mamawantsbooks's reviews
390 reviews
The Do-Over, by Lynn Painter
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Books Aren't for Bears, by Mark Barry
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
An absolutely wholesome and sweet book for anyone who loves books or wants to grow their love of reading. It’s a pretty straightforward story of a Bear who learns how to read and wants more books. Where can he go in the city for books? Will our sweet Bear finally get all the books of his dreams?
My 3 year old understood the story and grasped the concept of Bear going to the library just like we go to the library to get books. The illustrations are lovely and bright and this is a great book for little ones.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!
My 3 year old understood the story and grasped the concept of Bear going to the library just like we go to the library to get books. The illustrations are lovely and bright and this is a great book for little ones.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!
Tell Me What Really Happened, by Chelsea Sedoti
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
A group of friends decide to go on a camping trip when one goes missing. The story of what happened leading up to the disappearance is told through police interviews. Does anyone really know what happened to Maylee?
I know I’m not the target demographic for YA but I still like to read them every so often. This book is the first YA in awhile to grab my attention and not make me eye roll too much (I mean, I am in my 30’s soo) at the characters. This was a really surprisingly good thriller for the younger crowd. I also really enjoyed the misdirection for everyone. I mean, was it Bigfoot who took Maylee? Her boyfriend? Is there a killer lurking around the woods? Are the police being honest? Who knows! Keep reading and figure out the twists!
A group of friends decide to go on a camping trip when one goes missing. The story of what happened leading up to the disappearance is told through police interviews. Does anyone really know what happened to Maylee?
I know I’m not the target demographic for YA but I still like to read them every so often. This book is the first YA in awhile to grab my attention and not make me eye roll too much (I mean, I am in my 30’s soo) at the characters. This was a really surprisingly good thriller for the younger crowd. I also really enjoyed the misdirection for everyone. I mean, was it Bigfoot who took Maylee? Her boyfriend? Is there a killer lurking around the woods? Are the police being honest? Who knows! Keep reading and figure out the twists!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism and Medical content
Spotlight on Poppy, by Mary Warren
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you so much to Mary Warren for the ARC!
The second book in the Mystic Falls series was absolutely the most Hallmark movie I’ve ever read in book form. It’s so cozy. Our girl Poppy doesn’t think that small town living is for her, neither is the single life. She jumps at the opportunity to perform a love spell and once she realizes that maybe what she needs is right in front of her, starts to see that there’s more to life than what she thought she wanted.
Poppy was a little flighty and frustrating but when you’re unsure of your direction in life, I get it. Especially if you had this plan in your head that hasn’t actually gone the way you wanted it to. It simply gets carried over to other areas (work, relationships, etc) without meaning to. Josh was probably one of the most perfect book boyfriends I have ever been given the pleasure to read about and I really want to read the first book in the series to learn more about Hannah!
The author (FatGirlsInFiction) makes sure to put her plus sized characters as leading ladies and it’s so refreshing to see that the story isn’t about weight or loving yourself. Poppy is fat and that’s that. The story is pretty simple and without much conflict but you know what? Sometimes that’s what we need. We watch movies or read books with these perfect looking characters so why shouldn’t a fat girl have the same?
If you’re looking for a low stakes, no conflict, cozy little Hallmark book with the cutest small town vibes, absolutely give this a chance!
The second book in the Mystic Falls series was absolutely the most Hallmark movie I’ve ever read in book form. It’s so cozy. Our girl Poppy doesn’t think that small town living is for her, neither is the single life. She jumps at the opportunity to perform a love spell and once she realizes that maybe what she needs is right in front of her, starts to see that there’s more to life than what she thought she wanted.
Poppy was a little flighty and frustrating but when you’re unsure of your direction in life, I get it. Especially if you had this plan in your head that hasn’t actually gone the way you wanted it to. It simply gets carried over to other areas (work, relationships, etc) without meaning to. Josh was probably one of the most perfect book boyfriends I have ever been given the pleasure to read about and I really want to read the first book in the series to learn more about Hannah!
The author (FatGirlsInFiction) makes sure to put her plus sized characters as leading ladies and it’s so refreshing to see that the story isn’t about weight or loving yourself. Poppy is fat and that’s that. The story is pretty simple and without much conflict but you know what? Sometimes that’s what we need. We watch movies or read books with these perfect looking characters so why shouldn’t a fat girl have the same?
If you’re looking for a low stakes, no conflict, cozy little Hallmark book with the cutest small town vibes, absolutely give this a chance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
What Lies in the Woods, by Kate Alice Marshall
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Alcoholism, Bullying, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, Death, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Forced institutionalization
The Bright Side Of Disaster, by Katherine Center
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion, Infidelity, Blood, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, and Infertility
I'm Not Charlotte Lucas, by Kasey Stockton
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
The 2005 Pride and Prejudice is my jam, no one can tell me otherwise. Give me a P&P retelling and I’m there; now give me a retelling with the FMC being loosely based off Charlotte Lucas? SOLD!
Sadly this was a slog to get through. The story felt all over the place with no consistency. It felt like a debut novel with the writing and ultimately Charlie was absolutely insufferable. She brought everything onto herself and I didn’t really feel sympathy towards her. The only good thing was Liam who is an absolutely amazing book boyfriend.
The 2005 Pride and Prejudice is my jam, no one can tell me otherwise. Give me a P&P retelling and I’m there; now give me a retelling with the FMC being loosely based off Charlotte Lucas? SOLD!
Sadly this was a slog to get through. The story felt all over the place with no consistency. It felt like a debut novel with the writing and ultimately Charlie was absolutely insufferable. She brought everything onto herself and I didn’t really feel sympathy towards her. The only good thing was Liam who is an absolutely amazing book boyfriend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
I
The Weight of Blood, by Tiffany D. Jackson
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Death, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Police brutality, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Body horror, Bullying, Gun violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death and Vomit
Hello Stranger, by Katherine Center
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Katherine Center has absolutely done it once again. Hello Stranger revolves around Sadie, a portrait artist who after an accident and consequent surgery develops face blindness. Not super awesome considering she has an important competition that depends on a portrait she’s made from a live model. Throw in some romance shenanigans involving her vet and the always helpful but possibly serial romancer Joe from her building and 🤌🏽. A cozy and clean romance that reminds me of Meg Cabot’s Boy series in the best way possible. Katherine is ruining my life by quickly becoming a favorite author with an auto-buy/read factor.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC and the chance to read this before it releases in July!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC and the chance to read this before it releases in July!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders