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brookeisbusyreading's reviews
340 reviews
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this book. I like the chapter lengths, sectioning, and writing style…most of the time. The things that don’t hit the mark for me are that the pacing just feels disruptive at times and the characters don’t feel 15 to me. The whole time I was reading I kept thinking Ari and Dante were like 10-12. This book also felt like something I’d read in middle school, MAYBE freshmen year of high school.
Then there’s the “romance”. I feel love from Dante to Ari but I couldn’t register Ari’s love for Dante. Of course I get the whole “you wouldn’t risk your life for someone who was just a friend” thing…yet being in Ari’s mind didn’t scream “I’m in love with Dante”. Maybe that’s just my interpretation of their relationship.
The repetition of sentences between the characters and rambling sentences of nothing got tiresome by the end. Again, maybe it’s just me.
This book was still interesting enough for me to finish it, but I wasn’t thrilled about it. It’s kind of disappointing because I’d heard nothing but positive responses to it. Oh well, I’m still glad I gave it a shot.
The repetition of sentences between the characters and rambling sentences of nothing got tiresome by the end. Again, maybe it’s just me.
This book was still interesting enough for me to finish it, but I wasn’t thrilled about it. It’s kind of disappointing because I’d heard nothing but positive responses to it. Oh well, I’m still glad I gave it a shot.
Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram
[*Side Note: I was a little surprised to come across quite a few typos. I normally don’t point it out or let it affect my reading experience with self-published books. But, this was published by Dial Books, which of course is a company and has a team behind it. There was a paragraph in particular that seemed at first like it had a few typos in it, but I think maybe it was supposed to reflect a character’s voice? Anyway, I get one or two typos, even in traditionally published books, but it struck me as odd that there were more.]
emotional
lighthearted
tense
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
4.0
I absolutely loved the extras! The news articles, interviews, e-mails - all of it really elevated the reading experience. And it was just fun! The balance of flaws between characters was well done too. Ashton and Owen were my favorite side characters!
One of the things I was most curious about when I started reading was the insider look at celebrity life. I’ve always been interested in how real life celebrities go through their lives. Seeing an example of that, even in fiction, was really neat. Also, Khorram has a clear tone and makes everything flow so smoothly. I breezed through the book, which gets an A+ in the “I’m so glad this book didn’t trip me up at all” category.
The diversity rep did feel a little all over the place at times. Within the context of the story, I didn’t dislike it or take off any stars though. It makes sense, is relevant to the struggles the characters face, and used in a way that doesn’t get lost or overshadowed in the book. And Aiden’s role in everything was an interesting choice! It was cool to be able to understand why he did what he did, his growth (or regression), and how Hunter changed as a result. The twin thing was another interesting element.
There’s a lot I could unpack in Kiss & Tell, but I’d need to re-read it to really do it justice. But after enjoying this book…I did pick up Darius the Great Is Not Okay!
The Long Run by James Acker
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I almost feel like I’m giving this book a low rating even though there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with it. 3.5 stars just feels right to me. I definitely enjoyed this book but I couldn’t quite get into it like I hoped I would. I can’t pinpoint why either.
One thing that was kind of a con for me was the amount of ‘dude’s, ‘bro’s, and ‘man’s. I understand and agree with why they were included, those words just didn’t sit well with me in the romantic context. That said, I absolutely picked up The Long Run for the tagline: A bro-meets-bro love story. And the cover is amazing! The nicknames Bash the Flash and the Italian Yeti were some highlights too.
Overall, I felt like the BROmance and overpowered the ROmance. This book does deal with insecurity, sexual identity questioning, and toxic/complicated family dynamics EXTREMELY well and I’m still glad I read it!
One thing that was kind of a con for me was the amount of ‘dude’s, ‘bro’s, and ‘man’s. I understand and agree with why they were included, those words just didn’t sit well with me in the romantic context. That said, I absolutely picked up The Long Run for the tagline: A bro-meets-bro love story. And the cover is amazing! The nicknames Bash the Flash and the Italian Yeti were some highlights too.
Overall, I felt like the BROmance and overpowered the ROmance. This book does deal with insecurity, sexual identity questioning, and toxic/complicated family dynamics EXTREMELY well and I’m still glad I read it!
I Am the Weapon by Allen Zadoff
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had this book on my shelf and ended up reading it for class. The writing style and chapter length were a refreshing change - Boy Nobody’s robotic, emotionless voice and the short 1-3 page chapters. I appreciate how the chapters’ length helped me get into Boy’s head. The timeline past-present shifts were well done too.
I do feel like there’s some things that were hindered from the writing style, such as the emotional connection readers develop with the MC (due to Boy’s training with the Program). The pacing felt wonky at times too, mostly because Boy deviated from protocol then tried to redirect himself. It was almost like I got whiplash from it at times.
Overall, it’s a really interesting story with a cool storyline, some unanswered questions, and a unique MC. Not sure if I’ll continue the series though…
I do feel like there’s some things that were hindered from the writing style, such as the emotional connection readers develop with the MC (due to Boy’s training with the Program). The pacing felt wonky at times too, mostly because Boy deviated from protocol then tried to redirect himself. It was almost like I got whiplash from it at times.
Overall, it’s a really interesting story with a cool storyline, some unanswered questions, and a unique MC. Not sure if I’ll continue the series though…
Just Like Magic by Ellie Roth
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
I normally don’t read books on the Kindle app because I prefer physical books, but the author is an acquaintance and it’s a queer romance. I absolutely love this book! The plot is so satisfying from a writer’s perspective. There’s a lot going on but it’s all tied in together instead of being a confusing mess. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Anwer, whose name I also love, and Chris is very cute! AND THE DRAMA!
I appreciated the magic politics being more in the background as well because I’m not a politics person. But when it did take the spotlight, it wasn’t confusing and it was actually interesting. The dad and stepmom’s relationship with Anwer and Shay was a nice little roller coaster. LET ME TELL YOU THAT I’M OBSESSED WITH THE BROTHER-SISTER RELATIONSHIP ALONE! I’m a sucker for protective big brother and innocent little sister relationships and this book had me in a chokehold. We need more relationships like Anwer and Shay’s!
I liked the idea of the ritual - and the confusion around it lol - along with the satisfying ending. Verbon was despicable and I enjoyed hating him. Magic tournaments was a nice touch too.
…So basically I just loved the book. I will be buying a physical copy AND reading the next book in the series soon!
I appreciated the magic politics being more in the background as well because I’m not a politics person. But when it did take the spotlight, it wasn’t confusing and it was actually interesting. The dad and stepmom’s relationship with Anwer and Shay was a nice little roller coaster. LET ME TELL YOU THAT I’M OBSESSED WITH THE BROTHER-SISTER RELATIONSHIP ALONE! I’m a sucker for protective big brother and innocent little sister relationships and this book had me in a chokehold. We need more relationships like Anwer and Shay’s!
I liked the idea of the ritual - and the confusion around it lol - along with the satisfying ending. Verbon was despicable and I enjoyed hating him. Magic tournaments was a nice touch too.
…So basically I just loved the book. I will be buying a physical copy AND reading the next book in the series soon!
Playing the Palace by Paul Rudnick
Lastly, here are similarities I picked up on with BM:
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I can see why this book is compared to RW&RB, but it actually feels more similar to Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (BM was published in 2020; PtP in 2021). The whole fake dating, royals/palace drama is probably the reason for the comparison to RW&RB.
First, some things I liked:
-The banter, playful insults, and comparisons were my kind of humor. I found myself laughing or smiling through most of the book.
-Edgar’s insecurities and Carter’s self-destructive tendencies really made me gravitate to the characters. I related a lot to Carter (similarly with Luc in BM).
-The locations where major events happened was interesting and felt very natural. Definitely appreciated that, especially the baking show scenes.
Things I disliked:
-There was SO MUCH happening in this book all the time that it kind of feels like I’ve got whiplash trying to remember everything.
-(Connected to the previous point) I think the book should’ve been longer. It’s like 270 pages and, like I said, A LOT happens.
-The imagery didn’t always come across clearly for me. Sometimes Carter’s thoughts and comparisons would make me lose what I was supposed to be visualizing. It didn’t happen often but I’m a visual person and I like being able to play stories out in my head like a movie.
-One MC was betrayed, is self-destructive, and immature.
-The other MC presents themself as perfect but is secretly insecure, desperate for acceptance/approval, and doesn’t see how toxic their family is.
-There’s a parental figure (Luc’s dad in BM, the Queen in PtP) who is one of the antagonists for the couple. The indirectly trigger negative thoughts in the flawed/self-destructive MC.
-At least one of the MCs has a snarky, bulldozer of a BFF who is or is like a sister and has a huge role in the story (which seems to be a common character to have?).
-Both MCs accept their flaws, each other’s, and agree to work on them moving forward.
Those similarities aren’t me saying I disliked PtP. I enjoyed it! The cover reminded me a bit of RW&RB’s, and the story was similar to BM in my opinion but it’s still its own story. If you enjoyed RW&RB and/or BM, you should definitely check out Playing the Palace!
This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I first came across this book, I knew I wanted to read it because it centers around a school shooting. I wanted to read a book not COMPLETELY real but one that was important or dealt with important things. After the year in the US with our record number of mass shootings, I decided to pick up This Is Where It Ends.
Man, I’m a mess of emotions - distraught, heartbroken, satisfied, SUPER sad, proud (of the author), and relief. It reminded me of why I don’t want many war movies…because the people behind them, like the author of this book, make you care about the characters but they don’t all make it to the end of the story. The level of horror, heroism, mature topics, and just general human complexity is stunning. It was also painful to read because of the real life shootings.
My biggest issue-that-isn’t-exactlly-an-issue with this book is the whiplash I occasionally got switching between the 4 POVs. The differences in each character helped me separate them but they cycled so frequently, it did kind of feel dizzying. Yet it also kind of worked with the pacing and tension. On the other hand, the pacing is a grey area for me on whether I like or agree with it. But that’s a minor thing I excluded from my rating criteria this once.
This Is Where It Ends is a ride wild enough to match the look in Tyler’s eyes and that’s all I’ll say.
Man, I’m a mess of emotions - distraught, heartbroken, satisfied, SUPER sad, proud (of the author), and relief. It reminded me of why I don’t want many war movies…because the people behind them, like the author of this book, make you care about the characters but they don’t all make it to the end of the story. The level of horror, heroism, mature topics, and just general human complexity is stunning. It was also painful to read because of the real life shootings.
My biggest issue-that-isn’t-exactlly-an-issue with this book is the whiplash I occasionally got switching between the 4 POVs. The differences in each character helped me separate them but they cycled so frequently, it did kind of feel dizzying. Yet it also kind of worked with the pacing and tension. On the other hand, the pacing is a grey area for me on whether I like or agree with it. But that’s a minor thing I excluded from my rating criteria this once.
This Is Where It Ends is a ride wild enough to match the look in Tyler’s eyes and that’s all I’ll say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Dementia, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I cannot express how much I am crushing on both Scottie and Irene! First, I love the depictions of the girls on the cover - WOW! Scottie’s name is awesome, she sounds super cool, and the snarkiness of both of them are so satisfying. Their rivals to lovers romance was smooth too.
There was A LOT that happened in this book. Quindlen definitely crafted a beautiful, quaint town with an interesting name and history. The social and economic differences between Grandma Earl and Candlehawk were interesting, as was the rivalry of sports teams. There’s just so much to unpack, which means a re-read may be in order down the road.
I loved this book! I don’t read many sapphic romances because my gay romance list is so long, but I’ll definitely have to make room for more books like this. Can’t wait to read more of Quindlen’s work!
There was A LOT that happened in this book. Quindlen definitely crafted a beautiful, quaint town with an interesting name and history. The social and economic differences between Grandma Earl and Candlehawk were interesting, as was the rivalry of sports teams. There’s just so much to unpack, which means a re-read may be in order down the road.
I loved this book! I don’t read many sapphic romances because my gay romance list is so long, but I’ll definitely have to make room for more books like this. Can’t wait to read more of Quindlen’s work!
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.5
Sci-fi stories aren’t usually my thing because they often have terminology or systems that get complicated. Luckily, this book didn’t have that. It did have a lot of politics, which is even less of my thing than sci-fi stuff. I’ve got massive respect for the author with the complex worlds and systems though. I enjoyed the mysteries, secrets, and the payoffs were good.
The miscommunication trope is strong with this one, but Kiem and Jainan’s personalities compliment each other well. There were times I got frustrated because they were clearly dancing around what each other meant because they actually couldn’t understand they were on the same page. It was adorable and endearing! Jainan was the cinnamon roll in this relationship with Kiem being the surprisingly confident one. I do like how the author balanced their personalities. That was probably my favorite element.
I’ll admit that the politics, government structures, and planet customs confused me many times. But that’s why I don’t read many sci-fi novels. The book’s blurb just sounded really good and I had hoped it would be less politics. There were also areas where I would’ve liked just a little more description. Since so many worlds and different customs or practices kept appearing, I felt like I lost a bit of the visual element somehow. That could be because I was trying hard to keep up with the government stuff, mystery plotline, and all the customs that were presented.
This was still a very good book! I’m at least going to check out the sequel, though I don’t know if I’ll continue it.
The miscommunication trope is strong with this one, but Kiem and Jainan’s personalities compliment each other well. There were times I got frustrated because they were clearly dancing around what each other meant because they actually couldn’t understand they were on the same page. It was adorable and endearing! Jainan was the cinnamon roll in this relationship with Kiem being the surprisingly confident one. I do like how the author balanced their personalities. That was probably my favorite element.
I’ll admit that the politics, government structures, and planet customs confused me many times. But that’s why I don’t read many sci-fi novels. The book’s blurb just sounded really good and I had hoped it would be less politics. There were also areas where I would’ve liked just a little more description. Since so many worlds and different customs or practices kept appearing, I felt like I lost a bit of the visual element somehow. That could be because I was trying hard to keep up with the government stuff, mystery plotline, and all the customs that were presented.
This was still a very good book! I’m at least going to check out the sequel, though I don’t know if I’ll continue it.