personality. Andre has finally got a kidney that sticks, a solution to all his problems and now he can finally get on with his life. He is determined to be at the very top of his class, score well, and get into good colleges to become a doctor. Because that's what he's wanted since he was 6, right?
Andre reminds me so much of myself except I wasn't as feisty as he was, haha.
Some older readers might feel he's being so obstinate and fixated on being the best at his studies and not seeing how that affects his health but this is what I like about good YA - they're showing you a young adult's perspective. While I'm begging Andre to see sense while reading this book I very well know that if somebody had told my perfectionist ass that I need to ease up and enjoy life when I was at school I would have ignored them. It's the age where the anxiety to study and do well academically seems to triumph over everything and I like how the author was able to portray that.
I really liked reading about his parents too. They were anxious and concerned about his health, they were pushing him hard to do his best and become a good doctor - but in the end, their love for him was always more important. Sometimes I tire of parents being portrayed as villains, especially in Asian households (Andre is not Asian, he is black and I cannot speak for black culture so this is just a general statement) where pushing your kid to do something is seen as being a bad parent. Andre went on his own journey to figure out what to do in life, to come to terms with the fact that it's okay to change your mind about who you want to be. I love that message.
The plot in itself is also quite interesting and well-paced as we get to understand how time travel works in this universe and its caveats. Andre's relationships with both Michael and Blake were beautifully built up and heartbreaking in different ways. Both of them pushed Andre in different ways and challenged him to believe in himself and to think for his own happiness.
The end kind of had me sobbing okay, that one letter absolutely destroyed me.
All in all, this was a great book, my only concern was that things felt quite rushed in the second half. I would have loved to give Blake and Andre's relationship more time to flourish, it felt slightly forced. And in general, things just happened so quickly towards the end that I barely had time to process them.
But really, other than that this is a gem of a book and I'd highly recommend it!
I really enjoyed the set-up of the world and how we are introduced to the characters. I was instantly enamoured by Andre and his personality. Andre has finally got a kidney that sticks, a solution to all his problems and now he can finally get on with his life. He is determined to be at the very top of his class, score well, and get into good colleges to become a doctor. Because that's what he's wanted since he was 6, right?
Andre reminds me so much of myself except I wasn't as feisty as he was, haha.
Some older readers might feel he's being so obstinate and fixated on being the best at his studies and not seeing how that affects his health but this is what I like about good YA - they're showing you a young adult's perspective. While I'm begging Andre to see sense while reading this book I very well know that if somebody had told my perfectionist ass that I need to ease up and enjoy life when I was at school I would have ignored them. It's the age where the anxiety to study and do well academically seems to triumph over everything and I like how the author was able to portray that.
I really liked reading about his parents too. They were anxious and concerned about his health, they were pushing him hard to do his best and become a good doctor - but in the end, their love for him was always more important. Sometimes I tire of parents being portrayed as villains, especially in Asian households (Andre is not Asian, he is black and I cannot speak for black culture so this is just a general statement) where pushing your kid to do something is seen as being a bad parent. Andre went on his own journey to figure out what to do in life, to come to terms with the fact that it's okay to change your mind about who you want to be. I love that message.
The plot in itself is also quite interesting and well-paced as we get to understand how time travel works in this universe and its caveats. Andre's relationships with both Michael and Blake were beautifully built up and heartbreaking in different ways. Both of them pushed Andre in different ways and challenged him to believe in himself and to think for his own happiness.
The end kind of had me sobbing okay, that one letter absolutely destroyed me.
All in all, this was a great book, my only concern was that things felt quite rushed in the second half. I would have loved to give Blake and Andre's relationship more time to flourish, it felt slightly forced. And in general, things just happened so quickly towards the end that I barely had time to process them.
But really, other than that this is a gem of a book and I'd highly recommend it!