edwordallanhoe's reviews
22 reviews

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

A banger. 

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

 Diana Wynne Jones made Howell Jenkins let his freak flag fly when he said "hear me out," about his 90 year old cleaning lady...
Made me appreciate the movie all the more. I love this book even though it contains more Wales that you'd think. 

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

  My first five star rom com! Honestly like chicken soup for the soul, truly a feel good story ❤️‍🔥 

Sad Girl Novel by Pip Finkemeyer

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I know there's a lot of talk about books we consume, but more than feeding me, this book nourished me body and soul. The protagonist Kim is a bit of a loser and a misanthrope but I've never related to anybody more. Pop Finkemeyer reveals all my fears about writing on the page, and yet, also completely inspires me to just do it despite them. And that maybe, just maybe, there's a sad girl novel inside all of us, waiting to be birthed and unleashed into the world. ✍️📖🥲

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

Deece.
Got me out of a reading slump, thank you Connor!

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

An excellent debut novel. An honest and vulnerable portrayal of the black body and personhood. A very good book. 

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

No notes. A perfect sci-fi that keeps you guessing and leaves more questions than answers. The imagery described in this book will haunt me for years to come. Decidedly creepy and atmospheric. I'm almost afraid to read the rest of the series because this can be read as a perfect stand alone. 

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

I may no longer be in the preferred demographic for this book as it leans a little on the younger side of YA. The main character is sometimes painfully annoying. I have myself to blame as I already bought the next two books in the trilogy, idk if I'll finish it...

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.25

"Love can and does enter through the mouth." I so enjoy reading from fellow eaters who feel similarly about food, more than sustenance, it's passion and it's love, and it nourishes the soul. This book has everything, it's part biography, part recipe book and Tucci writes it brilliantly with wit, style and gusto (see what I did there?).

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

Okay so there is a bit of a food journey here. But mostly a self journey. We do get side tracked for a couple hundred pages talking about romantic entanglements, but can we get back to the food please? I would give reading other titles from this author a go, but I will probably not re-read this book for a while. This went a few unexpected places, and it was frustrating at times, but I think it concluded nicely. Wish I knew more about wine to make better sense of it all. 🍷🥂🍾

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Content Warnings

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship