dpearson5257's reviews
674 reviews

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

My rating could change once I sit on this a while but right now, this was a very dark and magical story. I can see the appeal. The characters are mysterious and twisted enough to keep you going and the banter was pretty good. The writing and the world was well developed. I struggled with the magic and the cards though and I know that’s a huge piece of this world. I’ll have to read some other reviews to put some pieces together. 

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? No

5.0

I’m sorry…this was fantastic! I 100% had no intention on reading this in one day but ELJ’s writing was just so storybook, I literally felt like I was listening to a dark, ghouly, fantastical bedtime story…and I don’t do dead things! I loved the characters, I loved the adventure, the world and the setting of this book was probably one of the best I’ve read in a hot minute. When I say I was dead and creepy but don’t skimp out on a plot, this is what I mean!!!

I think I may have found a new favorite author! 

Roommate Arrangement by Saxon James

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

3.75

This was adorable and cute and flirty, I would say a good balance of story with smut. I wish the covers were more reflective of the characters though because that really helps me visualize who we’re reading about. 

I thought Payne’a character arc was really encouraging. He’s 40, recently single by divorce of a cheating spouse, and starting over. And you have Beau who is this very anxious, artistic author, friends-younger-brother. 

I think they really balanced each other out and brought out each other’s best qualities!

And the romance…I wouldn’t call it insta because it’s a long awaited moment buuuut it did seem like it just happened too quick. I do appreciate though, Payne’s character still being human and still grieving his marriage and we see that struggle in the pages, I really appreciate that from the author.

I’ll definitely be checking out the next book in this interconnected stories. It’s probably best to read them in publication order because you’ll meet characters from previous books but to each their own.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness

adventurous informative reflective 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? No

3.0

This was just ok. Which I believe is the consensus. The trilogy was epic and fantastic and vibey and adventurous. This installment was a bit slower paced focusing on our MC’s self purpose journey. I had moments where I was connecting with the characters and then I felt disconnected. 

Welp, off to book 5..soon!!

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

challenging dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.0

Somewhere Along the Way by Anna Gomez

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.75

This story set out to be an emotional and healing journey and it did just that!! I loved this more and more as I read it. I’ll start by saying this is a “dead parent” grieving story!!! 100%! So if that’s not something you can handle right now, I would tread carefully. As someone who just lost their parent at the beginning of this year, I was shocked and went thru those emotions all over again, I had to pause but I really wanted to continue to see how her journey played out, my heart was really in this one!

At about 75% in I was still weary about G, like ok cool who the heck just lets some guy hop in the car with them and go but we get his POV at some point and man o man the tears were just flowing some more. 

Just know EVERYONE is grieving something and this was such a beautifully written story focusing on not just your own grief but others around you as well.

There is also a rollercoaster of mental health rep, bipolar 2 I believe. And I really gained a better understanding of those who may live it as well as loved ones who are in their lives. It’s a tough illness and not something that can be cured but managed. And that spoke volumes! The idea of “because of my mental illness, I am not worthy to be loved”. Oooff😫

⚠️: death of parent, (abandonment) of parent, bipolar 2 - the verbal and physical lashing out, cancer, drug OD

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Death of parent

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.0

😑🫥
I enjoyed his writing and storytelling and the set up…enough to read one of his other books. I do not think this was his best work lol
I don’t care too much for the summer camp setting so i think that’s what did it for me. Along with this pacing was sslooowwww. I literally did not feel an ounce of anxiety or urgency lol like folks is missing and I can’t get an eerie whisper of the wind or a creepy door…you’re at a camp with a lake and we just get this woman who doesnt want to relieve her childhood trauma. 

No thanks lol I don’t have the Door on hold and I’m excited for that one!!

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

This hurts my heart so much because I got this on the Libro monthly pick and I absolutely looooved this cover! It’s seriously one of my favorite covers this season! But ummm what the hell is going on. 2 tropes or themes I hate in books is miscommunication and insta-love and it was like super freaking cringy because how old are we!?!  And why are we acting and speaking and communicating like middle schoolers who just saw a cute boy for the first time! I can’t just can’t!

There’s a weird mystery subplot. I don’t even know if there’s a freaking book store or a cafe. Just not at all what I was expecting and again upset because these super cute and cozy covers bring me so much joy!