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bringmybooks's reviews
1153 reviews
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
✨Bring✨ | Borrow | Bypass
Thank you to Edelweiss, Atria Books, & Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: Rebecca Serle's books seem to be finding a particularly formulaic groove, but I don't know that I mind it too much - it's predictable in it's way, but it works so well for her that it's not a problem. As in her previous books, I genuinely loved these characters and enjoyed watching the back and forth between them (as well as really enjoying the now and then of the storytelling, and getting to see each of her relationships since the letters started arriving).
There were a couple of quibbles I had with some parts at the end, and that's where it kind of lost me on the enjoyment, plot, and pacing factors - but overall it is definitely recommended (and with a "Bring" rather than "Borrow" because her covers are just too good!)
Thank you to Edelweiss, Atria Books, & Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: Rebecca Serle's books seem to be finding a particularly formulaic groove, but I don't know that I mind it too much - it's predictable in it's way, but it works so well for her that it's not a problem. As in her previous books, I genuinely loved these characters and enjoyed watching the back and forth between them (as well as really enjoying the now and then of the storytelling, and getting to see each of her relationships since the letters started arriving).
There were a couple of quibbles I had with some parts at the end, and that's where it kind of lost me on the enjoyment, plot, and pacing factors - but overall it is definitely recommended (and with a "Bring" rather than "Borrow" because her covers are just too good!)
Overall Rating: ★★★★ / 3.88
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★
Pacing ★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
The Women by Kristin Hannah
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.75
✨Bring✨ | Borrow | Bypass
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: One of my favorite authors, Kristin Hannah continues to prove that she has an unbelievable way with words. It's unbelievable how quickly she sucks you into a novel and makes you care so much about all of the characters. There are parts of her books (especially her more recent ones) that are a bit melodramatic and require a bit of suspended disbelief, but to be honest I don't know that it bothers me so much.
While there is a bit of heightened drama on the interpersonal side, the research and care that Hannah provides to the historical aspects of her novels is top tier and so welcomed. I feel like I learned a ton about the Vietnam War that I was not aware of before (mostly the women's experience of it), and I was very grateful for this book so that I could do more of my own research.
I did really enjoy the characters in this novel, even when they're making the most piss poor decisions - but my favorite part of the novels, and pretty much all of Hannah's novels, is the way she writes relationships between women. I do think this book is her penultimate example of that, and the relationships between the Frankie and her two best friends will stick with me for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: One of my favorite authors, Kristin Hannah continues to prove that she has an unbelievable way with words. It's unbelievable how quickly she sucks you into a novel and makes you care so much about all of the characters. There are parts of her books (especially her more recent ones) that are a bit melodramatic and require a bit of suspended disbelief, but to be honest I don't know that it bothers me so much.
While there is a bit of heightened drama on the interpersonal side, the research and care that Hannah provides to the historical aspects of her novels is top tier and so welcomed. I feel like I learned a ton about the Vietnam War that I was not aware of before (mostly the women's experience of it), and I was very grateful for this book so that I could do more of my own research.
I did really enjoy the characters in this novel, even when they're making the most piss poor decisions - but my favorite part of the novels, and pretty much all of Hannah's novels, is the way she writes relationships between women. I do think this book is her penultimate example of that, and the relationships between the Frankie and her two best friends will stick with me for a long time.
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ / 4.63
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★
Pacing ★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
Bring | ✨Borrow✨ | Bypass
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Notes: My first Rachel Hawkins book, but I know it won't be my last! The pacing could have been a bit tighter at points (lost my interest and had to get it back with a couple of well placed twists!). Speaking of twists, there were a couple in here that I was 100% expecting, but at least one of the larger ones that hit me upside the head so hard when I got there! Made the end of the story so hard to put down! Excited to try The Villa and Reckless Girls soon, I've heard such good things about those.
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Notes: My first Rachel Hawkins book, but I know it won't be my last! The pacing could have been a bit tighter at points (lost my interest and had to get it back with a couple of well placed twists!). Speaking of twists, there were a couple in here that I was 100% expecting, but at least one of the larger ones that hit me upside the head so hard when I got there! Made the end of the story so hard to put down! Excited to try The Villa and Reckless Girls soon, I've heard such good things about those.
Overall Rating: ★★★ / 3.38
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★
Enjoyment ★★★
Pacing ★★
Dialogue ★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism
Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson
Bring | ✨Borrow✨ | Bypass
Notes: The 6th in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), this was my third favorite and quite enjoyable! Follows very reliable tropes regarding royalty pretending to be one of us, but was nonetheless a quick and fun read!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.25
Notes: The 6th in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), this was my third favorite and quite enjoyable! Follows very reliable tropes regarding royalty pretending to be one of us, but was nonetheless a quick and fun read!
Overall Rating: ★★★ / 3.38
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★
Intrigue ★★★
Logic ★★
Enjoyment ★★★★
Pacing ★★★★
Dialogue ★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
With Any Luck by Ashley Poston
Bring | Borrow | ✨Bypass✨
Notes: The 5th in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), and probably my least favorite, which makes me SO SAD because I love Ashley Poston! (Do not let this novella turn you away from her novels!) I think we just tried to put way too much into way too short of a novella, and it's always hard to do anything any kind of love-triangley in such a short span of pages.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Notes: The 5th in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), and probably my least favorite, which makes me SO SAD because I love Ashley Poston! (Do not let this novella turn you away from her novels!) I think we just tried to put way too much into way too short of a novella, and it's always hard to do anything any kind of love-triangley in such a short span of pages.
Overall Rating: ★★ / 2.38
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★
Intrigue ★★
Logic ★★
Enjoyment ★
Pacing ★★
Dialogue ★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Drop, Cover, and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory
Bring | ✨Borrow✨ | Bypass
Notes: The 4th in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), I liked this one well enough. I think some stories are well suited to novellas, but this one felt like it had so much potential to be a longer novel and have the relationships and characters explored more fully.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Notes: The 4th in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), I liked this one well enough. I think some stories are well suited to novellas, but this one felt like it had so much potential to be a longer novel and have the relationships and characters explored more fully.
Overall Rating: ★★★ / 3.00
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★
Intrigue ★★★
Logic ★★
Enjoyment ★★
Pacing ★★★
Dialogue ★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Rosie and the Dreamboat by Sally Thorne
Bring | Borrow | ✨Bypass✨
Notes: The 3rd in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), this one wasn't a favorite among the bunch. The entirety of it takes place basically in one room (the FMC gets herself stuck somewhere and the MMC is on the other side keeping her calm). Didn't have enough plot or character development (while acknowledging that this is a novella, it's still possible to do more!).
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Notes: The 3rd in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), this one wasn't a favorite among the bunch. The entirety of it takes place basically in one room (the FMC gets herself stuck somewhere and the MMC is on the other side keeping her calm). Didn't have enough plot or character development (while acknowledging that this is a novella, it's still possible to do more!).
Overall Rating: ★★★ / 2.75
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★
Intrigue ★★★
Logic ★★
Enjoyment ★★
Pacing ★★★
Dialogue ★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking
Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-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
5.0
✨Bring✨ | Borrow | Bypass
Notes: The 2nd in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), and I just adored it. Both MCs were so cute and felt so real, and I just loved this story. I wanted so much more of it!!
Notes: The 2nd in the "The Improbable Meet-Cute" novella series (6 stand-alone novellas released around Valentine's Day 2024), and I just adored it. Both MCs were so cute and felt so real, and I just loved this story. I wanted so much more of it!!
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ / 4.88
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★★
Pacing ★★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Murder
The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
✨Bring✨ | Borrow | Bypass
Notes: Freaking ADORABLE - such a quick and fun read! It can be hard for a novella to have full character development and a complete plot, but this one was so cute! Would love a full novel of this someday, it's that good!
Notes: Freaking ADORABLE - such a quick and fun read! It can be hard for a novella to have full character development and a complete plot, but this one was so cute! Would love a full novel of this someday, it's that good!
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ / 4.88
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★★
Pacing ★★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander
Bring | ✨Borrow✨ | Bypass
Notes: When I first pulled this one up (writing a review in May for a book I read in February, WHY), I legitimately could not have told you a single thing about this book - but then I read the synopsis and it all came back to me, so I would say that's a good thing. The end felt a little anti-climactic, but that could also be because I was reading to finish from about 75% on - the pacing and the dialogue is really where this one lost me. The characters did not feel like people that knew one another in any real ways, and the twists felt more like GOTCHAS than they did twists that had been alluded to and were just waiting for you to flip the page. I'm not sure exactly how to explain it, it just didn't hit the way I wanted it to. (But THAT TITLE AND THAT COVER, SO PRETTY)
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, & St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Notes: When I first pulled this one up (writing a review in May for a book I read in February, WHY), I legitimately could not have told you a single thing about this book - but then I read the synopsis and it all came back to me, so I would say that's a good thing. The end felt a little anti-climactic, but that could also be because I was reading to finish from about 75% on - the pacing and the dialogue is really where this one lost me. The characters did not feel like people that knew one another in any real ways, and the twists felt more like GOTCHAS than they did twists that had been alluded to and were just waiting for you to flip the page. I'm not sure exactly how to explain it, it just didn't hit the way I wanted it to. (But THAT TITLE AND THAT COVER, SO PRETTY)
Overall Rating: ★★★ / 2.75
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★
Intrigue ★★★
Logic ★★★
Enjoyment ★★
Pacing ★★
Dialogue ★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol