jmendiola1214's reviews
199 reviews

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Inspiring and uplifting life lessons. 

Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchez

emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

Content: 10/10

Audiobook narration: 3/10 


“When you grow up brown and poor you feel like nothing belongs to you. You apologize for existing.” 

I almost DNF because I really didn’t enjoy the narration! The content tho was great. I related to some parts of it but I also learned from her experience. 

The part that really stood out to me was her describing her mental illness- her path to multiple diagnosis, her stay at multiple facilities, her feelings of suicide.

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I really didn’t understand the purpose of the sexual assault and honestly I want to drop down another star because of it. Of course I’m opening to hearing from someone who found it essential for the plot about it.

Otherwise it was a great book so rich with culture and traditions about the native Ojibwe community.


I also loved reading a book set in the north border region. I’m from the souther US border and grew up crossing so I love that this community also does that! 

Galatea by Madeline Miller

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

5.0

Super short green story. I love Madeline Miller’s other books so I had to check this one out and it didn’t disappoint. It lightly reminded me of The Awakening which was my favorite book for a while 

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

emotional sad slow-paced

4.0

Listened to the audiobook and cried through most of it. I am amazed at the authors vulnerability when sharing intimate details of her final months with her mom.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

medium-paced

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

4.0

I enjoy this authors writing style. I liked that the author told us there would be a fire right at the beginning of the book but not knowing the cause throughout. 

I liked the siblings and their individual stories and all the drama surrounding them! 

There are alot of characters that show up at the party and I had a hard time keeping up and remembering who they were but maybe because i went long periods between reading sessions. 

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I listened to the audio book over 2 days! I felt like the story was compelling even though there wasn’t a high stakes plot. It felt a little like the film Roma to mes 

I enjoyed the real history acknowledged throughout the book.

A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

Very short and Quick read. The background is not important although very interesting and fun. The focus is more on what the two characters are telling each other in the letters.

It seems like it would have inspired the marvel show Loki on Disney+.