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happyreadings's reviews
87 reviews
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25
I definitely enjoyed this book more than Normal People. The real life mixed with the interspersed emails between Eileen and Alice was really interesting. Those sections always were super philosophical and political and were a little difficult to understand at times but besides that I really like how it broke up the novel. As usual, Rooney's writing style has zero quotation marks but you get used to it for the most part. I also appreciated the ending where the covid pandemic got incorporated at the ending.
The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a short easy read albeit a little frustrating at times. The main character was very stubborn and that led to miscommunications in the family that could have easily been resolved if everyone would have just talked to one another.
A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
This was a really interesting read. At first it follows Travis Wren who is on the hunt for Maggie St. James, an author who suddenly disappeared 5 years ago. However, Travis possesses certain abilities, he's able to see past memories when touching other peoples things. When Travis gets a clue that Maggie might be in a town called Pastoral, he goes searching for her.
Then the story dramatically changes viewpoints to 3 people, Calla, Theo, and Bee. Calla and Theo have been married for awhile and Bee is Calla's younger blind sister. Together they live in Pastoral, living in fear of the "pox" from the trees. This disease is the reason that they can't leave their compound. If they leave, they might contract the pox and then they will die. According to their leader, Levi.
When Theo starts leaving the compound at night and realizing that he has't caught the pox, something starts stirring in him, especially once he finds an abandoned car down the road that belonged to Travis Wren who was looking for Maggie, St. James. Eventually, Calla finds clues in her garden, a necklace charm and a book, and together they piece together that they are Travis and Maggie. Now they have to figure out what happened to them. Bee's love for Levi, leads her to discover that he has been practicing mind control and hypnosis on everyone in the compound so they would be afraid of the outside world.
The plot twist in this book I think made up for the fact that there were some plot holes. For instance, what was happening to Maggie st. James before Travis made it to Pastoral? And when Travis came to Pastoral and met the guard at the gate, how did that interaction go. I would have liked to see that at the end of the book. Overall, I felt the plot twist made the rest of the book worth it but I would have liked to see more behind the scenes type of scenes as well. It was disturbing finding out that some people were also kidnapped and were missing for so long.
Then the story dramatically changes viewpoints to 3 people, Calla, Theo, and Bee. Calla and Theo have been married for awhile and Bee is Calla's younger blind sister. Together they live in Pastoral, living in fear of the "pox" from the trees. This disease is the reason that they can't leave their compound. If they leave, they might contract the pox and then they will die. According to their leader, Levi.
The plot twist in this book I think made up for the fact that there were some plot holes. For instance, what was happening to Maggie st. James before Travis made it to Pastoral? And when Travis came to Pastoral and met the guard at the gate, how did that interaction go. I would have liked to see that at the end of the book. Overall, I felt the plot twist made the rest of the book worth it but I would have liked to see more behind the scenes type of scenes as well. It was disturbing finding out that some people were also kidnapped and were missing for so long.
The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.5
I really enjoyed this book as it followed Hannah as she learns about the passing of her estranged fathers death while also reconnecting with family she didn't know she had. When she hears of her fathers passing, she doesn't plan on going to the funeral, but upon her mothers insistence, she decides to go. As the product of her father's affair, she wasn't expecting to make friends. But by the time the funeral ends and we week long stay is over, she has found a family and a love interest that she wasn't expecting.
I felt this book moved really fast with the love interest, but I do wish this book was longer to delve more into the relationships with her siblings. I thought the siblings reactions to her were a little dramatic and over reactive but I've also never been in that situation so I'm not sure if I would have acted the same way. I did think the relationships with the family was nice but it seemed that the love interest in the book was the main topic, which I'm fine with.
Overall, it was a good book, a quick and easy read but filled with emotions of family and loss.
I felt this book moved really fast with the love interest, but I do wish this book was longer to delve more into the relationships with her siblings. I thought the siblings reactions to her were a little dramatic and over reactive but I've also never been in that situation so I'm not sure if I would have acted the same way. I did think the relationships with the family was nice but it seemed that the love interest in the book was the main topic, which I'm fine with.
Overall, it was a good book, a quick and easy read but filled with emotions of family and loss.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
This was the ending to the Practical Magic series we all wanted, with the curse broken, but it left us with an ending that no one saw coming.
I loved this book (and I know I said that about all the Practical Magic series books but this one was immersive. I felt like part of the story and I was rooting for all the characters just like I was with them.
There was so much magic in this book and I loved that. This series is worth reading over and over again.
I loved this book (and I know I said that about all the Practical Magic series books but this one was immersive. I felt like part of the story and I was rooting for all the characters just like I was with them.
There was so much magic in this book and I loved that. This series is worth reading over and over again.
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.0
I find it funny to say that Practical Magic was my least favorite out of the whole Practical Magic series. And I'm not saying I didn't like this book, I love this whole series, I just felt that it had less magic than the other 2. I am rereading this series because The Book of Magic just got released and I wanted get back into the setting of the Owen's family. One thing I haven't done yet was watch the movie, so I think I will do that next.
Overall, I love the continuation of the Owen's family and their story of magic.
Overall, I love the continuation of the Owen's family and their story of magic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
This book should be required reading for anyone who has lost anyone in their lives, ie; a family member, a pet, a friend.
This book follows Wallace, an unkind, unforgiving man, who dies unexpectedly. Before he crosses over, he has to meet with the Ferryman who will help him with the process. So, when Mei, the Reaper, collects Wallace and brings him to meet Hugo, the ferryman, he was not expecting his life to change. As it says on the cover of the book, "Death is only their beginning."
This book talks about forgiveness and how to be a better person and care about the people that are around you and be aware of that. It had me balling my eyes out at the end of the book because of these messages and beautifully written this book was. I especially appreciated how Klune left the "crossing over" to our own depiction. Since so many religions and beliefs are different, I feel this book could resonate with any religion or belief system because it is so open-ended.
Overall, this was definitely a 5-star read, there was a love story, there was a redemption, there were friendships and there was conflict (with the Manager)
This book follows Wallace, an unkind, unforgiving man, who dies unexpectedly. Before he crosses over, he has to meet with the Ferryman who will help him with the process. So, when Mei, the Reaper, collects Wallace and brings him to meet Hugo, the ferryman, he was not expecting his life to change. As it says on the cover of the book, "Death is only their beginning."
This book talks about forgiveness and how to be a better person and care about the people that are around you and be aware of that. It had me balling my eyes out at the end of the book because of these messages and beautifully written this book was. I especially appreciated how Klune left the "crossing over" to our own depiction. Since so many religions and beliefs are different, I feel this book could resonate with any religion or belief system because it is so open-ended.
Overall, this was definitely a 5-star read, there was a love story, there was a redemption, there were friendships and there was conflict (with the Manager)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I'm re-reading the Practical Magic series to get myself prepared for the newest book. After reading The Rules of Magic again, I can definitely say this is probably my favorite book from the series (although that might change once I read The Book of Magic). I loved watching Jet, Franny, and Vincent grow up and everything they had to go through to find their love. This book will break your heart, put it back together again, and then break it again but it will be okay in the end. Love more, not less.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and War
Wahala by Nikki May
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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 can't wait till this book gets published in Jan 2022 because I can't wait for everyone to read it. This is a classic drama between friends and I've heard people comparing it to Sex & The City. All I know is that I soaked up all the drama. I was fully invested in these 3 women and the 4th woman who started all the drama. When everything unfolded it was shocking. I would have whole-heartedly given this book a 5-star rating but I felt the ending was rushed and while I felt the whole book was pretty fast moving, everything happened within the last 20 pages of the book. So I just wish the author dragged out the ending a little bit or given us more of an epilogue. This book is worth it though, the craziness in the end is something that I can't get out of my head.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion and Murder