imskylow's reviews
192 reviews
Beginning and End by mightbewriting
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
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The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
This was actually pretty cute. I wish men could actually put clubs together like this and try to understand women a bit better. Some of the men interacting in the book did however feel silly and macho like a caricature. It could just be men talk and interact like that and I don’t know them well enough. Nonetheless I really liked the things that Gavin learned. I was really worried that all of the problems in the marriage was going to be set squarely on his shoulders though, so I was glad when it was addressed that both sides were at fault.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment
Barbados Bound by Linda Collison
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
This book felt emotionally constipated to me. It felt more like a summary of Patricia’s life rather than really being able to experience it with her. And she really didn’t have a big or emotional reactions to the various traumatic things that happened on her journey— nothing she didn’t get over in a few days. The writing was clunky and hard to read aloud. Lots of incomplete sentences as a poor stylistic choice. But hey, if you’re interested in reading about tall ships and yellow fever in the 1700s, then this book is for you. If you’re not into seventeen year olds being pressured into marrying old men (which, I know, probably happened a lot back then) then this book is not for you.
Also, five year old Alexander Hamilton came out of left field.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Excrement
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide
The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
I am shocked. I was not prepared to fall absolutely in love with this book, especially after struggling through the second book. but this one was an emotional tsunami I wasn’t prepared for. Some of the best parts were just the Montague siblings laughing and teasing and supporting each other. The mundane moments filled me with love. And I love all the neurospicy awareness. We’ve got a pretty nice line up. Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Autism all have their moments. I honestly didn’t think this story would prove to be so emotionally filling but I stand corrected.
Priest by Sierra Simone
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Act 3 breakups really take it out of me. They’re beyond frustrating, especially when it’s not for a lack of love but rather one character making a decision for the other without a real attempt at proper discussion. Can’t have a real discussion when the only thing you want to do when you see each other is bang. I dunno. Purely sexual relationships are so boring. There’s no emotional intimacy, no shared hobbies or life styles. They just feel so strange.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I DNFed this book back in middle school but as an adult it was recommended to me again. I thought I’d give it another shot 12 years later. Turns out, it’s still boring to me as an adult. Only got interesting around page 330. A lot of concepts didn’t and still don’t make sense to me like why there was that extreme prejudice towards cyborgs who are basically just amputees. Like any human, Earthen or Lunar could become a cyborg. All you need is one freak accident. And then all of the sudden you’ren not worthy of basic human rights? What are these people, elementary school bullies?? I do have to give points for this being the first book this author has published but some of the plot felt silly or half baked. If we take out the fact that this is trying to be a retelling of Cinderella (which I feel is bland already), there really isn’t much that’s interesting here. I also felt no chemistry between Cinder and Kai.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Medical trauma, and Violence
Minor: Genocide
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This might be because the audiobook experience is different but I thought it was just okay. Didn’t wow me. Passable. I appreciate the autistic and asexual representation but Felicity didn’t feel as fun and bad as as she was in the first book. I spent more time being frustrated with her and her treatment of Johanna. And I know that understanding allistic emotions are hard but Felicity wasn’t just confused, she was mean. I preferred Johanna’s character more. A feminist who manages to also like being feminine. I think people would like this but I think of I were to recommend it to someone, I wouldn’t recommend the audio book.
The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky by Mackenzi Lee
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.25
Ayoooo. Smut-bating alert. Still cute tho
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Okay this was actually really adorable. I didn’t know what to expect with a historical yet bi/gay romance but it was handled very well and they even used the strange terminology they would have used back then. I loved the characters and the adventure and the forbidden love. Monty is a laugh. Percy is an absolute cinnamon roll. And, Felicity is so fierce. I just wish that for all the talk of sex, they could have had a moment. Either talk about it and do it or don’t wave the idea in our faces so much 🤣
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
It’s a wild ride but I wish the characters had more interactions sooner or at least got a longer ending than the ‘and they lived happily ever after’. I was waiting so long for waiting for the first tense meeting only to have it happen like 40 pages from the end. I needed more than just awkward pining. I was honestly really worried this was going to turn out to be a “and then they realized the only love they needed was the love they could give to themselves’ sort of book. Thank goodness it wasn’t just that.