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happyeverabigail's reviews
417 reviews
The Warrior King by Abigail Owen
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
3.0
The narration was amazing especially dual/duet but I couldn’t overlook the actual content- this plot is so random especially halfway through it turns into a whole different book and with spice as hot as theirs it was one I wasn’t very interested in. Also did not like most of the depictions of work in healthcare, the martyrdom was strange.
The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Loved this book so much. I felt so seen but some lesser known/publicly recognized traits of neurodivergence in the FMC and the overall romance was so thorough and wonderful, soulmate vibes. Also don’t be like me and assume this book was closed door, it’s wide open and they are inventive and steamy af within the “forbidden” aspect. This also just really hits on what it’s like to try to make friends as an adult and navigate work contexts.
Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
I went into this expecting fake dating but really it's so much deeper. This is about your sense of identity, community, and freedom of choice. Both main characters are Indian but relate very differently to that aspect of themselves, the MMC is in a very traditional and religiously observant household (with patriarchal leanings) and the FMC was raised in the complete opposite direction and these traditions are completely new to her. At the start neither feel their own experience was really favorable for them and they start to learn from each other with some forced proximity/workplace plot.
This background of theirs makes things higher stakes, how would his mother ever accept her and vice versa. It all culminated into such deep introspection and angst it had me crying in public. I just really really loved this book.
Thank you to Berkley for the free book!
This background of theirs makes things higher stakes, how would his mother ever accept her and vice versa. It all culminated into such deep introspection and angst it had me crying in public. I just really really loved this book.
Thank you to Berkley for the free book!
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Loved the lore and the familial structure of the magic system. The romance was also so freaking sweet and built on fast friendship (for reference this is YA).
Pacing was a bit slow for me but the writing was so solid for this debut I’ll read this author again!
Pacing was a bit slow for me but the writing was so solid for this debut I’ll read this author again!
One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole
4.0
Narration was great. I went back and forth on my rating because based on the premise the story didn’t really start until 75% which kind of feels bonkers to me that I would rate it so highly when I still don’t get the point of a lot of the earlier story and yet I still had an engaging time wondering where it was going to go. I’m glad I read other reviews about how the ending was worth it because I agree, I’m glad I stuck it out and didn’t read spoilers.
The comparisons to And Then There were None do this book a disservice, not similar at all and best to go in not expecting that. The story is interesting enough on its own.
The comparisons to And Then There were None do this book a disservice, not similar at all and best to go in not expecting that. The story is interesting enough on its own.
Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller
2.5
I struggled with this one because I thought I was going to love it and I did read it quickly but so much more was missing for me.
I felt the choice in editing really held this story back. We have current time FMC and flashbacks throughout her life starting when she’s a young teen at camp. But the tone and voice the flashback chapters are written in are from the perspective of an older person (current time her) so they come across as pretty info dumping, they are not in the moment of action and feeling of a scene from the perspective of that supposed age, it’s very “over the following of those weeks I spent my time doing (this)” so we’re just zooming through her teen years. I’m already a tough sell on multiple timelines but what made me extra frustrated was that the nostalgia brought up of her upbringing was so real and I felt accurately described, it deserved more than info dumping so that’s what I mean about the editing as the talent for the imagery writing was there.
There were so many random plot points and actions by side characters that ended up not mattering at all. I need to spare spoilers but one example is her sister responsibly starts of her college career at a community college then transfers, she’s over 21 and has gotten herself this far on her own and yet makes a choice at a certain party that is never followed up on and turns out was just a plot device to get the FMC and MMC in the same place. The FMC’s childhood BFF is a more distant relationship in current time but that’s never followed up on either and the importance of whether or not she even wants to be close with her is never addressed. All these little details and strings at the beginning turned out to be for nothing, just for whatever convenience sake of the moment.
I almost rage DNFed when I found out who the MMC dated during the years they didn’t speak to each other. It was just so RANDOM and out of character of him, out of all the people?? And the FMC has one last run in with her and all this poor woman serves is to boost the FMC’s ego and star crossed lovers main character energy narrative she’s placed herself in.
The love interests big thing when they are younger is that they don’t want to turn out like their parents, but we barely even see their parents and a lot of the ups and downs of the FMC’s parents is brushed over. If that was the driving conflict I’m confused also why that was never faced head on.
OH and at the end there’s career stuff with the FMC that also didn’t make sense but again, sparing spoilers.
I felt the choice in editing really held this story back. We have current time FMC and flashbacks throughout her life starting when she’s a young teen at camp. But the tone and voice the flashback chapters are written in are from the perspective of an older person (current time her) so they come across as pretty info dumping, they are not in the moment of action and feeling of a scene from the perspective of that supposed age, it’s very “over the following of those weeks I spent my time doing (this)” so we’re just zooming through her teen years. I’m already a tough sell on multiple timelines but what made me extra frustrated was that the nostalgia brought up of her upbringing was so real and I felt accurately described, it deserved more than info dumping so that’s what I mean about the editing as the talent for the imagery writing was there.
There were so many random plot points and actions by side characters that ended up not mattering at all. I need to spare spoilers but one example is her sister responsibly starts of her college career at a community college then transfers, she’s over 21 and has gotten herself this far on her own and yet makes a choice at a certain party that is never followed up on and turns out was just a plot device to get the FMC and MMC in the same place. The FMC’s childhood BFF is a more distant relationship in current time but that’s never followed up on either and the importance of whether or not she even wants to be close with her is never addressed. All these little details and strings at the beginning turned out to be for nothing, just for whatever convenience sake of the moment.
I almost rage DNFed when I found out who the MMC dated during the years they didn’t speak to each other. It was just so RANDOM and out of character of him, out of all the people?? And the FMC has one last run in with her and all this poor woman serves is to boost the FMC’s ego and star crossed lovers main character energy narrative she’s placed herself in.
The love interests big thing when they are younger is that they don’t want to turn out like their parents, but we barely even see their parents and a lot of the ups and downs of the FMC’s parents is brushed over. If that was the driving conflict I’m confused also why that was never faced head on.
OH and at the end there’s career stuff with the FMC that also didn’t make sense but again, sparing spoilers.
The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee
5.0
This is SO intense. At times this reads like a thriller because of what this woman had to do to survive when at almost every turn there is some kind of person or entity trying to use or manipulate. There’s just so much I didn’t know about defecting from North Korea and this is written in a fast paced way taking you on every bit of the journey.