booksinkandpaper2's reviews
563 reviews

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

This was unexpectedly beautiful, even though highly recommended by a bookish podcaster and Patreon content creator that I trust. I think it was one of her top 10 of last year. So I found it at my library and opened the cover. What I found here is historical fiction mostly centering around two women. Isabel lives in a home alone, owned by an uncle. Her brothers check on her now and again and visit. Louis, who will inherit the home, brings girlfriend Eva home because he believes he is totally in love with her. Isabel sees Eva as flighty and fake. She immediately despises her and makes no secret of her distaste for Eva. What unfolds next is the rich and well developed understanding of each character from their experiences, thoughts, behaviors and preferences. It is lyrical and intense and propulsive. Also sensual and descriptive - it slowly develops into an open door relationship you hope will never end. A difficult story of past experiences. A beautiful story about falling in love in a completely unexpected journey. And the discovery of what lengths someone will go to in order to capture what they desire and make it their own.

Content Warnings

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

This Kindle title has been on my shelves for a bit, and I’m happy to say I finished it today. I love a book about books, but this one adds finding family in unexpected places, taking chances, recovery from grief and death, rekindling relationships, deliberately creating friendships and opportunities, and coming together to honor and celebrate libraries for all they mean to us. I was surprised by how much I loved this book. And the tears shed at the end bring it to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #beatthebacklist2025 #readingchallenge2025📚 #newauthor #diversereads #booksaboutbooks #librarylove #kindlereads #fivestarread

Content Warnings