juanat77's reviews
146 reviews

No Place Left To Hide by Megan Lally

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

“No Place To Hide” is fast paced. Never a dull moment. Solid read. I do prefer the author’s debut “That’s Not My Name” but I would totally recommend this one to a teen or just to someone who enjoys young adult novels. Now some things were far fetched in the book BUT I like that. Reminds me of the Telenovelas I watch with my mom!

3 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Fun and very clever psychological thriller! Well written. Great execution. Keeps you guessing. Well thought out. 

Told from multiple POVs. Multiple unlikable characters. My jaw dropped quite a few times. Lies. Wrongful accusations. So many twists. Quick pacing. Vivid descriptions. Short chapters. I admit it was far fetched at times but it was a very entertaining read. 

I thought I knew a couple twists but I was wrong. It was very unpredictable which I love! 

4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

4.0

Another fun rom-com! Disabled representation done really well. The FMC, Win, has an underdeveloped hand (as does the author) and the MMC, Bo, has a below the knee leg amputation. 

Win and Bo partake in a one night stand during a Halloween party. A few weeks later Win discovers she is pregnant. She finds Bo and together they form a friendship that beautifully deepens. 

Win has multiple rational fears and Bo is always there to support her even with “demons” in his past. He is very very sweet and considerate. I wish he were real 🤭

I love that this book did not have the classic “third act break up.” That drives me insane. It also did not have the “miscommunication trope” which I was really grateful for.

What I didn’t love: the explicit smexy scenes. Not my jam but I’m sure many other people will appreciate it!

So many beautiful quotes:

“Ever since I met you, it’s like every part of me has healed a little bit. Do you know that? Do you know you do that for people?”

“I love you so much it makes me feel like I’ve hated everything else in my life up until now.”

This story is about friendship, healing, growth, overcoming fears, family, and love. 

Oh! And this was probably the best and most thorough epilogue I ever read! 

4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This post apocalyptic novel starts off with thirteen year old Nonie and her family who live in the American Museum of Natural History due to the glaciers melting and causing earth to be flooded wiping out most of the communities. Then a hypercane (basically a hurricane times a 100) destroys the museum and they have to abandon their home and escape to the North for safety. During their trek they run into obstacles—some dangerous. 

I really liked the premise. It started off strong. Though the middle was very slow at times. The last 25% had a lot of action however I needed more from the conclusion. It was very rushed. 

The writing style and structure was unique—I liked that. Reminded me a bit of All the Light I Cannot See. Short chapters—so it was a quick read.

I recommend this to anyone that enjoys topics of climate change and survival.

3 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was fun! Reimagining of Rapunzel done so well. Very creative. Romm-comm. Quick read. Closed door romance (which I prefer). Some suspense. Charming. 

I have yet to find a Christina Lauren book that I did not like!

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys modern day fairy tales with a twist.

4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

James by Percival Everett

adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

James by Percival Everett

Easy 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!

Barnes and Noble book of the year!!

At a time when books are being attacked (the U.S. has banned thousands of books in public school) and fighting on how to teach African American history this is such an essential book to read. 

“James” is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s (James) perspective. 

Jim is an enslaved Black man in the South during the 1800s who escapes when he finds out he’s being sold. 

He is very intelligent but conducts himself the opposite when he is around White people so he doesn’t offend them. Before his escape Jim was teaching his daughter and other enslaved children to speak in “slave dialect.” In order to survive they must be submissive. 

“White folks expect us to sound a certain way and it can only help if we don’t disappoint them….The only ones who suffer when they are made to feel inferior to us”

Jim’s chooses to risk his freedom to earn money and buy his wife’s and daughter’s freedom. During his journey of freedom Jim experiences many obstacles and hate but he is determined to get his family back.

It’s a bit difficult to read due to the racist stereotypes and how horribly the slaves were treated but I think it’s an important read. 

The author has written the characters vividly and the writing is stunning. I am eager to read his backlist starting with “Trees” which has won multiple awards. I recommend this book to everyone!

#james #percivaleverett #knopfdoubleday 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

The Note by Alafair Burke

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Note by Alafair Burke

Release date: 01/07/2025

Three woman go on a little getaway which was supposed to be relaxing and fun. One of them leaves a note on someone’s car and it ends up a missing person’s case. Some secrets come to light and of course twists. I admit I did figure out the whodunnit but there were a couple twists/turns that I did not. 

Overall it was a fun and entertaining thriller to read.  Quick pacing. Tension. I found myself not being able to put it down. 

Thank you @netgalley and @alafairburke for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

 4 stars!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#thenote #alafairburke #Knopf

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Christmas with the Queen by Heather Webb, Hazel Gaynor

emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

If you enjoy historical fiction, the Royal family and a side of romance you will enjoy this one!

The story is sweet and heartwarming, has multiple POV’s including the Queen’s! (Elizabeth II) and takes place over several years. Olive, a BBC reporter and a single mom, struggles with the lie of being a “widow” to prevent judgment and trying to make a name for herself while facing sexism in the workplace. For years she wrestles with her feelings for Jack, a chef in the royal household. The will they/wont they trope was handled exceptionally well. 

Gaynor and Webb perfectly sum up the story in the authors’ note: “ordinary people might become entangled with the royal traditions through their own jobs and how that might lead them to become entangled with each other.”

4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexism, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail