emmreadsbooks's reviews
1026 reviews

And Other Mistakes, by Erika Turner

emotional 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

3.0

It almost feels like poetry. We have a young girl struggling with her home life and a semester of mistakes trying to rebuild. She has to deal with an abusive father, a homophobic mother, and just the stress of trying to keep it all together. Now add in the typical high school experience, and you understand just a fraction of what Aaliyah is dealing with. The book is primarily character focused as Aaliyah grapples with her sexuality and dreams, but worries about her little sister Trinity. As a character, she has more things on her mind than her best friend's drama or the upcoming cross country meet and that was refreshing. We'll definitely see more of Erika Turner.

*Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Only a Monster, by Vanessa Len

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

It was just delightful. I love a fantasy that questions the line between good and evil and builds a well-crafted world without feeling too overwhelming. There's something about this society of monsters that feels so compelling and gritty. While it is a YA fantasy, I didn't think that it suffered from the normal pitfalls. June wants to understand who she is and find her role in this new monstrous world. The ending, while a bit of a cliffhanger, was still SO EXCITING! I can't wait to read the next one, or anything that Vanessa Len writes if I'm being honest.

With You Forever, by Chloe Liese

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

As usual, I loved the audio. After the ending of Ever After Always, you just KNEW this pairing was coming and it was precious in its own way. The ending itself was a bit rushed and the marriage of convenience plotline was just kind of weird? It may come into play more in later books, but this book is JUST Axel and Rooney for the most part. Light on the shenanigans, but pretty fun overall. Axel is the most reflective of the brothers, being a broody artist, and I'm really happy that he finally got his happy ending. 

The Golden Spoon, by Jessica Maxwell

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.75

A sinister murder mystery surrounding a cozy baking show? Uh yeah, I'm listening. 

This book definitely rides the Great British Baking Show hype all the way to its (albeit somewhat confusing) conclusion and I couldn't put it down. Having a full cast narrate it only added to the atmosphere, making it much easier to distinguish between the characters. It also made it feel like reality show confessionals, true to the genre we were aiming for. 

If anything, I wish it had been longer. The culprits for the various crimes were fairly obvious, so I wish there were a few more red herrings and secrets tossed in. But overall pretty satisfying to listen to and a quick read for anyone missing Bakeoff right now.

*Thank you to Simon Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

Funny You Should Ask, by Elissa Sussman

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

The sheer fact that this entire book is based on a REAL flirty interview with Chris Evans is just sheer perfection. I was giggling, gasping, and grimacing my way through this book as we alternate timelines and try to suss out ~exactly~ what happened between Chani and Gabe. I'm a sucker for Hollywood gossip in books, especially when it ends up being celebrities acting normal. But between The Cozy, the cutest pup Teddy, and Chani's wit in her blogs and articles, it's just delightful. (Plus the giant BANG at the end, we love.)

*Thank you to PRH Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

Daisy Jones & The Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

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

4.75

This book absolutely needs to be listened to on audiobook, it just hits different. And imagine, being able to pair this with the TV show's soundtrack? I got so excited listening to Regret You during that chapter. It feels like a documentary, but has so much more interest. You follow the formation of the band and early lives of the members, but it feels like it's splicing together confessionals from everyone. On audio, it reads like a conversation that flows seamlessly through their history. And honestly, I would buy and reread this book again and again and I DON'T EVEN LIKE HISTORICAL FICTION.

The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman

funny mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

I don't know why I thought this was going to be less cozy, but it is a retirement community after all. While the audio was really well done, I had issues following all of the characters and PoVs in the format. This combined with general British humor just not hitting with me led to an unfortunate experience. But I think many people will enjoy this book!

*Thank you to PRH Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

Need S'More Time, by Nellie Wilson

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

As a kid who went to nature camp and later became a counselor there, it's like this book was made for me. Would I curl up with Colin on his murder couch? Absolutely. It was so refreshing having a romance book talk about the pandemic, educational burnout, and poop. (Yeah, I'm serious about the last one... WHY DOES NO ONE EVER POOP IN ROMCOMS?) June is so sweet and Colin gives me all of those melty marshmallow feelings. The only con is that he's a psycho who purposefully burns his s'mores. Like....why?

Her writing definitely improved in Curated, but don't sleep on S'more! It's a quick book full of wilderness vibes and the cutest puppycat to ever exist. 

Off the Map, by Trish Doller

adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.75

I've come to expect this from Trish Doller's books, but my heart hurts. Eamon and Carla fit together so well - while I wouldn't say it's insta-love, they have an immediate connection. And it is a STEAMY one! But this book hits so much harder when we begin to discuss the idea of mortality, being a caretaker, and running away from the things that scare us. I feel like I just got out of a therapy session, but this didn't cost $200. She's able to write with such care about difficult topics, but also incorporate these dreamy settings. I want to sip on sangria and swim in one of Biggie's vintage band tees.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty, by Akwaeke Emezi

challenging medium-paced

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

3.25

To preface this, the prose itself is beautiful and I really enjoyed the dialogue on self-sabotage... But what the actual fuck.