grettypop's reviews
684 reviews

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

Unexpectedly dark beginning, with a very realistic view about what life in the hamster wheel is like. The books follows Phoebe, who has lost her light. I found her situation very relatable. A relationship that burnt out over time, a job that was once exciting now a chore, a life that no longer seems worth living...

I think at some point we all have to face how we thought our life was vs how it actually is, and make a decision to either keep pretending or make some drastic changes.

I thought the book was unexpectedly hilarious at some parts, very memorable overall, and I could relate to both Phoebe and the 'bride' more than I initially thought.

One of the best books of 2024! 

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

3.0

I listened to the audiobook while I was unpacking after my move. Some of the themes (strong woman, who forgot her power and is now finally moving on) hit very close to home. I liked it overall.

There were some cringe themes: FMC was talking to her dead mother in her head constantly... and her mother would respond? That was giving schizophrenia to me. The MC was already in love, which.... I like to see the progression.

But overall, if you need a cozy, light, romantic read - this is a good one! 

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I think I needed to digest this book for a couple days after I finished. Clearly, we have an unreliable narrator. Whether Merry is "lying" on purpose, or she was simply too young at the happenings of the events and misremembers things, or maybe as a child she just comprehended it differently... We truly do not know anything. The book is a giant question mark, and the more you think about it, the less you actually know.

With that being said, I really enjoyed the writing - the back and forth of present day vs Merry's recollection of what happened.

If you dabble in the thriller/horror genre, you'll enjoy this one.

Manwhore, Volume 1 by Katy Evans

4.0

The Last Town by Blake Crouch

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

What an insane finish to an insane series! I can't believe this would be the LAST book for Wayward Pines.... I need one more, please.

So This Is War by Meghan Quinn

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

A cute, fluffy, laugh-out-loud funny palette cleanser, where the star hockey player is forced to hire his scary coach's daughter as a personal assistant and make her life hell to 'teach her a lesson'. I enjoyed the teasing, the jokes, the drama. The spice was SPICEING. This was everything that I needed it to be.

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

The story follows Ethan, who was the only one present when his best friend Billy disappeared out of the tent from next to him 30 years ago. Ethan is once again back in his old neighborhood, and he believed the spirit of Billy is haunting him, trying to tell him something.

As with all Riley Sager books, we are walking the line of 'is this a paranormal thing vs something easily explainable, or is the MC losing it?!' - which I love. There were a few parts where I felt seriously creeped out (esp around 80% in).

Overall, I loved this book. Not my favorite by this author, but definitely a good one!

The Lovely Return by Carian Cole

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

4.5 stars rounded up

A lovely magical realism meets epic romance about second chances and loving someone so much you go through hell just to find your way back to them. 

I was a little skeptical about the age difference and the growing together plot line from when the FMC is 6 years old, but I shouldn't have been. I've read every book Carian Cole has ever put out, and she always made the transition clean, romantic, and not at all creepy. You grow with the characters and the love transforms over the years into something beautiful. 

If you like to bawl your eyes out and have your heart broken and mended over and over again, I highly recommend this one!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

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

5.0

This is my 3rd time re-reading this book and it hits the same every single time. The growth, the most heartfelt development in the entire series. 

Wayward by Blake Crouch

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0