clairebartholomew549's reviews
480 reviews

Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma Törzs

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I loveeeddd this book. It was practically made for me - I am obsessed with books of course, I love fantasy, and as a preteen the Inkheart series was my absolute jam (I actually just requested the books at the library, lol) - and I couldn't put it down. I loved all the characters, and having three perspectives gave me just enough hints of the mystery to keep me really interested. I couldn't tell where the story was going and how the universe would ultimately unravel, and I liked the addition of the family relationships and trauma. I read a few reviews that said the dialogue felt a bit childish, but I didn't agree - the way each character communicated made sense to me given each of their life experiences, and the dialogue didn't raise any eyebrows for me. I also liked that there was slight romance, but the focus was really on the sisters reconnecting and figuring out what kind of life they want and what it means to belong somewhere. I also haven't read a standalone fantasy in a while, and I kind of liked that everything was wrapped up at the end (although I would have also read any more books in this universe tbh). This one really did it for me!

Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is so much better than Things We Hide from the Light, thank goodness. I've always loved Sloane and Lucian, and their chemistry in this book practically jumps off the page. I appreciated that the conflict between them ran deep and real, and the spice was perfect. 

As usual with this trilogy, the relationships accelerate at lightning speed once things are "resolved" (I don't know why every couple has to be engaged as soon as they get together ¯\_(ツ)_/¯), but at least with this couple, they have such deep history that it makes slightly more sense. I also think these books (as with many romance books, to be honest) could be 100 pages shorter - the middle part always just drags.

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho

emotional reflective 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

4.0

This book has been on my to-read list forever, and I'm really glad I finally got around to it. It's a collection of snapshots of two best friends' lives, and it beautifully traces the aches of growing up, how hard it is to maintain the intimacy of childhood connection, and being first- and second-generation immigrants in cities that preach inclusivity. I felt very attached to both Fiona and Jane.

Zorrie by Laird Hunt

reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

3.0

This book is quiet and sweet, and following Zorrie is a lovely ride. I didn't get a ton out of the book, hence my three stars, but I did find Zorrie likeable and enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery. This is definitely a sleepy book, but it's a good snapshot of life in rural, depression-era Indiana.

I'm Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

This book is extremely powerful and evocative. I highlighted so many passages that hit me. Vivek Shraya writes beautifully and stirringly about the fear of men that is inherent in being a human, the pressure to categorize men as "good" and "bad," and the struggle to make sense of one's femininity in a world that is so hostile to girlhood and womanhood. 

Caught Up by Liz Tomforde

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

I’m torn on this book. I really love Liz Tomforde’s writing, and the first third of this book really pulled me in. Kai and Miller’s banter jumps off the pages, and I’m a sucker for the trope of a single dad with the absolute cutest toddler. But I lost steam somewhere in the middle of this book. At first I blamed it on reading in first and bursts, but then I saw my favorite bookstagrammer Beach Reads and Bubbly describe this book as too long, and it hit me - this book is too long!! I don’t know why every contemporary romance novel these days borders on 500 pages or more, but this story really could have been streamlined. I still loved reading this and squealed at the ending, and I’ll definitely read everything Liz Tomforde ever writes, but this one fell just a tad flat for 

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

hopeful reflective medium-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

4.0

I loved this book! Abby Jimenez's writing is snappy and endearing, and her depiction of the grief of 
unexpectedly losing a loved one is really moving. There is a little bit of insta-love for sure (and not enough conflict in the first third of the book I'd say), but I appreciated how the book delved into what makes a relationship work when people have different careers and aspirations. The evolution of Sloan and Jason's connection through the demands of his music tour and her complicated feelings about love after loss is really beautiful - I found myself tearing up towards the end. I also immediately added The Friend Zone to my library holds list - I'm really excited to read Kristen and Josh's story!

Calypso by David Sedaris

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

3.0

I'm pretty ambivalent about this book. I read it for book club and guess I kind of enjoyed it, but I didn't really get much out of it.

Things We Hide From The Light by Lucy Score

emotional tense medium-paced

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

This book is so, so cheesy. The first book in this series is, too, but in a way that for whatever reason is much more palatable and enjoyable. I cringed a lot while reading, and it didn't really hold my attention. Lina and Nash both have deep-seated trauma, and I appreciate that Lucy Score took on panic attacks and PTSD. But Lina and Nash both get over those issues shockingly (unrealistically) fast, and I just was not that invested in the resolution of their story. I found myself trying to get to the end of the book, but not because I really cared what happened, but because I was ready to move on to a new book. I've heard Sloan and Lucien's book is much better, so I'm really excited for that!

Spoiler

It's kind of weird that in both books from this series that I've read so far, the characters jump to marriage after dating for truly only a few weeks. It doesn't make sense at all. Also, I appreciated that the author clearly tried to weave in some BLM perspective in terms of Nash trying to reform the police department, but it had a very one-bad-apple feel, which I don't subscribe to.

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

A fun, easy read - but really nothing special. Basically White Lotus set in a summer Fire Island town. All the characters are repulsive (which is definitely the point) and this book goes by very fast. I probably would have enjoyed it more in the middle of the summer tbh.