keira333's reviews
228 reviews

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

dark tense

3.75

I really really wanted to like this and I did! The only problem is that there are so many characters and so many movie pieces that it was hard to keep track especially because I was listening to the audiobook. I was very intrigued by all the characters and thoroughly invested in the events. I plan on going back and reading a paper copy so I can keep better track of what happened. I am very excited to read the sequel!!

It's All Relative by Rachel Magee

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

Right off the bat “It’s all relative” reminds me of “The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren. I didn’t love “The Unhoneymooners” but I do love stories surrounding chaos at a wedding! 

At first I thought the narrator’s voice felt too… robotic? I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but as the first few chapters progressed I really enjoyed the personality and emotion she put into her narration. Another part of her narration that I thoroughly enjoyed was her speed. I often speed audiobooks up to at least 1.75x, but “It’s All Relative” was perfect at 1x speed! 

As far as substance, I really liked Helena, Emory, Gage, and Peter, where I had conflicted opinions on Amelia and Landon which ended in liking them, disliked Nora and had zero opinions on Steve. The book was good! Not great, but good. I thought the descriptive scenes were very strong, I could perfectly envision them sailing and searching in the forest for the bird. It was a little corny but who doesn’t love a corny love story every now and then! 3/5 stars

Atalanta by Jennifer Saint

3.0

This was a good book. Not great, but good! I was excited to really go into Atalanta’s time with the Argonauts and was disappointed how sped through it was. I really enjoyed Atalanta’s relationship with Meleager and found that to be the best executed part of the story. 

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous 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

4.5

I am a big fan of greek mythology retellings and Madeline Miller is superb at what she does. Circe was a very wonderful book diving into not only her time during her exile as the witch of Aiaia, but into her childhood (or early-godhood). I loved exploring the relationships between her and the other famous children of Helios. I loved it so much that I wish we saw more of Aeëtes and Perses once Circe was sent away. I was very intrigued by what Pasiphaë was insinuating during Circe’s trip to Crete. 
I can’t talk about this book without diving into the relationships Circe forms: Daedalus, Odysseus, and Telemachus, as well as her relationship with her son Telagonus.  I loved hearing her POV and seeing her motivations behind turning men to pigs (I have always been on her side though!).

While I a little weirded out by her starting a life with Telemachus- the brother of her child and son of her former lover- unfortunately that is just greek mythology for you.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and while it may not be the top of my list of favorite books I have read this year, it is a very strong book and I highly recommend 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault

Funny Story by Emily Henry

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

5.0

Oh Emily Henry, you have done it again! I didn’t think that I could love another fictional EH couple the way I love Alex/Poppy but Daphne/Miles might have stolen the throne! As a massive fan of the show New Girl I can’t help but see the similarities between Miles and Nick, and Daphne and Jess which makes me love the book that much more! I found Daphne’s motivations very understandable and I knew exactly why she would want to move away despite everything in me wanting her to stay, yes with Miles but also you can’t leave Ashleigh!! Spectacular boom full of spectacular characters. I immediately texted my friends and told them to move this up on their TBRs

Elektra by Jennifer Saint

4.0

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

4.0

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

5.0

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

4.0

The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion by Tansy E. Hoskins

5.0