songmingi's reviews
192 reviews

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

dark mysterious fast-paced

3.5

This was an interesting read, I had heard very mixed reviews about this book but I knew there was to be some shocking plot twist. 

At first I found the book a bit odd, the writing style is a bit eclectic and strange and found myself a little confused at times. However I believe the might have been the goal. After awhile I was invested in the mystery and was trying really hard to figure out where the story was going and what exactly happened to Cadence.

The plot twist was unexpected but I dont particularly find myself blown away by it, I consumed a lot of media where the narrator or main character is confused or lost about their past and some incident and in comparison to those things its mystery and intrigue is a bit juvenile. 

That being said the book was engaging enough for me to stick around to the end, and I think for someone new to the mystery genre this could be a great entryway read. 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Did not finish book. Stopped at 82%.

I just dont care about this book anymore especially since I found out rebecca yarros is weird

Almond by Won-pyung Sohn

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Almond was a poignant read. It explores human connection and relationships in such an interesting and compassionate way. Despite being quite short I found this book to be still quite impactful.  The writing was easy to read but by no means overly simplistic, it left me reflecting on the themes discussed continuously. In a way, the story was a bit predictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  I think we are very fortunate to live in a time where such unique stories and writings from across the world are available to us to read in English. I would recommend reading the author's note to gain further insight into the ideas behind this book. Almond is a book that will continue to occupy my mind, I hope to revisit it soon. 

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Days at the morisaki bookshop is a book written for lovers of books and bookshops. It captures the magic and healing powers books and reading can have, and also speaks about growth and self-discovery. It is easy and quick to read and i loved all the references to Japanese literature. I especially appreciated the translators note which sign posted which of the mentioned books have been translated for further discovery.
The only reason I rate it 5 stars is I didn't particularly care for part two of the book at first, I preferred the focus on the main character more but that may be the my personal taste. 

Otherwise I think this is a perfect comfort read and I will treasure it at such. I think I will enjoy it even more in the future once I read the materials referenced in it. 

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Wow, what an ending.

I think this was my favourite instalment in the series, once I started it I could barely put it down. I would recommend someone start the AGGGTM series so that they can read this book. 

In terms of the plot I loved how everything connected together, right from the beginning, we were building up to the climax of this book. The same characters we see throughout the series transformed, their bonds strengthened, and the stakes higher than they have ever been. I honestly could not predict what was going to happen at any point it was so thrilling. 

It is just so wild to see where Pip is at here as compared to where she was when this series began. I adored Pip as a main character and felt sorrowful for her throughout the book as grappled with PTSD and differentiating between good and bad. Her relationship with Ravi was so sweet and a small glimpse of light in a very dark book. 

I honestly feel like the hype is so well deserved after reading this instalment, it was the perfect ending to an excellent series. 

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

dark emotional mysterious tense 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? No

4.75

really excellent!  I adored Pip's character growth so much in this book. I found the mystery in this one more engaging than that of the first book also
 

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

medium-paced

4.25

There was a lot of hype around this book across social media and while I was sceptical at first I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book was. Since it's intended for a YA audience I didn't enjoy the humour and character descriptions all the time but regardless the mystery of this book was invigorating. I even found myself shocked at some of the plot twists. Overall, it was a really enjoyable and worthwhile read.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

I avoided reading this book for so long because I wanted to savour it. In a way, it felt like a book written specifically for me. A fantasy book full of history and knowledge on languages and the British Empire written by one of my favourite authors. I can understand how some readers may find all the historical and technical information about languages included tiring but that is exactly where my heart lies. I LOVED IT. Kuang's writing was as I expected a pleasure to read, easy to comprehend yet impactful. 

There are so many important discussions in this book about colonialism and violence, about how colonialism devasted many nations and bonded its victims together in a sorrowful link. How Britain's own citizens ultimately did not benefit from its empire if they were not part of the elite or wealthy. These concepts are all discussed through a cohort you grow to love and root for. The writing was so soft and vivid, it felt like I spent days with them at Oxford.  Robin, Ramy and Victoire are my darlings. I connected with them in their pursuit of following their passions in a world that values only their skills but not them as individuals. As a South Asian person, I saw so much of myself in Ramy, even his Muslim faith was so beautifully represented. 

In terms of the fantasy I loved the silver bar system, it was interesting and unique. However, I think for other fantasy readers the amount of fantasy throughout the book itself may be disappointing as I think the story is more about Robin and the cohort navigating their identity and position in the empire rather than being about pure magic. 

Nonetheless I just really enjoyed my time reading this book, it was well worth the wait.

Now That I've Found You by Kristina Forest

lighthearted fast-paced

2.75

Now That I've Found You was a quick lighthearted read. While it was easy to read I found it quite simplistic in both theme and execution. Despite being marketed as a romance, there was only a suggestion of it occurring within the book. The story instead follows the character growth of Evie who I honestly did not like very much at all. The characterisation of most of the people made me feel like I was watching a Disney show or reading a Wattpad story. However, since the book is aimed for a younger audience I can overlook this aspect. The plot was a bit unexpected and it held my interest well but the ending was unsatisfying. Overall this book was a little meh, not terrible but not noteworthy either. 

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

dark fast-paced

3.75

Never will I think about an apple pealer the same way again