queendbw's reviews
1164 reviews
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.75
Book #22 of 2023. The Maidens by Alex Michaelides.
This was quite a ride!!! Mariana’s niece is a student at Cambridge, her alma mater, and someone is murdering coeds. She is quite sure that she knows who it is, but she has to prove it - despite being warned off by the police, dealing with a stalker patient, a potential love interest on the horizon and the total disdain of the girls she’s trying to protect.
There were so many twists and turns that I DID NOT SEE COMING! There were a few instances where I wanted to grab Mariana and shake some sense into her, but I was rooting for her the entire time. And the ending was completely unexpected! I highly recommend this one and I hope it’s the start of a series!
4.75/5
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
This was quite a ride!!! Mariana’s niece is a student at Cambridge, her alma mater, and someone is murdering coeds. She is quite sure that she knows who it is, but she has to prove it - despite being warned off by the police, dealing with a stalker patient, a potential love interest on the horizon and the total disdain of the girls she’s trying to protect.
There were so many twists and turns that I DID NOT SEE COMING! There were a few instances where I wanted to grab Mariana and shake some sense into her, but I was rooting for her the entire time. And the ending was completely unexpected! I highly recommend this one and I hope it’s the start of a series!
4.75/5
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
Falling in Love with Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Book #21 of 2023. Falling in Love with Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson.
I really enjoyed these short stories! Ms, Hopkinson is slowly but surely moving up the list of my favorite authors - and BONUS the narrator is another fave, Bahni Turpin!
There were several short stories here but my fave has to be the one about the haunted mall - not at all what I expected and it was truly touching. Another fave was the re-telling of The Tempest - EXCELLENT spin on the story!!
I don’t often read short stories, but this was an excellent pick!
4.5/5
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
I really enjoyed these short stories! Ms, Hopkinson is slowly but surely moving up the list of my favorite authors - and BONUS the narrator is another fave, Bahni Turpin!
There were several short stories here but my fave has to be the one about the haunted mall - not at all what I expected and it was truly touching. Another fave was the re-telling of The Tempest - EXCELLENT spin on the story!!
I don’t often read short stories, but this was an excellent pick!
4.5/5
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
Book #20 of 2023. The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent.
This Sarah’s story of how she survived the Salem Witch Trials but her mother did not. A moving tale of early American life infected by fear, jealousy, bigotry and hatred.
Sarah, her mother and brothers were all accused of witchcraft by various neighbors and relatives. In this novel, Sarah shares her day-to-day life, inter-family relationships and various interactions with the people living around them. I really enjoyed this moving view of how hysteria can take hold of a community and ruin lives.
3/5
#readsof2023 #literacy #readingisfundamental #audiobookreader #
This Sarah’s story of how she survived the Salem Witch Trials but her mother did not. A moving tale of early American life infected by fear, jealousy, bigotry and hatred.
Sarah, her mother and brothers were all accused of witchcraft by various neighbors and relatives. In this novel, Sarah shares her day-to-day life, inter-family relationships and various interactions with the people living around them. I really enjoyed this moving view of how hysteria can take hold of a community and ruin lives.
3/5
#readsof2023 #literacy #readingisfundamental #audiobookreader #
What the Heck Is Eos?: A Complete Guide for Employees in Companies Running on EOS by Tom Bouwer, Gino Wickman
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Book #19 of 2023. What the Heck is EOS? by Gino Wickman and Tom Bouwer.
I read this as part of a work space book club. It was a very interesting read all about an entrepreneurial way to conduct business.
3/5
#readsof2023 #literacy #readingisfundamental
I read this as part of a work space book club. It was a very interesting read all about an entrepreneurial way to conduct business.
3/5
#readsof2023 #literacy #readingisfundamental
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Books # 17 & 18. It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover.
These are my first Hoover books and I know she has a dedicated following, but I just thought they were ok.
The books are a narrative of the Lily - Atlas - Ryle love triangle. Lily meets Atlas when they’re both in high school and dealing with personal trauma. They go their separate ways and meet again as adults when Lily is involved with Ryle.
There is a LOT of trauma across both books - be warned!
The only character that I cared for was Atlas - he seemed to be a great guy. Lily annoyed me on so many levels and I tried so hard to root for her. Ryle was a very flat character - he had no depth and we really didn’t learn much about him or his motivations.
The concept was interesting but I think the story could have been so much more. 3 out of 5.
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
These are my first Hoover books and I know she has a dedicated following, but I just thought they were ok.
The books are a narrative of the Lily - Atlas - Ryle love triangle. Lily meets Atlas when they’re both in high school and dealing with personal trauma. They go their separate ways and meet again as adults when Lily is involved with Ryle.
There is a LOT of trauma across both books - be warned!
The only character that I cared for was Atlas - he seemed to be a great guy. Lily annoyed me on so many levels and I tried so hard to root for her. Ryle was a very flat character - he had no depth and we really didn’t learn much about him or his motivations.
The concept was interesting but I think the story could have been so much more. 3 out of 5.
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Books # 17 & 18. It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover.
These are my first Hoover books and I know she has a dedicated following, but I just thought they were ok.
The books are a narrative of the Lily - Atlas - Ryle love triangle. Lily meets Atlas when they’re both in high school and dealing with personal trauma. They go their separate ways and meet again as adults when Lily is involved with Ryle.
There is a LOT of trauma across both books - be warned!
The only character that I cared for was Atlas - he seemed to be a great guy. Lily annoyed me on so many levels and I tried so hard to root for her. Ryle was a very flat character - he had no depth and we really didn’t learn much about him or his motivations.
The concept was interesting but I think the story could have been so much more. 3 out of 5.
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
These are my first Hoover books and I know she has a dedicated following, but I just thought they were ok.
The books are a narrative of the Lily - Atlas - Ryle love triangle. Lily meets Atlas when they’re both in high school and dealing with personal trauma. They go their separate ways and meet again as adults when Lily is involved with Ryle.
There is a LOT of trauma across both books - be warned!
The only character that I cared for was Atlas - he seemed to be a great guy. Lily annoyed me on so many levels and I tried so hard to root for her. Ryle was a very flat character - he had no depth and we really didn’t learn much about him or his motivations.
The concept was interesting but I think the story could have been so much more. 3 out of 5.
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
Things I Should Have Told My Daughter: Lies, Lessons & Love Affairs by
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Book #16 of 2023. Things I Should Have Told My Daughter by Pearl Cleage.
I was really excited to read this one because I have loved so much of her writing. This one just didn’t do it for me. Maybe a different format would have worked for me, I don’t know.
The book is a series of entries from her personal journals over a 2-decade span. We see the inner workings of her mind through marriage, pregnancy and divorce. She also shares her jubilation in helping to get Atlanta’s first black mayor elected and her eventual distaste for working in politics.
It was very interesting to hear her viewpoint of historic events/people. But it is very much a collection of journal entries and sometimes comes across and fragmented and disjointed, as a journal would. I guess I’ll keep holding out for a true biography, maybe.
3.5/5
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
I was really excited to read this one because I have loved so much of her writing. This one just didn’t do it for me. Maybe a different format would have worked for me, I don’t know.
The book is a series of entries from her personal journals over a 2-decade span. We see the inner workings of her mind through marriage, pregnancy and divorce. She also shares her jubilation in helping to get Atlanta’s first black mayor elected and her eventual distaste for working in politics.
It was very interesting to hear her viewpoint of historic events/people. But it is very much a collection of journal entries and sometimes comes across and fragmented and disjointed, as a journal would. I guess I’ll keep holding out for a true biography, maybe.
3.5/5
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
Book #15 of 2023. Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson.
This is my first novel by this author and I really look forward to seeing what else she has published!
The story is set in 21st century Toronto. The city is in ruins due to economic decline and all with the means to do so have left the city and live in the suburbs. Ti-Jeanne is a new mom - young and single. When she realized she was pregnant, she left her drug-addicted boyfriend and went back home to her grandmother. Shortly after their son is born, however, Tony finds himself trapped in an organ-stealing scheme. He turns to Ti-Jeanne and Mami to help him elude the gang he’s involved with so he can skip town. The plot fails and much messiness (great and interesting messiness) ensues. I loved the distinct Caribbean voice and culture that was evident throughout the story. The narration was superb. I give it 4/5.
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
This is my first novel by this author and I really look forward to seeing what else she has published!
The story is set in 21st century Toronto. The city is in ruins due to economic decline and all with the means to do so have left the city and live in the suburbs. Ti-Jeanne is a new mom - young and single. When she realized she was pregnant, she left her drug-addicted boyfriend and went back home to her grandmother. Shortly after their son is born, however, Tony finds himself trapped in an organ-stealing scheme. He turns to Ti-Jeanne and Mami to help him elude the gang he’s involved with so he can skip town. The plot fails and much messiness (great and interesting messiness) ensues. I loved the distinct Caribbean voice and culture that was evident throughout the story. The narration was superb. I give it 4/5.
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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
4.75
Book #14 of 2023. Fairy Tale by Stephen King.
I really enjoyed this story! Charlie Reade is your typical high school junior - good student, good athlete, good kid - with a not-so-typical past OR future.
Charlie’s mother was killed in a horrible accident when he was a small boy and his dad turned to alcoholism to cope. When we meet Charlie, both are doing much better.
One day, Charlie is riding past the home of a cantankerous neighbor and hears a call for help. He does the neighborly thing and helps Mr. Bowditch, which takes his life in a completely new direction. He finds out things about Mr. Bowditch that he never would have imagined and they become very close friends. Then Mr. Bowditch dies and he finds a whole new world!
Charlie ventures to this world and his journey leads him to discover the type of man he will become - but he has to choose. Will he be a Disney Prince or a Dark Prince? The story was riveting! 4.75/5
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
I really enjoyed this story! Charlie Reade is your typical high school junior - good student, good athlete, good kid - with a not-so-typical past OR future.
Charlie’s mother was killed in a horrible accident when he was a small boy and his dad turned to alcoholism to cope. When we meet Charlie, both are doing much better.
One day, Charlie is riding past the home of a cantankerous neighbor and hears a call for help. He does the neighborly thing and helps Mr. Bowditch, which takes his life in a completely new direction. He finds out things about Mr. Bowditch that he never would have imagined and they become very close friends. Then Mr. Bowditch dies and he finds a whole new world!
Charlie ventures to this world and his journey leads him to discover the type of man he will become - but he has to choose. Will he be a Disney Prince or a Dark Prince? The story was riveting! 4.75/5
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
Book #13 of 2023. The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish.
I have decided to read more non-fiction books this year and I’ve found that biographies and memoirs are most interesting to me. This is the third so far.
I really did not know much about Tiffany before reading this (she narrates the audiobook and I do recommend!) and now I want to know her personally.
She has overcome so many hardships in life and still manages to have such an aura of positivity! She has experienced child abuse, abandonment, foster care, illiteracy, and domestic violence and that isn’t all. Through all this she keeps growing and keeps loving.
The essays are all open and honest and hearing her get emotional while reading made them feel even more genuine. I already knew that she was funny, but she is also all heart! I give it 4/5.
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
I have decided to read more non-fiction books this year and I’ve found that biographies and memoirs are most interesting to me. This is the third so far.
I really did not know much about Tiffany before reading this (she narrates the audiobook and I do recommend!) and now I want to know her personally.
She has overcome so many hardships in life and still manages to have such an aura of positivity! She has experienced child abuse, abandonment, foster care, illiteracy, and domestic violence and that isn’t all. Through all this she keeps growing and keeps loving.
The essays are all open and honest and hearing her get emotional while reading made them feel even more genuine. I already knew that she was funny, but she is also all heart! I give it 4/5.
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual harassment