whatthedeuce's reviews
1321 reviews

One True Loves by Elise Bryant

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5

If it weren’t for the requisite ”break up” in the final act that tries my romance-loving nerve, this book would’ve been perfect. I legit laughed out loud so many times, which I wasn’t expecting at all, and I love how supportive yet kinda bumbling Alex was. He’s not quite perfect but pretty damn close, and he and Lenore definitely deserve each other!

Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

It’s always great to see an author tackling the important concepts of self-worth and overcoming a toxic relationship, but my god, Hallie’s inner monologue was so unbelievably repetitive. Like the book would’ve been 100 pages long if it weren’t for the exact same thoughts about knowing Cade was awful and that she deserves better but finding it hard to accept that spewed ad nauseam. I’m extremely aware that it’s actually realistic for someone who’s only ever been in a toxic relationship to believe they deserve good things, but beating the reader over the head with that concept over and over again was tiresome as hell. It doesn’t make for a fun read regardless of it being grounded in truth.

Also Cade was such a cartoonish villain. Like he doesn’t even try to be subtle about undermining Hallie, which is ridiculous cuz guys like him get away with awful shit BECAUSE they’re subtle and not making it glaringly obvious that they’re pieces of shit. He wasn’t even manipulative. He was outright hostile to her at every turn in front of others.

I Hope This Doesn't Find You by Ann Liang

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

While I appreciated the author tackling the idea of someone being a people pleaser and how burdensome that is, Sadie was incredibly tiresome and stubborn. And Julius was exactly the same. I couldn’t find it in myself to root for either of them much less them together. I think this book would’ve been vastly improved if they had started forming an actual friendship somewhere in the middle. But they pretty much are awful and sniping at each other the entire damn book even when you know they’re supposed to be attracted to one another. I’ve read some great YA romance novels before, and this is far from one of them.

The Faculty Lounge: A Novel by Jennifer Mathieu

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

As someone currently working in public education, I found too many parallels between the events in the book and the constant barrage of ridiculous crap that happens at my elementary campus. I adored this book more than I can say, and it was elevated by the fact that I imagined my own colleagues as the characters. 😂

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Lord, was this boring as hell. I only finished it so I could get closer to my yearly reading goal. I couldn’t get myself to give a crap about a single character.

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25