hrh_victoria's reviews
569 reviews

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-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

4.5

A charming family story that deftly navigates a path through grief

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Funny Story by Emily Henry

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

As with all Emily Henry's books, I enjoyed this one! The concept was fun and the romance felt appropriately messy. The Traverse City setting and librarian career were fun to read through, too, and I can attest to Henry's general accuracy in covering both topics.

Reading it on the heels of Just for the Summer changed my perspective, though. Our main character could have used a little more development and applying an informed understanding of Attachment Theory could have been an interesting angle to add more depth. Overall, this is not my *favorite* Emily Henry book, but I still enjoyed it immensely!

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Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

5.0

This would be a great book club pick. The novel adeptly navigates complex family dynamics, attachment theory, and healthy new love.

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Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

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adventurous dark hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

This is such a fast and absorbing read. I love how the author blends fairy tale elements to make a new original story. This book feels like a grown-up version of the princess stories I loved as a child (books by Gail Carson Levine & Shannon Hale), and it will stick with me for some time to come.

Content Warnings

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

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dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

An effective twisted fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty as a novella. Immersive but not drawn out.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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

This book had some elements of murder mystery, but it is more a combo of historical fiction and legal thriller. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a book in this genre, but I LOVED this one. A poignant and satisfactory conclusion. The representation of early American midwifery was a cherry on top.

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