irxren's reviews
93 reviews

I found it challenging to separate the emotional impact of the first half of the book from my overall impression of the book's effectiveness as a whole. Stories of the Holocaust are invariably gripping, and Frankl's account of his experiences is both inspiring and profound, maintaining the gravity you'd expect from such a narrative.

The second half of the book shifts into a psychological examination of Frankl's theory of logotherapy, becoming more like a textbook with specific terms and theories. This transition made it difficult to stay engaged, especially as the writing became repetitive and the topics seemed to jump around. However, I still appreciate the book. It offers powerful reminders about the ultimate goal of love and the importance of one's attitude towards life's challenges and opportunities.

This relatively short book delves into the various types of loneliness people experience, shaped by their roles and life circumstances such as heartbreak, death, being an outcast, family dynamics, and single parenthood. The author effectively highlights that personal stories need to be heard, and in sharing these stories, people find acknowledgment and comfort. The theme that everyone encounters loneliness in their unique way resonated deeply with me.

The book opens with a deeply personal introduction about the author’s grandfather following the death of his wife. This powerful story of his grandfather's deterioration and subsequent loneliness sets the tone for the rest of the book. It was an excellent and moving prelude that framed the narrative beautifully.

While I wished the author had included more chapters or interviews to expand on the theme, I still found the book enjoyable and insightful.

The Bell Jar initially captivated me with its honest portrayal of a woman feeling lost in various aspects of life. Plath's depiction of the protagonist's struggles as a woman in a big city and as a new graduate entering the workforce was refreshing and relatable. However, the second half of the book, particularly after Esther's hospitalization, felt stagnant to me. The plot seemed to stall, and I was left wondering about the direction of the story, especially since I didn't realize it was an autobiography initially. The writing style, typical of classics from that era, posed a challenge initially, but I eventually adapted.

Despite my mixed feelings, it still offers valuable insights into the treatment of mental illness and the concept of feminism in the 1950s and 1960s.

This historical fiction novel features two engaging timelines that intertwine beautifully. The story begins in London, 2017, where Lucille is sent by her grandmother to Paris to find a specific Dior gown. In Paris, she stumbles upon something in a small apartment that leads her on a frantic search across the city for answers. The second timeline is set in Paris, 1952, a glamorous post-war era. Alice Ainsley, the wife of the British ambassador to France, enjoys luxury gifts like Dior gowns and jewels but feels increasingly isolated as her husband drifts away. Lonely and with only her maid for company, Alice finds herself drawn to someone who makes her question everything she knows about love and consequence.

I was excited to read this novel because it combines historical fiction, Paris, and the intriguing 1950s setting. Although it started a bit slowly for me, once Alice’s story picked up, I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. The mix of mystery, history, and a touch of romance made it a fascinating read. The post-war period is less explored in historical fiction, so it was refreshing to dive into that time frame. The book features a wonderful cast of characters, from Sylvie and Leon to Veronique in the present day, and the heartfelt friendship between Alice and Anne. The author does an excellent job of creating memorable characters.

Moreover, the book is well-researched and imaginative. The descriptions of the Dior gowns, including my personal favorites like Debussy and Cygne Noir, are vivid and detailed. I also found myself looking up photos of Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Claude Monet's murals at the Musée de l'Orangerie to appreciate the setting even more. The author’s attention to detail truly brings the story to life.

This book delves deep into the complexities of the human mind, exploring how our experiences and traumas shape our behaviors in ways we often don't realize. Dr. Perry's insights have been eye-opening, emphasizing that appearances can be deceiving—just like a beautifully decorated house may hide faulty wiring. Similarly, individuals may seem outwardly fine while carrying hidden traumas inside.

I found the chapters and information incredibly enlightening, offering valuable lessons on empathy and understanding. However, towards the end, the book became a bit too technical, resembling a textbook rather than focusing on personal stories which I found more engaging. Nonetheless, understanding the brain's anatomy was crucial in comprehending how traumas affect us.

This book has everything you could want: humor, mystery, suspense, short chapters, podcast interviews, secrets, and a truly captivating main character. From the very first page, it was impossible to put down. The alternating format between Lucy's narrative and podcast transcripts kept me hooked, with each short chapter encouraging me to read just one more.

The podcast segments, featuring lively character interviews and small-town drama, added an engaging layer to the narrative. The amnesia plot, which can sometimes be a hit-or-miss in thrillers, was executed brilliantly here. Lucy’s character, with her dark humor and sarcastic, self-deprecating personality, made the story both entertaining and refreshing.

The story doesn’t hold back on twists and turns, even with its humorous tone. It constantly surprises, keeping you guessing about what will happen next. For thriller enthusiasts, this book offers enough surprises and suspense to satisfy even the most seasoned readers.

The idea of Daphne and Miles using a fake relationship to heal their broken hearts caught my interest, though I suspected their pretend romance would become real—so no big surprises there.

On the plus side, the book does a great job showing the ups and downs of friendships, how they can come and go, and how it's hard to build a social circle as an adult. The themes of self-discovery and rebuilding self-worth after a tough time were well done. The setting, a charming small town, was delightful. Emily Henry really knows how to create cozy, picturesque places that make me wish I could visit Michigan. The characters, including the side ones like Ashleigh, Julia, and Harvey, added to this warm atmosphere.

However, there were a few things I didn’t enjoy. I wasn’t a fan of how often the exes were brought up in the story or how involved they were in the plot. The ending felt rushed and could have been stretched out more. The banter between Daphne and Miles didn’t quite work for me, and the fact that they acted much younger than their mid-30s made it hard for me to connect with them. Some details, like Miles being a stoner, having a messy room, and his obsession with Daphne’s moaning when she eats, felt unnecessary and a bit off-putting.

Overall, while the book wasn’t a total letdown, I didn’t feel fully invested or connected to the story. It felt a bit cheesy and formulaic, and something just didn’t click for me.

The story begins with an intriguing premise: Emma and Justin both believe they have a "curse" where the person they date ends up finding their soulmate after they break up. They decide to date each other and then break up to cancel out the curse, but end up falling in love instead.

Unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. I struggled to connect with the main characters, and the romance felt shallow and undeveloped. Justin is portrayed as a good guy, but his personality lacks depth beyond being Mr. Perfect and always ready to do anything for Emma. His intense and immediate attraction to her felt off-putting and unrealistic. Another issue was the juvenile writing style, despite the characters being almost thirty. It felt like a TikTok romance written by AI, leaving me emotionally disconnected.

However, there were some redeeming aspects. I enjoyed Christina and Leigh's carefree attitude (minus the embezzlement), and Maddy was the supportive friend everyone dreams of having. The portrayal of each character's unique family struggles and how they impacted their lives was well done. Despite their different backgrounds, they found common ground and supported each other.

In the end, I'm conflicted about my rating. While I enjoyed reading it, the story doesn't hold a special place in my heart, nor does it offer a unique plot so I've settled on a 2 star rating.

Let me start by saying, this book taught me never to judge a book by its cover. What seemed like a light and fun summer read turned out to be quite different once I delved into its pages. If you're picking this up, make sure to read the synopsis first to manage your expectations.

The story unfolds through two timelines, and I found myself gravitating more towards Hannah's storyline set in 1950s Egypt. The historical fiction aspect was well-done, capturing the post-war atmosphere with its setting and characters. However, the constant flashbacks without clear signals left me scratching my head at times.

On the other hand, the contemporary storyline with Mallory and Monk was where things fell apart for me. Monk, despite being a supposed pop star, lacked any real charisma or depth beyond his love for Mallory. He felt more like a cardboard cutout than a compelling character. Mallory, while praised by everyone around her, didn't resonate with me either. Her decisions and the unresolved threads in her storyline left me frustrated rather than engaged.

One of the main issues is the introduction of subplots that don't seem to serve a clear purpose. For example, Paige's husband's infidelity is mentioned but never fully explored or given closure. The detour to Ireland feels out of place and doesn't integrate well with the rest of the narrative. Similarly, the mushroom storyline, which starts off the book, feels random and lacks relevance as the story progresses.

There's more but I'm going to stop there. All in all, I found myself getting intrigued far too late in the book and then still being disappointed at the end for all the reasons that were bothering me in the beginning.

For a debut novel, this book is quite impressive and well-written. It has many elements to love, from the engaging character dynamics to the clever foreshadowing. It’s clear why so many people adore it, and it definitely deserves the praise it gets.

However, as the story progressed, I found it becoming a bit predictable. Some of the early elements started to feel repetitive, and the characters didn’t evolve much throughout the book. One of the main issues for me was the heavy use of Shakespeare’s text. While it was interesting at first to see passages from his work woven into the story, it soon became tedious, especially since I’m not familiar with Shakespeare’s plays. The inclusion of so many full passages felt more like a drag than an enhancement to the narrative.

I ended up researching the book on Reddit to understand the purpose of the Shakespeare references better. If I had known more about his work, I might have appreciated it more.