kyriannaj's reviews
108 reviews

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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? No

3.75

I think a lot was lost in translation when it comes to the emotional pull of this book. The plot beats were emotional, but the writing and words used were very blunt and to the point. The world building around time travel was incredibly well done and drew me in. Although this is commonly talked about like a short story collection, it’s much more a novel with recurring characters, a singular setting, and plot points building on one another throughout. Apparently the author first wrote this as a play, and thinking about it like that makes perfect sense.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia and Grief

Moderate: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Death, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Highland Promise by Alyson McLayne

funny fast-paced

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

3.0

Fun, easy read. Would pick up more by the author as the writing and pace were good. Caitlin’s personality varied too much, from shy innocent virgin to confident intelligent seductress and it definitely felt off. Disliked Darrach wanting her to remain innocent and amusing. The last 30 pages happened a bit too quick and could’ve been spaced out more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Kidnapping

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.

I’m not a fan of books that take place during COVID, and the narrator’s voice was incredibly annoying

Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Hate crime, Racism, Kidnapping, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass

dark tense medium-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

2.0

Odd start, took a while to get into it and catch up to where the book should’ve started. Honestly I didn’t care about most of the characters in this book as they all flat. It seemed both obvious and out of nowhere, who did it. The character from the beginning to the end just didn’t feel real. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, Dementia, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, and Classism

Maame by Jessica George

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

It wasn’t bad, I just wanted to like it more than I did. Most of the characters felt flat and one dimension, relationships felt somehow too honest while so secretive, and there was a lack of building tension within the story. Isla and Bonnie’a friendship has an odd path throughout. Rowan seemed so hot and cold and at times like he was just toying with Bonnie more than teasing her. Combining that with Bonnie’s brazen behavior one moment and scared withdrawal the next and Rowan’s intense secrecy, their relationship just felt off. Bonnie as a character was someone I wanted to relate to, but couldn’t. She’s new to town and everyone is talking about stunning and beautiful she is. She’s incredibly open in conversation, at times to a fault, but also doesn’t read social cues the greatest. She’s supposed to be scared of confrontation with anyone but Isla, yet the whole beginning of her relationship with Rowan was sarcasm, sass, and confrontation? There were also no real stakes. It’s very clear from the beginning how things will end up, which is fine, but I want to feel like there was at least a bit of a fight to get the happily ever after. Everything felt predictable, with the plot moving along until the last 50 pages when everything happened at once. And frankly, Bonnie got the short end of the stick. I wish there was more after the implosion of everything because it felt resolved far too easily. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death and Alcohol

Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

A virgin for the highland beast: a highland historical romance by Eloise Madigan

fast-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

2.5

It’s one of those books you pick up when you want something incredibly specific, and as you read it fills that hole despite knowing it’s not  the best. But once it’s over, you realize all the flaws you overlooked. So if you’re in the mood for what the books promises, go for it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

The Hellion and the Highlander by Lynsay Sands

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Easy fun book. Nothing too tense or deep. Two characters who like each other and fall in love, but the chaos around them keeps them from fully embracing it, while giving them more reasons to love each other. Some of the writing got repetitive and the characters at time acted like idiots, but overall a fun summer read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Confinement, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail