inknosedowl's reviews
99 reviews

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

I LOVED THIS BOOK. It is the perfect novel if you’re looking for something like Bridgerton, but sapphic. Not only is it great in that regard, I think it is a book for all the girlies, especially near the end of the novel. 
I honestly didn’t ever want to put this book down and though I’m critical of the second books title, I am excited to continue on in this world! 

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

dark emotional sad 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? No

4.0

I had known the majority of the story before I had started this novel. I had seen clips of the movie and have seen other Jodi Picoult books I decided this would be my first one. She writes well and had some really well written and hard hitting lines. It was fairly easy to read other than some medical jargon every once in a while. 
I loved that the chapters were perspectives of everyone in the novel. You never know how everyone in that situation will think or feel and I think she did a great job showing the emotions and decisions everyone faced. 
I also particularly enjoyed the relationship between Campbell and Julia. In all honestly their background did not add to the force of the story, but I liked having the little joy of the relationship in there after everything else. 
Despite knowing the majority of the book, I didn’t have ANY idea the ending and how jarring it was. I finally understand. It was a good novel, but can be hard to read. 

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson

challenging dark funny informative mysterious medium-paced

3.75

This novel was intense to say the least. There is so much information and detail about both the Worlds Fair of 1893 and H.H Holmes it can be a little overwhelming. The draw of it though, is that it reads like you’re reading a fictional novel for enjoyment and not just for the historical information. It took me a while to finish due to the paramount of information and also due to my lack of non fiction reading, but I think it was absolutely worth it. By the second half of the book I just as invested as I would’ve been if it was fiction. Erik Larson is an amazing writer and put some humor into what could be a macabre and tragic story with the issues that occurred at the fair and the atrocities that Holmes inflected.

If you’re looking for some historical non fiction of America or of a serial killer look no further! 

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Tainted Cup is a fantasy murder mystery and it is awesome! It is the first book of its kind I have read and I am hoping this series continues. 
It’s a more whimsical look at a murder mystery with being in a fantasy world and the characters are amazing. I am interested in the world itself and the characters that push the story forward. 
Ana reminds me of Eda from Owl House with her whacky ways of figuring things out and I love it. The author can do so much more in this world and I hoping he does! For sure worth the read. 

The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter

3.75

This is one of the most interesting novels I have read theme wise. Going on a deep dive of the world and the religions is a bit confusing at the beginning, but as it continues you get the hang of it. 
I thought the two POVS were a good way to expand the world a little, but I did enjoy Beatrice’s more than Reikos. I also think that Chana Porter skimmed over a lot of plot points that could’ve made the novel even more exciting than it already was. On multiple occasions there are relationships and events that occurred that get swept under the rug that I wish she would have went more in-depth with. 
This novel was a 4 stars for me until near the end. I wanted the characters to have more interactions than they had and when they finally found each other it felt less satisfying than what I would wanted. 
The ending honestly felt rushed. The more I think about it the more unsatisfied I feel about the main characters meeting and their endings. For Beatrice she set up a whole story that could be dove into and instead was the abrupt end. 
Aside from the criticism, the theme and wolrd was FANTASTIC. The more I read the more I wanted to know about how the  characters would direct the world. Overall good book for sure a book I’ll think about for a long time. 

The Women by Kristin Hannah

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad 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

5.0

Malorie by Josh Malerman

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed this book a lot. The only reason why I am giving it below a 4 is because it is a simple book. The writing is not creative and neither is the story, but it was still an enjoyable read. It is very fast read. I would call it a popcorn crime book! The criticisms I have of this book aren’t bad at all it is still good! For sure recommend for easier reading :)

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak, Elif Shafak
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.

I usually love Shafaks novels, but this one was just not for me. The part of the book I did read it was mostly reading a book inside of another book and that is not something I wanted to continue reading. 

The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

adventurous dark sad 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? Yes

4.5