jsant's reviews
755 reviews

The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.

Couldn't get into it, unfortunately. I like the idea of it though. Might try again another time 

It Starts With Us, by Colleen Hoover

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Colleen Hoover's books are the kind you want to finish in a day. They pull you in and you're constantly wondering (and sometimes fearing) what will happen next. Definitely read the first book before this one. An excellent sequel. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

The Wise Man's Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Quite the epic fantasy adventure. I really enjoyed it. Hopefully the 3rd book is eventually written, I can imagine it's a ton of pressure to write something as big and bold and engaging as the 1st two books. 

How Y'All Doing? Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived, by Leslie Jordan

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

I was one of the many people who followed Leslie Jordan on instagram when he went viral during the pandemic. This memoir is an entertaining view into more of his life. I'm thankful he recorded it before he died earlier this year. 

Book Lovers, by Emily Henry

emotional funny 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

5.0

Loved this story . Caught myself laughing out loud multiple times. There's reason there was such a long wait for this one at the library. Worth it. 

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses, by Kristen O'Neal

hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-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

3.0

Not great as an audiobook, but a good YA novel. A good chunk of the book is transcripts of online chat conversations that are tough in an audio format. 

The Two-Family House, by Lynda Cohen Loigman

reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Spans 1940s to the 1960s following the intertwined lives of the families of two brothers who work together and together own a two-family home in Brooklyn, NY. 

The Homewreckers, by Mary Kay Andrews

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

I enjoy Mary Kay Andrews books - a nice easy read, with a strong female lead, some mystery and a little romance. An excellent formula. This one has a home-makeover reality show theme. 

Murder at an Irish Wedding, by Carlene O'Connor

mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark slow-paced

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

2.5

A strange book. Very slow for the first 9/10ths of the book and then sped up at the end. The book explains a lot of the origins of the Hunger Games, it's been years since I read them so will probably need to re-read the first book to make more of the connections.