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elle_laine's reviews
113 reviews
The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Kelsey, hardworking and upbeat, finds herself in a hospital room after a freak accident. Sharing a room with her is successful businesswoman Georgina Tate who is hardworking like Kelsey, but in no mood to get to know Kelsey. All odds point to Georgina never seeing Kelsey again, but suddenly, Georgina finds herself embarking on a road trip with Kelsey that will change their lives forever during their summer of yes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Courtney Walsh and Thomas Nelson Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I greatly enjoyed this sweet and charming book, set in both the big city of New York and a small town in North Carolina. The characters are lovable and interesting, including the prickly Georgina Tate. I also love that there is a touch of romance, but it does not consume the story. The description promises a journey of taking a step back from the busyness of life and examining what really matters. And boy does it deliver!
This is a wonderful and captivating summer read that I highly recommend. Courtney Walsh delivers a heartfelt journey of two women, each struggling in life in different ways, who need a change of pace.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Courtney Walsh and Thomas Nelson Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I greatly enjoyed this sweet and charming book, set in both the big city of New York and a small town in North Carolina. The characters are lovable and interesting, including the prickly Georgina Tate. I also love that there is a touch of romance, but it does not consume the story. The description promises a journey of taking a step back from the busyness of life and examining what really matters. And boy does it deliver!
This is a wonderful and captivating summer read that I highly recommend. Courtney Walsh delivers a heartfelt journey of two women, each struggling in life in different ways, who need a change of pace.
Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-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
Living in Minneapolis is not easy or pleasant for Ezra Cloud. He has some friends, but there are other kids at his school who hate him and make his life miserable. Being Ojibwe makes Ezra a target for certain kids, such as Matt Schroeder. After a tragedy occurs in the neighborhood, Ezra moves to remote Canada to learn from his grandfather where he learns many valuable lessons and truly matures and grows up.
I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story about a boy, his father, and his grandfather. I have not read many stories like this one, and I enjoyed myself greatly as the story progressed. I love how it is truly about love and family, but with some mystery and tragedy sprinkled in.
I received a gifted audiobook ARC copy of this book via NetGalley from Anton Treuer and RBmedia in exchange for a complete and honest review.
The audio version of this book only made it more enjoyable. The narrator, who just so happens to be the author himself, really added an extra element to this story. I think it is amazing when an author narrates their own story. The only critique I have for the narration is that it was read really slowly, so I did end up speeding up the narration a little.
I highly recommend this book as it has important themes of love, grief, and maturity. It is a well researched, well thought-out, and insightful book on growing up in a society that is not always kind to people who are different.
I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story about a boy, his father, and his grandfather. I have not read many stories like this one, and I enjoyed myself greatly as the story progressed. I love how it is truly about love and family, but with some mystery and tragedy sprinkled in.
I received a gifted audiobook ARC copy of this book via NetGalley from Anton Treuer and RBmedia in exchange for a complete and honest review.
The audio version of this book only made it more enjoyable. The narrator, who just so happens to be the author himself, really added an extra element to this story. I think it is amazing when an author narrates their own story. The only critique I have for the narration is that it was read really slowly, so I did end up speeding up the narration a little.
I highly recommend this book as it has important themes of love, grief, and maturity. It is a well researched, well thought-out, and insightful book on growing up in a society that is not always kind to people who are different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death of parent
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
The Last Hunt by Audrey J. Cole
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Cameron Prescott has a bad record of choosing the wrong men. One of those men happens to be a dead serial killer. But when new killings occur in their remote town of Tok, Alaska, questions arise concerning Cameron’s late husband and the new man in her life. Will the dead stay dead or will too many old secrets rise up, risking the lives of everyone?
This was such a spooky and chilling read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved how the author took me through a journey between hope and certain doom. I was kept on the edge of my seat, which left me wanting more each time I had to put down the book. I read through this book quite quickly. The only critique I have for the book is the last few chapters. The ending was happy and conclusive, but I was just slightly disappointed in the chapters that wrapped up the drama and thrill of the book regarding the killings. Having said that, I still think this is a 5 star read.
I received an audiobook ARC from Spotify Audiobooks and Audrey J. Cole. All thoughts and opinions here are mine and mine alone.
The audiobook version of this book only made it more enjoyable. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing angst to the story and personifying the characters in a way that enhances the story. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this book. It is perfect for this summer. You will not regret picking up and listening to The Last Hunt!
This was such a spooky and chilling read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved how the author took me through a journey between hope and certain doom. I was kept on the edge of my seat, which left me wanting more each time I had to put down the book. I read through this book quite quickly. The only critique I have for the book is the last few chapters. The ending was happy and conclusive, but I was just slightly disappointed in the chapters that wrapped up the drama and thrill of the book regarding the killings. Having said that, I still think this is a 5 star read.
I received an audiobook ARC from Spotify Audiobooks and Audrey J. Cole. All thoughts and opinions here are mine and mine alone.
The audiobook version of this book only made it more enjoyable. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing angst to the story and personifying the characters in a way that enhances the story. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this book. It is perfect for this summer. You will not regret picking up and listening to The Last Hunt!
East by Edith Pattou
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was such a delightful read! The only thing I regret is not reading it sooner. I loved all the vibes that reminded me of other fairy tales (such as Beauty and the Beast). Everything about this is enchanting and captivating. I will definitely be reading the sequel!
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this book a while ago, but needed some time with it before writing a review. This was definitely unlike any book I’ve ever read. There was a bank robbery and a holdup. The police are panicking. What is going on inside the house where the hostages are being held? Is everyone going to be ok?
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Passengers board a typical short flight that suddenly experiences some delays. No one is happy about the delays and tensions are high when suddenly a woman rises from her seats and predicts everyone’s age of death and cause of death. When the flight finally takes off and lands at their destination, no one is the same as they were before the flight. And the lady predicting the deaths? Who is she?
Thank you, Crown Publishing and Liane Moriarty, for gifting me an ebook copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts here are mine.
I was really unsure about what this book was going to be about, but I can tell you that I greatly enjoyed reading this book. On The StoryGraph and Goodreads, the genre is listed as thriller, but I consider this book contemporary fiction. There is an air of mystery, but thriller is the wrong term.
An aspect of this book that I really liked was the multiple point-of-views. There were several characters that were followed and I was fully invested in each of their lives. I definitely recommend this to everyone as I can see it becoming a must-read. The themes and heavy topics discussed in this book, such as grief, life, and death, are part of reality and important for people to read and give thought to.
Thank you, Crown Publishing and Liane Moriarty, for gifting me an ebook copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts here are mine.
I was really unsure about what this book was going to be about, but I can tell you that I greatly enjoyed reading this book. On The StoryGraph and Goodreads, the genre is listed as thriller, but I consider this book contemporary fiction. There is an air of mystery, but thriller is the wrong term.
An aspect of this book that I really liked was the multiple point-of-views. There were several characters that were followed and I was fully invested in each of their lives. I definitely recommend this to everyone as I can see it becoming a must-read. The themes and heavy topics discussed in this book, such as grief, life, and death, are part of reality and important for people to read and give thought to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infertility and Terminal illness
Minor: Infidelity, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Cole and Laila Are Just Friends by Bethany Turner
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
Since birth, Cole and Laila have been best friends. They live in the small town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado, and up until the passing of Cole's grandfather, everything was going well and both saw a future in Adelaide Springs. But upon the reading of his grandfather's will, everything changes for Cole. Facing changes, suddenly there is the possibility that Cole and Laila could be more than friends.
I listened to the audiobook version of this delightful book, gifted by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio via Netgalley. Thank you! All opinions and thoughts are mine and mine alone.
The audiobook really added to the overall enjoyment of this book because the chapters alternated between Cole's perspective and Laila's perspective. Both characters had a different voice actor to give life to the story.
Cole and Laila and their best friends were likable characters and I was invested in the story the whole time. This was my first real taste of the best friends-to-lovers trope, and I enjoyed it immensely. The only critique I have with this book is that Cole and Laila's definite more-than-friends feelings they have for each other were discussed almost immediately in the book. I would have liked more of a build-up.
I listened to the audiobook version of this delightful book, gifted by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio via Netgalley. Thank you! All opinions and thoughts are mine and mine alone.
The audiobook really added to the overall enjoyment of this book because the chapters alternated between Cole's perspective and Laila's perspective. Both characters had a different voice actor to give life to the story.
Cole and Laila and their best friends were likable characters and I was invested in the story the whole time. This was my first real taste of the best friends-to-lovers trope, and I enjoyed it immensely. The only critique I have with this book is that Cole and Laila's definite more-than-friends feelings they have for each other were discussed almost immediately in the book. I would have liked more of a build-up.
Powerful by Lauren Roberts
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This novella follows Adena, best friend to Paedyn in Lauren Roberts’ Powerless. Adena struggles without Paedyn to protect her in the slums. But then she meets a handsome stranger who strikes up a deal with her. With some visits to Paedyn in the kingdom to sew her dresses, Adena finally feels like her life is full of color. But then tragedy strikes.
I absolutely adored this novella!! I read it so quickly. Although the ending definitely threw me for a loop, I am hopeful. I can’t wait for Reckless to come out!
I absolutely adored this novella!! I read it so quickly. Although the ending definitely threw me for a loop, I am hopeful. I can’t wait for Reckless to come out!
Anna Bright Is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This story follows two young women’s point-of-views in a world of cutthroat business dealings and intrigue. Anna Bright is the founder and CEO of a potentially very successful and revolutionary product that will change how people live their lives. What everyone doesn’t know is that not everything she does is above-board. Jamie Roman is an aspiring journalist with great potential. After coming in contact with Anna several times, Jamie can’t help but dig into Anna’s past and shady future plans for her business.
This was a fascinating read. I enjoyed learning through this story about corporate misconduct and the lengths people will go to for what they want. Having said that, at times I was a little confused with the corporate and business lingo. The ending also surprised me. I was looking for more of a clincher, but I think the ending was perfect for the story. Even though I am not very knowledgeable on business dealings, this story felt realistic and true to what women struggle with in the business world of men today.
I struggled a bit with the audiobook version of this book. Because of all the business terms, it was a bit more difficult for me to keep up over audio than normal. I also found myself speeding the audio up because the pacing was a bit slow for me. However, the narrators’ voices were engaging for the characters and I liked that there were two different narrators for each of the perspectives.
I definitely recommend this for those looking for more intrigue rather than thrills. There are no major plot twists, but the lies and misconduct are fascinating. If you liked Yellowface by R. F. Kuang, this should be your next read.
I received a copy of this book in an audiobook format from Dreamscape Media in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions here are mine and mine alone.
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
•Adam and Amelia Wright are on a much-needed vacation to a chapel in Scotland that Amelia won from work. This is their chance to save their marriage. But nothing is as it seems, and the chapel they’re staying at? Creepy.
•This one didn’t do it for me. I had had this book on my TBR for probably close to a year, so I was excited to finally get my hands on it. I listened to the audiobook and found myself putting this on as background noise more than for the story. I was hopeful that the ending would shock me, but it was a bit of a let-down. I did like the creepy chapel vibes though, so I can give this one 3⭐️s.