breedawnwriter's reviews
222 reviews

I’m always hesitant about reading Christian fiction. It’s easy for me to fall into the belief that it’s all preachy, cookie-cutter, and formulaic with no real substance. But, I’m happy to report that this book isn’t any of those things.

If I wasn’t in this particular season of life where I needed to read this book, I don’t know if I would’ve rated it so highly. There are some things I didn’t love about this book (explained below), but for me, this book was everything I needed right now. I needed someone to tell me that I am worthy. That I am whole in Him. That I can be brave and do the hard things even when I’m scared. That my past does not define me.

Yes, the writing style was difficult for me to get into and there were some moments that leaned too heavily into telling instead of showing. But . . . God still used this story to heal a part of me that I didn’t know how to heal. God still used this book, despite its flaws, to touch my heart with what He knew I needed to hear.

Violet’s struggle to stand firm in her faith resonated with me. When I watched her try to carry every burden on her own, I saw myself. Obed’s struggle to let go of who he was and step into who God has called him to be felt so much like my own rebellious heart. His guilt over his past felt like it could’ve been penned by my own heart.

Their journey reflected so much of my own, which made it impossible for me to rate it anything less than four stars.

That being said, I won’t say this is a perfect book. It has some flaws that made it difficult for me to keep reading. But, I also know that God used this book to do extraordinary things in my heart and for my soul. So, for me, it was a much needed and healing read.

Full review coming June 12th.

I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than the first book in the trilogy. It had more of an external plot that balanced really nicely against the internal conflict. 

I also loved the way that the dad was more of the "villain" than their aunt. The switch made sense for the show, but this version feels more true for the books.

I read this per the recommendation of Allen Arnold. It's probably one of the best short stories I've ever read. It couldn't be a more timely piece, and I truly think that everyone should read it at least once.

When people talk about reading to understand other people and other lives, this is the kind of book I think of: a story that captures the complexities of living a life that’s balancing on the edge of two completely different cultures.

I will never fully be able to understand the Taiwanese American experience. But it’s through books like this that I can begin to learn that they go through things I cannot fathom. Things that don’t make sense to me because I have never and will never experience them. But for some people—for these characters—this is real and this is happening.

This is what life looks like, feels like, and what life expects them to be.

At it’s core, this is a story about family, love, and the choices we make, both for ourselves and for others.

It made me giggle and kick my feet, but it also made me cry. I found myself highlighting paragraphs full of wisdom and resonance that I could ponder forever. It made me think more deeply about how lucky I am to have parents who have always loved and supported my dreams, never once hesitating to ask me what I want for my life.

This book made me feel things in a way that was both painful and cathartic all at once . . . and I think that sometimes those are the best kind of stories.

 What I Loved
- Juliana and Garrett's relationship. This is the best kind of grumpy x sunshine pairing. I haven't read a ton of books with that trope, but this one wins for me. Juliana is such a hopeless romantic, and Garrett is . . . well, he's not so quick to jump into romanticizing the idea of love. They really couldn't be more different, and it's those differences that make their journey so beautiful. There's also, like, really good banter. So, that's also a huge bonus.
- Garrett. Everything about this boy was literally perfect, and I shall not be accepting criticism. He's complicated. There' s so much more to him than just the brooding, angsty sad boy mask. I literally have no critiques.
- The intricate relationship between Juliana and her mother. As someone who has a close relationship with my own mother, I didn't understand everything about their relationship. They're very different from the mother/daughter relationships I've seen and experienced, and then there's the added cultural differences. But . . . I could sympathize at the beginning. I could watch as Juliana tried to fix everything that was broken in her family and know that things would probably come crumbling down. I could listen to their conversations and begin to experience their relationship through Juliana's eyes. I don't want to spoil anything, but trust me when I say that this particular relationship really made the book.
- The way that grief was explored and not just casually thrown in for "depth." I read a lot of novels about grief, and I'm always worried about how it'll be portrayed. But Chen did an incredible job. No, grief isn't the main point of this novel. It's not even the primary conflict. But it's present. It's there. It lingers in the cracks of Juliana's story because that's what grief does. It lays dormant in certain seasons before coming out and wreaking havoc on our lives. The destruction of grief and the different ways people handle it (or don't handle it) are depicted in both an honest and delicate way that will leave you feeling like you're right there with the characters in their darkest moments.

What I Didn't Love
- The LGBT themes. This didn't bother me that much—mostly because it wasn't a focal point of the story—but it was something that I didn't love. 

I enjoyed this book. It was a fun summer read that I knew I'd love after falling in love with the TV show adaptation. 

I'm only giving it 3 stars because there wasn't really a plot, which made a lot of the scenes and interactions feel unnecessary. Hoping there's more of a plot for the other two books in the series.

Also, yes, I'm Team Jeremiah because Conrad is moody, broody (in a bad way), and cannot maturely deal with his emotions.

My friend bullied me into buying this, and I have zero regrets.

I found the writing style a bit hard to get into, but once I was in, I was IN. 

Rook is a wonderful book boyfriend, and Isobel is just the best.

That’s all I got right now. Probably gonna update with a real review later. 

No but this was so fun👀

I loved getting back into this world and the characters. I was surprised by the series crossover right at the end. Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Idk what Ali put in this book, but it was ADDICTIVE. I want more. I need a follow up story. I need the bonus chapters and deleted scenes.

I’m in love with this book, and it 100% deserves the hype.

I really liked this fanfic. It combines all of my favorite things: The Wizarding World, Beauty and The Beast, and Dramione.

I will say that it is a little fast-paced in terms of the romance, but it wasn’t a problem for me.

This was an interesting read. It’s basically the school book that Clary reads to learn about the Shadowhunter life and history.

I loved the annotations by Clary, Jace, and Simon. I just wish there were more of them.