alysereadsbooks's reviews
364 reviews

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I read this as part of my local library reading challenge. I’m trying to branch out and this book was definitely out of my comfort zone. I really did enjoy it though and loved tracing the lineage of a family. I didn’t love the ending. And I think Esteban was possibly the worst fictional man to ever exist. 
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Memory Piece by Lisa Ko

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challenging emotional tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Listened to audiobook. Don’t know how to feel about it. I liked the examination of memory and women’s friendships. I think the author tried to tackle too much with the inclusion of the dystopian society at the end and shifting perspectives and timelines. 
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All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

4.5

Heart-wrenching and deeply personal read for me as a Korean adoptee. This book meant so much to me. It was so comforting and moving to hear my thoughts I’ve had vocalized by someone else. It really does a wonderful job in discussing adoption with the nuance and emotion it deserves. Anyone considering pursuing adoption should read this!
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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Loved this one! One of my favorites this year. I loved the dynamic of the sibling relationships. 
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There There by Tommy Orange

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

3.5

I listened to this on audiobook for my summer reading challenge at my local library. It was raw, vulnerable, and heartbreaking look at indigenous lives in America. I liked how the stories were all intertwined. You could really see the role intergenerational racism and trauma plays in the characters' lives. I didn't love the openness of the ending.  
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A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-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? Yes

4.5

I loved Tia Williams' 7 Days in June and this was also a hit. It had the perfect combination of heart, romance, history, and magical realism. I was really routing for them as a couple. 
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Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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challenging dark emotional relaxing sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

 Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. It's a little out of my comfort zone in regards to its high sci fi nature - I tend to get lost easily if the world is complicated - but I absolutely loved this book. This book was an insightful commentary of the mass incarceration of people of color while also commentating on social media (entertainment). I can't wait to reread this one.

**Check trigger warnings before reading, quite gory and violent. 
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Those Who Wait by Haley Cass

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I really did enjoy this one, the conflict felt realistic, and I enjoyed the characters. I do feel like it could have been shorter, but it was the perfect LGBT romcom.
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Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng

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challenging 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? Yes

3.5

I read the audiobook not knowing what to expect - it was pretty good and overall, I felt entertained. I liked the combination of mystery in a K-pop world, and the LGBT representation. 
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Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I enjoyed this one and the voice of the author. I did find some of the stories a bit repetitive, but I liked the commentary on the immigrant experience and how the characters and stories occurred in the same universe. 
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