sumsreadsalot's reviews
159 reviews
The Husband's Secret, by Liane Moriarty
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
I was very sceptical to start this book as i had heard so much hype around it and didn't want to be disappointed in terms of it being overhyped. I went in with low expectations and was almost put off in the beginning.
The opening was interesting enough (although it should have been titled 'prologue' as it seemed that we'd be seeing the first two characters from the first chapter later on in the story but this wasn't the case. I wish someone had filled me in on this before i started reading).
I feel like the plot started from the middle and felt like we had missed out on something. The story opened without any real worldbuilding and i felt like i had no knowledge of who the Grisha were and what they do although Leigh Bardugo had provided maps and a simple guide for each Grisha's power. I just felt like i was missing out on something and it felt very messy.
BUT... as the story progressed i was drawn in more and more and just couldn't put the book down! I definitely surprised myself by completing the book in just two days -a great accomplishment for me!
The plot was fast paced, the characters were perfect, the backstories for each really drew me in especially that of Nina and Matthias. Their banter made me laugh out loud at times and what to say of the actual heist? Just very good writing all in all. I gave five stars because if you can get past the first four chapters, you will certainly see what the hype is all about!
The opening was interesting enough (although it should have been titled 'prologue' as it seemed that we'd be seeing the first two characters from the first chapter later on in the story but this wasn't the case. I wish someone had filled me in on this before i started reading).
I feel like the plot started from the middle and felt like we had missed out on something. The story opened without any real worldbuilding and i felt like i had no knowledge of who the Grisha were and what they do although Leigh Bardugo had provided maps and a simple guide for each Grisha's power. I just felt like i was missing out on something and it felt very messy.
BUT... as the story progressed i was drawn in more and more and just couldn't put the book down! I definitely surprised myself by completing the book in just two days -a great accomplishment for me!
The plot was fast paced, the characters were perfect, the backstories for each really drew me in especially that of Nina and Matthias. Their banter made me laugh out loud at times and what to say of the actual heist? Just very good writing all in all. I gave five stars because if you can get past the first four chapters, you will certainly see what the hype is all about!
Crooked Kingdom, by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed book 2. The characters are just exceptional and i love how the themes of ADHD, dyslexia and even haphephobia were dealt with in a very realistic way.
I'm definitely a fan of Leigh Bardugo's writing style. She keeps you gripped from page one. All in all a very satisfying read and all wrapped up so well in the end.
I'm definitely a fan of Leigh Bardugo's writing style. She keeps you gripped from page one. All in all a very satisfying read and all wrapped up so well in the end.
The Hating Game, by Sally Thorne
1.0
I bought this book due to the rave reviews and boy...i wish i hadn't. The first part of the book actually got me hooked and i was enjoying it even though at the back of my mind i was pushing aside the immaturity between the games the two characters play. It was actually funny at times the banter between the two and i was invested but... then we got to the part where the characters get together and it all goes downhill from there. Please explain to me how you can hate someone so much you feel like murdering them and the next minute you're suddenly so OBSESSED with them?? It was so creepy and unnatural!
Im telling you these two characters are not NORMAL! They have mental health issues, unsure what exactly but something definitely there under the surface! She's meant to be kind and everyone 'loves' her in the office but thats a pretense cs shes essentially everyone's boss in a way and they really don't even know her that well. There's no effort to get to know the other characters in the workplace or around their lives at all...its like it's just Lucy and Josh and no one else.
He's broody and moody but oh so good looking and muscles, muscles, muscles! I got so frustrated at every single mention of his 'insane' body i felt like throwing up! Not to mention being constantly reminded of Lucy's shortness every 5 minutes!
The second half of this book is where it definitely nosedived into an abyss of boredom and repetition and obsessiveness, it actually felt like the writer swapped with someone else half way because they couldnt be bothered to develop the story in a better way.
'and i make a mark when i see you smile at someone else.' - just...WHAT?? His jealousy is something she just ignores or accepts. It's brushed aside like its nothing. I dont get it. HOW can anyone read this book and give it such a high rating?? Theres so many quotes like this that i can annotate and rip apart but its really not worth my time.
Oh and he paints his room the colour of her eyes soon after meeting her and yet still continues to be horrible to her.. is that...meant to be romantic???
I can't believe i wasted so much of my time reading this book. The only positive aspect of this book and why it even got one star from me is because of the apt title... 'the hating game', yep the game is to hate the book and i won. I want to burn it!!
Im telling you these two characters are not NORMAL! They have mental health issues, unsure what exactly but something definitely there under the surface! She's meant to be kind and everyone 'loves' her in the office but thats a pretense cs shes essentially everyone's boss in a way and they really don't even know her that well. There's no effort to get to know the other characters in the workplace or around their lives at all...its like it's just Lucy and Josh and no one else.
He's broody and moody but oh so good looking and muscles, muscles, muscles! I got so frustrated at every single mention of his 'insane' body i felt like throwing up! Not to mention being constantly reminded of Lucy's shortness every 5 minutes!
The second half of this book is where it definitely nosedived into an abyss of boredom and repetition and obsessiveness, it actually felt like the writer swapped with someone else half way because they couldnt be bothered to develop the story in a better way.
'and i make a mark when i see you smile at someone else.' - just...WHAT?? His jealousy is something she just ignores or accepts. It's brushed aside like its nothing. I dont get it. HOW can anyone read this book and give it such a high rating?? Theres so many quotes like this that i can annotate and rip apart but its really not worth my time.
Oh and he paints his room the colour of her eyes soon after meeting her and yet still continues to be horrible to her.. is that...meant to be romantic???
I can't believe i wasted so much of my time reading this book. The only positive aspect of this book and why it even got one star from me is because of the apt title... 'the hating game', yep the game is to hate the book and i won. I want to burn it!!
The Unhoneymooners, by Christina Lauren
4.0
A very comfort-read, sweet romance story. Maybe a little unrealistic at times but the authors have made the characters and storyline interested enough to keep you hooked till the end.
Skyward, by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! Brandon Sanderson is definitely on my author list now. His writing style is very easy to read and i love that he doesnt go into unnecessary description of places and characters. A few descriptive words and you get the idea of whats happening or what a character looks like and your brain fills in the rest. Definitely my type of book.
Starsight, by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
I would say i enjoyed book one over this one but it was a good read nevertheless. The pacing was a bit slow and i did want to see more of the same characters that she trained with in the first book, but m bot made up for all that. Would highly recommend.
Rhapsodic, by Laura Thalassa
2.0
Meh
If you like to read a fantasy romance story with very little worldbuilding, pages and pages of description about muscles, a quite boring storyline and only 2 characters who run the story, then this is for you.
This book had so much potential! But it just fizzled into nothing. I can summarise everything you will need to know about this book in 4 pages probably. Thats how much that happens in the book. We only get to see Callie and Desmonds relationship throughout the whole book. It was sweet at first but just got repetitive and boring. I'd say 80% of the book was them being together and the rest of it was a thinly veiled attempt at a fantasy story.
The fact that a grown man spends time with a 16 year old (and we're repeatedly told that that age is considered an adult in the fairy world as if thats meant to make it all ok) just creeped me out. Also if i had to hear about how his clothes 'strained against his muscles' one more time, i thought i would puke!
The main mystery behind the story was so predictable and yes... boring! I expected so much more.
All in all would not recommend.
If you like to read a fantasy romance story with very little worldbuilding, pages and pages of description about muscles, a quite boring storyline and only 2 characters who run the story, then this is for you.
This book had so much potential! But it just fizzled into nothing. I can summarise everything you will need to know about this book in 4 pages probably. Thats how much that happens in the book. We only get to see Callie and Desmonds relationship throughout the whole book. It was sweet at first but just got repetitive and boring. I'd say 80% of the book was them being together and the rest of it was a thinly veiled attempt at a fantasy story.
The fact that a grown man spends time with a 16 year old (and we're repeatedly told that that age is considered an adult in the fairy world as if thats meant to make it all ok) just creeped me out. Also if i had to hear about how his clothes 'strained against his muscles' one more time, i thought i would puke!
The main mystery behind the story was so predictable and yes... boring! I expected so much more.
All in all would not recommend.
Beach Read, by Emily Henry
5.0
Perfect romance
I have never read a more perfect romance novel and dont think i ever will again. This book made me feel all kinds of things. It was so deep and emotional and written so well and just...perfect in all senses. Its going to take a lot of time for me to get over it. Ill be thinking about it for a good few days i know.
I have never read a more perfect romance novel and dont think i ever will again. This book made me feel all kinds of things. It was so deep and emotional and written so well and just...perfect in all senses. Its going to take a lot of time for me to get over it. Ill be thinking about it for a good few days i know.
To Kill a Kingdom, by Alexandra Christo
2.0
So much potential wasted...
I wish i could love this book as much as i wanted to but alas...it failed to impress. Which is a shame really because the synopsis was so promising and i actually thought this would be an amazing read. I think the author just failed to deliver and it was very ...meh.
There are so many things wrong with this book and it all lies in character development. This is the huge downfall of this book. There was literally NO CHEMISTRY between the two main characters! I loved the beginning of the book when Lira was a siren but as soon as she turned human, thats when it goes downhill for her. She became this annoyingly mean boring person. As for Elian... his downfall lies with the authors mistake of giving him a POV. There was NO NEED. We couldve heard the story entirely from Lira's POV and it would've made the story tons better.
Elian reminds me a lot of Kaz from Six of Crows and the story is also on a similar note (a crew going on a heist like mission to save their people). However hearing his POV weakened his character a great deal and made him sound more like a whiny little boy than the daring pirate he is made out to be.
The story is really good and i feel like if the author just fixed the characters and rewrote the story, it wouldve been so amazing! I mean you have a Siren who's mission it is to kill the prince who in turn kills her people and is on a mission himself to kill the Prince's bane. So much potential unfortunately wasted!
I wish i could love this book as much as i wanted to but alas...it failed to impress. Which is a shame really because the synopsis was so promising and i actually thought this would be an amazing read. I think the author just failed to deliver and it was very ...meh.
There are so many things wrong with this book and it all lies in character development. This is the huge downfall of this book. There was literally NO CHEMISTRY between the two main characters! I loved the beginning of the book when Lira was a siren but as soon as she turned human, thats when it goes downhill for her. She became this annoyingly mean boring person. As for Elian... his downfall lies with the authors mistake of giving him a POV. There was NO NEED. We couldve heard the story entirely from Lira's POV and it would've made the story tons better.
Elian reminds me a lot of Kaz from Six of Crows and the story is also on a similar note (a crew going on a heist like mission to save their people). However hearing his POV weakened his character a great deal and made him sound more like a whiny little boy than the daring pirate he is made out to be.
The story is really good and i feel like if the author just fixed the characters and rewrote the story, it wouldve been so amazing! I mean you have a Siren who's mission it is to kill the prince who in turn kills her people and is on a mission himself to kill the Prince's bane. So much potential unfortunately wasted!