gettinglostinagoodbook's reviews
1162 reviews

Sunflowers and Surrender by L.M. Fox

emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.5

Ailene by Annabel den Dekker

adventurous inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I loved the friends as family idea that weaved it’s way through the story. The ties that bind these friends are so strong that they have to be considered family. Family doesn’t always get along, but they always love each other. This was depicted in a truly relatable way.  Character development and relationships were depicted so well. The descriptive writing helped me not only to see what was happening, but to feel like I truly knew the people it was happening to. I found myself changing my mind alongside the main characters, wanting to question why “we” felt this way.  I felt like I was there, beside Hayden, and discovering things together.  I love when an author can draw me in to a book like that.  I have to admit at times I was a little confused as to what was going on. I found that there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and I wasn’t always sure which side they were on.  

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

challenging emotional medium-paced

5.0

I Know You by Russell Govan

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

4.5

I was excited to receive this book in the mail, and devoured it in a 24 hour period. I was pleasantly surprised, and will definitely keep my eyes open for more books by Russell Govan. 

 I was truly  impressed by how well Govan wove the stories together, moving back and fourth through time in a way that did not confuse the reader. While the stories from different times involved the same people they were distinctly different. However I never found myself questioning when it was in the story, or what was happening to the characters.  

Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club by Diane Bergner

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The Right Wrong Number by Katie Warren

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

WOW!  From the prologue to the final page I was enthralled. Katie Warren created characters that I wanted to be friends with!  Characters I could relate to, even if they aren’t exactly like me. 

Jules, struggling to move on after the death of his husband, doesn’t want to get out of bed let alone meet someone new. Nora, as supportive and loving as she is, knows he has to get moving and living again. She wants to make Jules smile. In comes Liam - stuck in a rut with friends he’s unsure of and no direction in mind.  

Through an innocent changing of phone numbers Jules and Liam connect.  They know nothing about each other at all, but by trying to support each other they learn a lot about themselves. 

Through miscommunications and misunderstandings (and a missed opportunity meet up) Jules discovers that maybe he can go on.  Liam discovers that maybe his troubles have not been totally him, but the fact that he never met the one who was right for him. 

Warren dealt with two pretty sensitive issues in an understanding, yet humorous way. The death of a spouse, and moving on alone, cannot be easy. Neither is discovering things about yourself you never knew.  Well done. 

Everybody needs a Nora in their life - that friend who will do anything for you while pushing you to do everything you don’t want to. And of course there’s Fishsticks!  The grumpy, miserable, “just give me a treat” Fishsticks that brings everyone together. 

I'll Be There For You by Brieanna Wilkoff, Brieanna Wilkoff

hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

The West End Library was my favorite place in the world. It had a pyramid-shaped fountain out front, three levels with a giant iron staircase winding up the center, and a wall made entirely of multicolored glass.
 Isla is a quirky and funny main character who truly grows up in this story. The story opens with her on her last time, with no place to live, and too embarrassed to seek help from her family. Through some not so smart decisions, some funny encounters and help from a long- time “off-limits” crush Isla works her way through this mess of a life she has created.  At times I cringed while at others I cheered for the decisions that she made. The choice to do house sitting added a safety net for living arrangements, and the opportunity for a pretty fun backdrop. And how can a character whose favourite place to be is the library be all that bad?
Cade and Neeta are fantastic support characters for Isla.  Their interactions are relatable, and they are likeable.  Neeta provides a great foil for Isla, as well as a destination for her. Cade draws out the best in her, even when he’s not showing the best of himself.  
At times I found Isla and her family a little immature.  I was disappointed in her parents reaction when she finally opened up to them. I was hoping for a better solution with them. (It did explain her personality though).

The Guilty One by Bill Schweigart

mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

funny inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0