amrabad's reviews
402 reviews

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 59%.
Something felt kind of off but I couldn’t place my finger on it. When he called Roman Polanski “the master” when talking about taking advice about sleeping with young women I figured out what it was. 
The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

The first 75% of this story was a lot of fun. That last quarter could have been done so much better. 

-Our FMCs personality shifts in the last quarter and not necessarily in a positive or negative way, but definitely in a way that is out of character of what we’ve seen from her up to that point.
-The main plot conclusion was ok enough but the romance part was so rushed it cheapened the ending for me. I actually think I would’ve given it a higher rating if the romance part hadn't even been in there.

Overall I was left feeling unsatisfied. 
The Association by A.K. Caggiano

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I'm usually not a huge mystery fan, but I love AK Caggiano and I'm on a mission to read her entire backlist. I also tend to enjoy cozy mysteries, which is how I would categorize this. 

This was a fun time. It was sprinkled with her usual humor in a fun fantasy setting. Some of the mystery plot was apparent to me, but not our main character. That can be annoying in some books, but I could understand why the MC wasn't seeing some of the little things that I noticed.

This would be a great choice for anyone that wants a mystery that is entertaining, has great characters, all in a fantasy setting that I would happily like to be a part of.
Bunny by Mona Awad

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I’m confused. That’s it. That’s the whole review.

Not but really though, I am very confused. The first third I had to stop after each chapter and out loud ask myself wtf I just read. This book was a fever dream. Academia, cults, horror, drugs, and confusion. 

I will be reading more Mona Awad in the future.
Sign Here by Claudia Lux

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.25

The concept of this book was really cool. I haven't heard of another book with it. And the way Hell was depicted was incredible. The plot got a little bit confusing in the middle, but the short chapters made it easy to push through that. I'll be interested to see what else this author writes.
Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I’ve been wanting to give Victoria Aveyard a try but wasn’t sure I wanted to read more YA. I’m so glad I gave it a shot. It’s multi POV with both adolescent and adult characters playing major parts. Really solid world building and a good mix of both journey and action. I heard she was inspired by LotR and I can see that and love that. I’m excited to continue the series.
The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.5

A cute Christmas romance. My book club read it advent style by reading the chapters on their actual days throughout the month and that made it a lot of fun. I definitely recommend reading it that way. 
The Elven Days of Christmas by A.K. Caggiano

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emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

As a first born daughter and a Virgo, I felt this. This was an absolute delight to read. It’s self aware at points, which is hilarious. Overall it was a very sweet story that also made me laugh out loud and blush. Kol is my new blueprint for book boyfriends. 

AK Caggiano does not miss. You need to read this. I finished it in one day.
The Weary Traveler by A.K. Caggiano

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

A human woman accidentally finds herself at an inn for mystical and magical beings and shenanigans ensues. This book manages to not take itself too seriously while also having a good magic system, a fun cast of characters, and engaging plot lines. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
A Long Time Coming by Meghan Quinn

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Soft DNFing for now. Didn’t dislike it, just not feeling it right now. May come back to it eventually.