desiree_reads's reviews
340 reviews

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

5☆ Review:

“𝑰 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒐 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅.”

Somehow our trio truly is never up to any good and I love them for it.

Fuck you, Snape. Still having beef with a thirteen year old after three years is getting old. He needs to go to therapy so he can work out his past grudges. 

Dumbledore is just a silly little guy…with secrets…

I love you Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.

(and Buckbeak and Crookshanks)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

adventurous funny informative mysterious reflective tense 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

4☆ Review:

“𝑩𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒚! 𝑵𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆! 𝑪𝒂𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆-”

The most lucky-unlucky trio there is.

Lockhart was the worst part of this book.

Draco is a pest, but I kinda like him.

Why is Dobby so strong?

I still like Snape.

That is all. 🐍

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5

4.5☆ Review:

“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆-𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.”

Finally reading Harry Potter for the first time at 25 years old and I’m happy to say that it was amazing. I had feared that since I didn’t read it when I was younger, I wouldn’t enjoy it as much now since I don’t have the nostalgia appeal, but I loved it. Plus the audiobook narration is top tier.

This had just about everything you’d want in a fantasy novel. Magic, magical creatures, the-chosen-one trope, and a touch of found-family (I love our trio), and more! 

P.S:

Am I allowed to like Snape? Because I do. 

I distrust Dumbledore for no reason other than the fact that he’s an authority figure. 

I really like Neville, but I also find him suspicious so I’m scared to like his character…but that could just be me overthinking.

Anyways! Onto book two!

first love late spring by cityboys

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

4☆ Review:

“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏? 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆?”

Words of Affirmation vs Acts of Service, but take it to the extreme.

This fic is beautifully written and I’m blown away. The whole story felt so real and left me feeling hollow at times, but in the best kind of way. 

Maybe we all need therapy. 

“𝑮𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚. 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚. 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆.”

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

2☆ Review:

I feel sad giving this book two stars, but unfortunately that’s what it was for me. Which I’m upset about since I thought I’d love this book.

I had really enjoyed the beginning, but as it progressed the pacing seemed to get slower and slower. Around the halfway point, I contemplated DNF’ing it, but stuck around to the end. 

I liked the jokes and comedic timing throughout, but I found that the only POV I enjoyed was Crowley’s. The rest of the characters just didn’t suck me in. 

Though, I do hope to watch the tv adaptation of this one day and I believe I’ll enjoy it!

Bad Boys, Happy Home, Vol. 3 by SHOOWA, Hiromasa Okujima

dark funny 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

3.0

3☆ Review:

I think overall I enjoyed this series.

It was surprisingly dark, but also funny in a ridiculous kind of way. 

Bad Boys, Happy Home, Vol. 2 by SHOOWA, Hiromasa Okujima

dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5☆ Review:

Seven’s past made this volume much darker than the first. He’s was involved in a lot of messed up stuff.

Seven and Akamatsu’s relationship is finally taking off a bit and their feelings are getting more serious. 

Let’s continue!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

4☆ Review:

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a beautifully written, yet tragic, coming-of-age story that I did not expect to fall in love with. 

My biggest compliment is that the characters felt so real. Their problems became my problems. Their emotions became my emotions. Even when characters seemed to be making all the wrong decisions (*cough* Sadie *cough*), I couldn’t help but love them because, as the reader, we’re made to understand their actions. 

Sam and Sadie are soulmates. Whether that’s platonic or romantic, that will remain a fact. While many moments frustrated me, I still love them and hope they’ll find each other in every lifetime.

Bad Boys, Happy Home, Vol. 1 by Shoowa, Hiromasa Okujima

funny mysterious 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

4.0

4☆ Review:

I’m pleasantly surprised! This was funny and weird, but really enjoyable. It was both serious and completely unserious at different moments. 

Can’t wait to learn more about who Seven really is and who he’s associated with!

You Are My Happiness by Bukuro Yamada

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

3☆ Review:

This story had me quite interested from the very beginning. It gives the feeling of something being off even from the first page.

I liked the way it progressed into something sinister.

But, the ended left me dissatisfied. I wish it had been fleshed out a bit more. It never explained exactly who Sakuma was or why he was there, which I think would’ve helped the story. 

The bonus story at the end was fine. Very rushed and kinda boring in my opinion, but fine.