megsloan's reviews
318 reviews

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

emotional reflective

4.0

This was such a beautiful book and packed so much into a short amount of pages. I really felt like I was transported to Poland in 1980 and I learnt a lot as I didn't really know much about this time in history. We follow Ludwick and Janusz who begin a romantic affair after meeting at a summer agricultural camp. They have differing mindsets about the socio-political landscape in their country and you could really understand both points of view. The writing was lyrical and haunting. Would recommend!

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens

funny lighthearted

3.0

This one was just... okay? I didn't really like any of the characters so I felt like I couldn't get fully invested. The main character in particular really irritated me at points but at the same time you could understand her motivations. I did want to know what happened and I found the ending quite satisfying but this is probably my least favourite of Cousens' books that I've read!

The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris

dark inspiring tense

4.0

This was a dark but important book based on the last execution in the witch hunting trials in Scotland. I really was swept up in the Highlands and I thought the atmosphere throughout was top tier. It did take me a while to get into the story but by the end I felt so invested in Aila, Janet and Jack's story. The found family in this book was my favourite I've read for a long time as well! Really recommend this one.

The Art of Uncertainty by David Spiegelhalter
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

Struggling with this on audio

All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue

funny mysterious tense

4.0

I really loved this one, more than I expected to. At first I was worried that the main character being a teenager would mean I wouldn't connect with the story but I really fell in love with Maeve. I enjoyed the found family element, it was done very well in my opinion. The mystery element was compelling and felt realistic despite the fantastical and magical elements. Will definitely be continuing the series.

Happy Medium by Sarah Adler

funny hopeful lighthearted

4.0

This was a great spooky season romance! I really liked Gretchen and Charlie and the setting of the goat farm. I also thought the paranormal elements were done well. I would say a really good palate cleanser but nothing ground breaking.

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak

challenging reflective

3.0

I struggled a little bit with this book. I feel like quite a bit of it went over my head. I really appreciated the musings on religion and spirituality and there were certainly some interesting perspectives that really made you think. However I struggled to keep up with all the different perspective and I didn't get drawn into Shafak's writing as much as I normally do. I still enjoyed but prefer some of her more recent work!

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

hopeful reflective

4.5

This was such a unique and thought-provoking read that had a lot to love about it. I really enjoyed the interconnectedness of all the characters and I felt like pretty much all of their stories were well fleshed out. You also can't help but think about what you would do if we woke up in a world where everyone received a length of string equivalent to the length of their life. I also found it to be quite fast-paced for the most part and flew through it easily. 4.5 stars - would recommend!

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

lighthearted

3.0

These books are nothing to write home about but they are light, fluffy romances that are perfect for the season and don’t require much thought. I feel like they make really good palate cleansers that are easy to read and have immaculate vibes!

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

hopeful lighthearted

2.0

This was my most anticipated book for spooky season and I'm sad to say, I was really disappointed. I don't know what it was about this book but I just could not get into it. I think the writing style overall felt clunky and like it needed more editing. I never truly got swept into the story and I ended up skimming a lot of it.

I also didn't really like the main character. Her behaviour felt a little bit cliched and immature and that ended up being frustrating. The pacing of the book also felt off, the first 60-70% was a slog and then it picked up and felt rushed at the end. It could have been shorter so again more editing might have helped. There were definitely autumnal vibes which I enjoyed and the witch mentoring part was my favourite.

I feel sad about my review as I really wanted to love it but unfortunately I don't think I'd recommend. The special edition is absolutely gorgeous though.