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bookish_ghost_girl's reviews
99 reviews
All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella's Stepmother by Danielle Teller
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Compelling fiction often obscures the humble truth."
When it comes to fairy tale re-tellings, I like how this one takes on the story of "Cinderella" and spins it from the pov of the step-mother. One thing that I enjoyed was how it changed the step-mother and step-sisters to be the ones coming from rags to riches in a way, instead of how the fairy tale is generally depicted. Since the step-mother, Agnes, is telling the story, in order to set the record straight, we get to see how she becomes the 'evil' step-mother in the sense that she is trying to stop Ella from becoming a spoiled brat.
When it comes to fairy tale re-tellings, I like how this one takes on the story of "Cinderella" and spins it from the pov of the step-mother. One thing that I enjoyed was how it changed the step-mother and step-sisters to be the ones coming from rags to riches in a way, instead of how the fairy tale is generally depicted. Since the step-mother, Agnes, is telling the story, in order to set the record straight, we get to see how she becomes the 'evil' step-mother in the sense that she is trying to stop Ella from becoming a spoiled brat.
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary: Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah by Brant James Pitre
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
While I already had an understanding on the topic, I did enjoy the fact that it explained more on what I already knew. It also pointed out some things that I didn't know or make a connection between.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
The Bookworm by Mitch Silver
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I was a little confused when I started reading. As I was reading, it felt like the main character was sharing the same confusion toward what was happening in the story. What I did like about it is the fact that it takes a small point in history that we have heard about and looks at it in a different lens and in a modern setting. The ending was wrapped up rather well and felt satisfactory.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, and War
Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North by Rachel Joyce
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
As a short novel, it was a nice way to take a quick break between longer books. While it is the last book in a trilogy, it also works well as a standalone book. What I did enjoy about this book is the way that the journey of forgiveness is shown in a short amount of time. Grief also plays a small part in the story as well and how holding onto it can affect us in different ways.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
Ghosts of Panama by Leon Carroll Jr., Mark Harmon
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Outside of learning about the Panama Canal in school, the events that happened during the 1980's in Panama is something that I hadn't ever learned or heard about before. So it was interesting to read about what was happening during that time period.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Pregnancy
Bespelled by Laura Thalassa
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It's not often that I say this, but I liked this one better than the first book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I started out liking the characters, then halfway through they became rather annoying and I wanted to slap them upside the head to knock some sense into them. Though by the end of the book I did start liking them again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and War
Recursion by Blake Crouch
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It's not often that I read books with dual timelines, but the first half of the book handles that well. Once the timelines meet up it feels a little like "Groundhog Day" with the repetitiveness of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent
The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"Freya isn't a celebrity. She just looks like one..."
What started out as needing a book by an author with the last name starting with 'V' for an alphabet book challenge, ended up being a funny and cute book to start the new year off.
While I started reading it with the mindset that it was because of the book challenge, I ended up changing my mind by the end of the book. It is a very cute rom-com and the characters were the right combination of lovable, annoying and goofy. It is something that I would consider picking up again in the future if I need a book that is an easy and fun read to clear my head.
What started out as needing a book by an author with the last name starting with 'V' for an alphabet book challenge, ended up being a funny and cute book to start the new year off.
While I started reading it with the mindset that it was because of the book challenge, I ended up changing my mind by the end of the book. It is a very cute rom-com and the characters were the right combination of lovable, annoying and goofy. It is something that I would consider picking up again in the future if I need a book that is an easy and fun read to clear my head.
When the Summer Was Ours by Roxanne Veletzos
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
When it comes to historical fiction set during World War II, it sometimes feels like the focus is more on what was happening in England, France and Germany, than the rest of Europe that was affected.
With this book, while the main focus was romance with WWII in the background, you get a small glimpse into what is referred to as the forgotten Holocaust, which is the genocide of the Romani and Sinti communities in eastern Europe.
Part of why I enjoyed reading this so much is because historical fiction is something that I grew up reading and history has been something that I have been interested in for a long time. It also provided a glimpse into a part of history that I had vaguely heard/learned about but didn't know much about.
With this book, while the main focus was romance with WWII in the background, you get a small glimpse into what is referred to as the forgotten Holocaust, which is the genocide of the Romani and Sinti communities in eastern Europe.
Part of why I enjoyed reading this so much is because historical fiction is something that I grew up reading and history has been something that I have been interested in for a long time. It also provided a glimpse into a part of history that I had vaguely heard/learned about but didn't know much about.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War