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happyreadings's reviews
87 reviews
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
slow-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? No
3.0
I don't normally read Fantasy books so if I do I like a more real-life fantasy book. I think this boo a nice mix of that. There was some light magic in it and I think it's a great book if your just starting off in the Fantasy genre.
This story follows Jack who is summoned back to his home isle of Cadence by his childhood enemy, Adaira. At first he was reluctant to stay because he was attending school to be a bard. Once he learned that young girls were getting stolen he knew he had to stay. However the story gets even more gruesome once Jack and Adaira team up to figure it out.
The ending is a bit rushed but only because there is a second book coming, so I can't complain. I really liked the world and character building in this book. I probably will read the second one once it comes out.
This story follows Jack who is summoned back to his home isle of Cadence by his childhood enemy, Adaira. At first he was reluctant to stay because he was attending school to be a bard. Once he learned that young girls were getting stolen he knew he had to stay. However the story gets even more gruesome once Jack and Adaira team up to figure it out.
The ending is a bit rushed but only because there is a second book coming, so I can't complain. I really liked the world and character building in this book. I probably will read the second one once it comes out.
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
5.0
Shea Collins runs a true-crime blog: The Book of Cold Cases. When she gets to interview Beth Greer, the main suspect of the Lady Killer Murders, she realizes there is more to the story than what was let on. This, again, was a perfect combination of real-life thriller and paranormal activity.
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
This was my first Simone St. James book and I completely understand the hype behind her writing. There's the modern day mystery mixed with ghosts and I thought that was so unique.
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved the emotions and the beauty of the animals. There was such a desperation in Franny in tracking the Arctic Terns. When you learn why you understand just how heartbreaking her story is. Such a powerful book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Miscarriage, Grief, and Car accident
Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
When sisters, Sadie and Marin agree to go on a weekend trip to a tropical island, what could go wrong? Well, Sadie misses the flight, Marin's luggage gets lost, and she ends up entangled with Lucas, the owner of the resort they are staying at. However, the longer Marin stays and explores, the more she comes out of her shell. After their journalist mother died while on assignment, Marin has stayed in Tennessee; not wanting to travel or do anything spontaneous. Sadie has always been the more adventurous one.
When secrets come to light, Marin finds out that Lucas and Sadie set the whole trip up. Before Marin can get upset though, Sadie admits that she has cancer.
This was a really cute story and then it got real when finding out about Sadie's illness. However, it was really cute watching Marin and Lucas fall for each other as the story went along. Even after Sadie passed, Marin continued exploring and trying new things and Lucas tracked her down to be with her again. It was a really sweet story.
When secrets come to light, Marin finds out that Lucas and Sadie set the whole trip up. Before Marin can get upset though, Sadie admits that she has cancer.
This was a really cute story and then it got real when finding out about Sadie's illness. However, it was really cute watching Marin and Lucas fall for each other as the story went along. Even after Sadie passed, Marin continued exploring and trying new things and Lucas tracked her down to be with her again. It was a really sweet story.
The Golden Couple by Sarah Pekkanen, Greer Hendricks
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
This was such a great thriller! When the Bishops go see Avery Chambers for marriage counseling I had no idea where it would go from there. Avery had personal stuff going on in her life and that made me suspect something would happen there and Marissa seems to have a stalker (who was her ex-lover) in the mix. However, I was not expecting the plot twist at the end. It was cynical and crazy and horrible! But that's what made it such a good thriller. I truly had no idea how it would end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
I liked this book but I didn't find it anything special. It was the story of 2 girls, 1 black and 1 white, and their "accidental" murders of men who deserved it. I can see why it got compared to "Where the Crawdads Sing" since it was set in the same time period and they girls were living in a swampy area but besides that they were pretty different.
Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
I really liked the author's style of poetry. It was broken up but still held a story and carried images along.
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
3.5
So this book took me a lot longer to read than I was planning on. I started it back in December, but with holidays going on I stopped reading it and picked it back up in February. So the beginning part of the book I don't remember a whole lot but I felt like it wasn't really necessary for the storyline.
The main character I felt was redundant with her comic books and blandness but I think she grew on me a little bit by the end of the book. She came out of her shell. The plot twist with Leonora being the niece of The Hawks leader I saw coming (that they were related, not necessarily uncle/niece relationship). But I found it strange that he wanted to murder her and we never got an actual explanation of why and then she just shows up at the end. I think because the ending felt rushed, some details got left out.
I did love how it brought Maite and Elvis together though. His curiousity about her throughout the whole novel felt real and I hated how Maite wanted to be with Ruben because I knew he would break off their relationship once Leonora came back. I felt Maite needed to be with someone better.
I think I really just wanted this book to be about Maite and Elvis coming together but that only happened at the end so I was little disappointed.
The main character I felt was redundant with her comic books and blandness but I think she grew on me a little bit by the end of the book. She came out of her shell. The plot twist with Leonora being the niece of The Hawks leader I saw coming (that they were related, not necessarily uncle/niece relationship). But I found it strange that he wanted to murder her and we never got an actual explanation of why and then she just shows up at the end. I think because the ending felt rushed, some details got left out.
I did love how it brought Maite and Elvis together though. His curiousity about her throughout the whole novel felt real and I hated how Maite wanted to be with Ruben because I knew he would break off their relationship once Leonora came back. I felt Maite needed to be with someone better.
I think I really just wanted this book to be about Maite and Elvis coming together but that only happened at the end so I was little disappointed.