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simon_reads03's reviews
152 reviews
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
5.0
Going into this without knowing anything about it was the best thing ever. From the beautiful illustrations to the captivating story, this graphic novel deserves much more! So beautiful, funny, fun and emotional piece. š
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
3.0
This book is full of plot twists and very mysterious stuff. And even though there were some slight parts that were a little slow, I felt like overall it was great. I really enjoyed this one.
A Grimm Warning by Chris Colfer
3.0
āThese days people act like love is an islandāthey all want to swim to it but no one wants to get wet.ā
This is the third installment in the Land of Stories series so there will be spoilers for this book mostly but most likely the first two too.)
The book starts right off by showing us Conner and Alex living their lives in the two different worlds. As we all know Alex stayed in the Land of Stories on the previous book, while Conner decided to go back to the real world. Everything's fine, Alex is learning how to be the next fairy godmother while Conner gets the opportunity to travel to Europe with his some of his classmates. When he's there though, he visits the Brothers Grimmās graves. And when a secret passage left by the brothers is being read out loud, Conner hears this subliminal message indicating him that the Land of Stories was being threatened by these French Commanders. Now Conner, with the help of his curious classmate Bree, has to find a way to go back to the Land of Stories and warn his sister about the threat.
More things happen in this book, but this is the main plot. This book is interesting because, as I did not dislike it, I did find it a bit "EH"; you know what I mean? The book is good, and to be honest I feel like it's WAY better than the previous book (The Enchantress Returns). The problem is that I haven't really taken anything away from these books, they are a great adventure but I haven't felt any type of raw emotions whilst reading. I do have to admit, these ARE children's books and for a children's book, it is amazing, but as a teen reader I don't find it as appealing lol.
I have paused this series for now, with 3 books remaining, I will stop for a while. My rating is 3.5/5 stars.
This is the third installment in the Land of Stories series so there will be spoilers for this book mostly but most likely the first two too.)
The book starts right off by showing us Conner and Alex living their lives in the two different worlds. As we all know Alex stayed in the Land of Stories on the previous book, while Conner decided to go back to the real world. Everything's fine, Alex is learning how to be the next fairy godmother while Conner gets the opportunity to travel to Europe with his some of his classmates. When he's there though, he visits the Brothers Grimmās graves. And when a secret passage left by the brothers is being read out loud, Conner hears this subliminal message indicating him that the Land of Stories was being threatened by these French Commanders. Now Conner, with the help of his curious classmate Bree, has to find a way to go back to the Land of Stories and warn his sister about the threat.
More things happen in this book, but this is the main plot. This book is interesting because, as I did not dislike it, I did find it a bit "EH"; you know what I mean? The book is good, and to be honest I feel like it's WAY better than the previous book (The Enchantress Returns). The problem is that I haven't really taken anything away from these books, they are a great adventure but I haven't felt any type of raw emotions whilst reading. I do have to admit, these ARE children's books and for a children's book, it is amazing, but as a teen reader I don't find it as appealing lol.
I have paused this series for now, with 3 books remaining, I will stop for a while. My rating is 3.5/5 stars.
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
5.0
Nothing like the smell of a new graphic novel! DAMN bro this one really stung me. I bought this on my birthday and finished it in a matter of 2 hours. It was freaking amazing like JKWBBSDHSJZFKSEJZHCUSDKHVSDJHBCVDZX amazing... yeah... I know.
Ari (Aristotle) is a young teenager who just finished high school and is looking forward to moving away from his home town with his friends who together have this indie pop band. Ari lives with his parents right above their long lasting bakery which has been open for years, he has always been part of the bakery and a big help, but now that he wants to leave his parents (especially his dad) aren't too happy about it. To convince his dad to let him go, he declares that he will find a person who's very passionate about baking to replace him. In between all of this Ari meets Hector, a culinary student who loves baking over anything else. Now their relationship evolves and love eventually blooms (wink) out and captivates us all.
Wow man, I mean it was amazing. I have no other words. This graphic novel is crazy good; from the story, to the illustrations, to the striking use of color contrasts and it's just ahewhvjsdhba. I really have to stop now because I'll just end up A) spoiling the book and/or B) just straight up repeat how much I loved it. 5 STARS well deserved! One of my favorites of the year for sure.
Ari (Aristotle) is a young teenager who just finished high school and is looking forward to moving away from his home town with his friends who together have this indie pop band. Ari lives with his parents right above their long lasting bakery which has been open for years, he has always been part of the bakery and a big help, but now that he wants to leave his parents (especially his dad) aren't too happy about it. To convince his dad to let him go, he declares that he will find a person who's very passionate about baking to replace him. In between all of this Ari meets Hector, a culinary student who loves baking over anything else. Now their relationship evolves and love eventually blooms (wink) out and captivates us all.
Wow man, I mean it was amazing. I have no other words. This graphic novel is crazy good; from the story, to the illustrations, to the striking use of color contrasts and it's just ahewhvjsdhba. I really have to stop now because I'll just end up A) spoiling the book and/or B) just straight up repeat how much I loved it. 5 STARS well deserved! One of my favorites of the year for sure.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
5.0
This book really did a number on me in 2015. I was 12 and not a full avid reader; I would often stick to children's books. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell changed everything. And, okay, I guess because I was so much younger than now I gave it a really high rating, but the story really moved me.
Eleanor & Park follows two teens in the '80s trying to survive high school. Eleanor is a clear outcast: she's a redhead, is a bigger size than most girls her age, and doesn't quite fit in anywhere. Her family dynamics clearly don't help and she's new to the school which is just the cherry on top. Park is a bit less unlucky than her, yet his ethnicity as half Korean and his love for music, also make him stand out - which in the '80s that was a bad thing. Eleanor & Park find each other and develop a really beautiful and, (in the eyes of a 12-year-old, whatever that meant), real romance.
I think what's special about this is the amount of complexity the world has. Stay with me here. Yes, it is packed with tropes. And yes, it deals with some issues that are extremely sensitive, but I think from a starting point of view, those issues being brought to light were good and necessary. Eleanor's weight is something I can't directly criticize because I've never dealt with something like that. But I can say that it was refreshing to see romance bloom from these deep struggles that both characters faced. Park's inner struggle with himself and his ethnicity was so subtle yet if you really sit and think on it, it hits hard, especially if you are of other ethnicities and have ever felt different - in a bad way- like I have before.
My favorite thing about the book for sure was the intricacy of the families. This is something that I usually either avoid now when I wanna read a book, or never find well-done in a YA romance. Family issues are so difficult to get right because there is a fine line between intriguing and interesting and plain old boring, at least in this case. Both Park's family and Eleanor's family really captivated me because of the emphasis on family influence on a child.
Eleanor had a loving mother, but she was taking care of 6 children and dealing with an abusive partner. This combined made me feel so much for the mother and seeing her through Eleanor's eyes was even harder. Eleanor's step-father Ricky (whose name I will probably never forget because I haven't hated any fictional character like I hate him), was so 3-dimensional and really stuck out of the page. He was horrible, I mean so horrible to everyone and especially to Eleanor and her mother, and this immense buildup throughout the book really helps encase Eleanor's personality.
Park, on the other hand, had a loving family all throughout, and his family was organized and had things pretty much together. But what I loved is that, even if you have a seemingly perfect family, there can still be feelings of disconnect that happen inevitably. Park's exploration through this was really important.
From the moment Eleanor & Park first meet to the very last page, I was completely hooked. I think it's a beautiful story and it can enamor anyone who is a bit lovey-dovey like myself. Also, the ending is really moving and made both me and my best friend scream when we finished the book. I usually go back to reviews I've given 5 stars to when I was younger and correct it, but this time, I think Eleanor & Park still deserves 5.
Eleanor & Park follows two teens in the '80s trying to survive high school. Eleanor is a clear outcast: she's a redhead, is a bigger size than most girls her age, and doesn't quite fit in anywhere. Her family dynamics clearly don't help and she's new to the school which is just the cherry on top. Park is a bit less unlucky than her, yet his ethnicity as half Korean and his love for music, also make him stand out - which in the '80s that was a bad thing. Eleanor & Park find each other and develop a really beautiful and, (in the eyes of a 12-year-old, whatever that meant), real romance.
I think what's special about this is the amount of complexity the world has. Stay with me here. Yes, it is packed with tropes. And yes, it deals with some issues that are extremely sensitive, but I think from a starting point of view, those issues being brought to light were good and necessary. Eleanor's weight is something I can't directly criticize because I've never dealt with something like that. But I can say that it was refreshing to see romance bloom from these deep struggles that both characters faced. Park's inner struggle with himself and his ethnicity was so subtle yet if you really sit and think on it, it hits hard, especially if you are of other ethnicities and have ever felt different - in a bad way- like I have before.
My favorite thing about the book for sure was the intricacy of the families. This is something that I usually either avoid now when I wanna read a book, or never find well-done in a YA romance. Family issues are so difficult to get right because there is a fine line between intriguing and interesting and plain old boring, at least in this case. Both Park's family and Eleanor's family really captivated me because of the emphasis on family influence on a child.
Eleanor had a loving mother, but she was taking care of 6 children and dealing with an abusive partner. This combined made me feel so much for the mother and seeing her through Eleanor's eyes was even harder. Eleanor's step-father Ricky (whose name I will probably never forget because I haven't hated any fictional character like I hate him), was so 3-dimensional and really stuck out of the page. He was horrible, I mean so horrible to everyone and especially to Eleanor and her mother, and this immense buildup throughout the book really helps encase Eleanor's personality.
Park, on the other hand, had a loving family all throughout, and his family was organized and had things pretty much together. But what I loved is that, even if you have a seemingly perfect family, there can still be feelings of disconnect that happen inevitably. Park's exploration through this was really important.
From the moment Eleanor & Park first meet to the very last page, I was completely hooked. I think it's a beautiful story and it can enamor anyone who is a bit lovey-dovey like myself. Also, the ending is really moving and made both me and my best friend scream when we finished the book. I usually go back to reviews I've given 5 stars to when I was younger and correct it, but this time, I think Eleanor & Park still deserves 5.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
4.0
Okay, this was so much fun. Jenny Han is so good at making a book feel like a warm cookie (wink wink). I picked this up not thinking much of it... I'm a simple man, romance is my thing. I read like one chapter at the book store and was immediately hooked. It's a cute story!
Lara Jean once wrote letters to all the boys she ever had a crush on and never sent them. Good therapy strategy! But one day, all those letters are somehow sent to all the boys they correspond to and now she has to face the consequences. There is a big problem though, one of the boys she liked is dating her sister. In order to deviate any attention from her sister's boyfriend, Lara Jean pretends to date handsome Peter Kavinsky (who by the way won my heart too). But this fake relationship might bloom into something else.
Naturally, there were so many fun things to unpack from the book. Who sent the letters? The fake relationship. How is her crush on Josh going to affect her and Margot's relationship? It was a fun ride filled with warm baking and sweet romance and nice friendships. I really had a great time and read it so quickly because I could not put it down. One thing that I LOVE when books do, and really any story, is when the characters go somewhere different than where they live and change the ambiance for a bit. Not making that the plot, but just a part of it. It freshens the story and this book, from beginning to end, was so entertaining. They do just that when they go on the skiing trip at the near-end. That was probably one of my favorite scenes. The whole book is just so nice and perfect for a lovey-dovey lover.
Lara Jean once wrote letters to all the boys she ever had a crush on and never sent them. Good therapy strategy! But one day, all those letters are somehow sent to all the boys they correspond to and now she has to face the consequences. There is a big problem though, one of the boys she liked is dating her sister. In order to deviate any attention from her sister's boyfriend, Lara Jean pretends to date handsome Peter Kavinsky (who by the way won my heart too). But this fake relationship might bloom into something else.
Naturally, there were so many fun things to unpack from the book. Who sent the letters? The fake relationship. How is her crush on Josh going to affect her and Margot's relationship? It was a fun ride filled with warm baking and sweet romance and nice friendships. I really had a great time and read it so quickly because I could not put it down. One thing that I LOVE when books do, and really any story, is when the characters go somewhere different than where they live and change the ambiance for a bit. Not making that the plot, but just a part of it. It freshens the story and this book, from beginning to end, was so entertaining. They do just that when they go on the skiing trip at the near-end. That was probably one of my favorite scenes. The whole book is just so nice and perfect for a lovey-dovey lover.
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
4.0
HAHAHA okay. So, after finishing the first book I obviously went and picked up the sequel. At the time of reading this, I accompanied my mom and her friend to a junior league baseball game in which my mom's friend's son was playing at. I brought this book with me. And I read it all sitting there... straight through in one sitting. In my defense, sports aren't my thing and this book was the perfect choice.
This was honestly not as good as the first book, but I think what made it so great was the amount of backstory we got regarding Gen and Chris and just all of the characters in general and how their past was. The whole time capsule thing was really cute and I think made for a memorable story. Also, John-Ambrose was a fun addition to the story, giving it a little shake. That said, I do think the story declined a bit just because the build-up wasn't the same as the first book's. Nonetheless, I still think the book was fun and worth the read, and a total warm cookie.
This was honestly not as good as the first book, but I think what made it so great was the amount of backstory we got regarding Gen and Chris and just all of the characters in general and how their past was. The whole time capsule thing was really cute and I think made for a memorable story. Also, John-Ambrose was a fun addition to the story, giving it a little shake. That said, I do think the story declined a bit just because the build-up wasn't the same as the first book's. Nonetheless, I still think the book was fun and worth the read, and a total warm cookie.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
3.0
Well here we are the end. Itās sad to say goodbye to these beloved characters. Iāve got to be honest, this was definitely the weakest out of the 3 books. It was a bit harder for me to get through this book because it just felt a bit forced. The story is fun and the characters are still great but thereās just something about it that felt off. Either way this was fun, and Iām glad I decided to continue especially after I read the second one in one sitting which is crazy.
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
3.0
I remember I read this back in like 4th grade. Itās so interesting to me now that I picked this up at such a young age. The story itself is creepy and weird, it dives deep into the self recognition of a man in society and how his own doubts and fears are self reflected physically. Itās super strange but itās honestly resonated with me ever since and that says something for sure.
It didnāt really leave me with anything but memories and thatās it. Itās a good book for horror and psychological fans.
It didnāt really leave me with anything but memories and thatās it. Itās a good book for horror and psychological fans.
The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry by J.D. McClatchy
I read this for my poetry class in college. No rating because thereās so many poems in here and I canāt just rate the whole book based on the ones I liked. In general, almost all the poems I read were good. Allen Ginsberg and Frank OāHara really touched my heart.