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liblibby's reviews
233 reviews
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is so unlike what I generally read. I tend to stay away from books that take place in fantasy worlds or ancient history or cultures just because it's hard for my brain to take in a story and character development while also understanding this world that's being created--essentially from scratch, to me. That's why I generally stick to stories that are rooted in something similar to my world. This book took place in 1400's China and I'm really surprised that I picked up on it so quickly.
It took me a long, long time to read this book just because I found myself Googling everything. I rarely had a reading session that didn't end in falling down a Google rabbit hole. I learned so much and really enjoyed giving this story my full attention.
This story follows Tan Yunxian from her birth until her mid-life. She was a real person who was born into an elite family and eventually raised by her grandparents--doctors, who trained her in the ways of medicine. Even though women doctors were practically nonexistant at that time.
This book follows her--her deep, longstanding friendship with the local midwife, and all the other women who come alongside her in her life.
I have one main complaint about the book and one 1/2 complaint which contains a spoiler--I'll start with the first. The book is called Lady Tan's Circle of Women but she doesn't even gather her circle of women until the last 40 pages of the book. I wish this book had been named something like "Lady Tan: Women Doctor" or something like that. Because I was looking for female camaraderie and I feel like that really didn't even happen in a satisfying way until the end. And Tan Yunxian lived to be in her 90's--so it's not like she didn't have any more life to draw from.
My last complaint is, honestly, rooted in my 21st century sensibilities:
So much of this book was dedicated to pointing out the inhumanity that women were experiencing at this time in this part of the world. From footbinding to the class system they must live by to the way they're raised to not even look up at the world around them, to the ways so many women were sold into sex work whether they wanted it or not. So much of the book is focused on that, that you expect that when Yunxian is finally at a station where she can make a change to any of it, she would. But she doesn't. She breaks her daughters' feet. She buys concubines for her husband. She even helps a man be sentenced to torture and decapitation because of something that her mother-in-law forced him to do... She's kind to the women around her. She eventually writes a book to help women care for the health of the people in her household--which is no small thing. But I was so disappointed in her character. That being said, I realize that she's a real person who really lived in a world so completely differently from mine. I can not judge her at all. But if there was no interest in addressing these issues, I sort of wish the author had handled the topics differently.
It took me a long, long time to read this book just because I found myself Googling everything. I rarely had a reading session that didn't end in falling down a Google rabbit hole. I learned so much and really enjoyed giving this story my full attention.
This story follows Tan Yunxian from her birth until her mid-life. She was a real person who was born into an elite family and eventually raised by her grandparents--doctors, who trained her in the ways of medicine. Even though women doctors were practically nonexistant at that time.
This book follows her--her deep, longstanding friendship with the local midwife, and all the other women who come alongside her in her life.
I have one main complaint about the book and one 1/2 complaint which contains a spoiler--I'll start with the first. The book is called Lady Tan's Circle of Women but she doesn't even gather her circle of women until the last 40 pages of the book. I wish this book had been named something like "Lady Tan: Women Doctor" or something like that. Because I was looking for female camaraderie and I feel like that really didn't even happen in a satisfying way until the end. And Tan Yunxian lived to be in her 90's--so it's not like she didn't have any more life to draw from.
My last complaint is, honestly, rooted in my 21st century sensibilities:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Napkins and Other Distractions by M.A. Wardell
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I just finished this one (like 12 minutes ago). It’s been on my shelf for ages and I hate that I didn’t pick it up before now because I loved it soooooo much!
There was (a lot) more sex in this romance than I’m used to (probably falls into the “smut” category?). And usually I’m kind of not into too much of that but I Was SO IN LOVE with these characters.
It’s an opposites attract, workplace romance. I will say that one character has OCD that leans heavy in the germaphobe/ cleanliness direction. As someone who doesn’t experience that, I couldn’t tell you if it’s a realistic portrayal or not. But if that’s something you live with, I do think it could potentially be triggering since we kind of go into the mind of that character quite a bit. So proceed with caution.
Other than that, I want to read everything by this author! He knows his characters so well and makes you love them quickly.
There was (a lot) more sex in this romance than I’m used to (probably falls into the “smut” category?). And usually I’m kind of not into too much of that but I Was SO IN LOVE with these characters.
It’s an opposites attract, workplace romance. I will say that one character has OCD that leans heavy in the germaphobe/ cleanliness direction. As someone who doesn’t experience that, I couldn’t tell you if it’s a realistic portrayal or not. But if that’s something you live with, I do think it could potentially be triggering since we kind of go into the mind of that character quite a bit. So proceed with caution.
Other than that, I want to read everything by this author! He knows his characters so well and makes you love them quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m always surprised at how even a slow reader like me can just plow through these Elsie Silver books. They tend to be about 100+ pages longer than the average romance but they never feel like they’re lagging or taking too long. In fact, it feels like she gives these characters the attention they deserve.
Skylar Stone is a country music legend and in the middle of a breakdown when she finds her way to a small Canadian mountain town to work on her next album.
With nowhere else to stay, she sleeps in West’s bunk house and she finds the safety and serenity she’s never known as a child star turned superstar. 10/10!
Skylar Stone is a country music legend and in the middle of a breakdown when she finds her way to a small Canadian mountain town to work on her next album.
With nowhere else to stay, she sleeps in West’s bunk house and she finds the safety and serenity she’s never known as a child star turned superstar. 10/10!
What I Ate in One Year (and Related Thoughts) by Stanley Tucci
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
Sadly finished this book today. Between the cost of hardcover books and how much I was enjoying it, I tried to make it last as long as possible.
I loved this book at this particular time in my life when I am very much drawn to simplicity.
It might not make sense to hear about a year in the life of a Hollywood A-Lister and all his celebrity friends with multiple vacations and fancy restaurants is focused on simplicity.
But at the end of the day he does what we all do—comes home, makes spaghetti for his family, laughs at his children, pours wine for friends, scrubs the dishes, and goes to bed.
I loved this book at this particular time in my life when I am very much drawn to simplicity.
It might not make sense to hear about a year in the life of a Hollywood A-Lister and all his celebrity friends with multiple vacations and fancy restaurants is focused on simplicity.
But at the end of the day he does what we all do—comes home, makes spaghetti for his family, laughs at his children, pours wine for friends, scrubs the dishes, and goes to bed.
Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don’t think it’s a spoiler at all to say that my favorite part of this book is that there is no frustrating break up scene in the 3rd quarter
The Fastest Way To Fall by Denise Williams
funny
inspiring
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
4.0
LOVED THIS! I read it so fast. Britt’s gets an assignment to write about this new body positive fitness app. Wes is the incredibly hot, body positive coach assigned to her. It’s a strangers to friends to lovers.
I loved it because it was incredibly sweet and clever with a LOT of heart. Not the spiciest book, maybe I’d give it 2/5 🌶️.
I loved it because it was incredibly sweet and clever with a LOT of heart. Not the spiciest book, maybe I’d give it 2/5 🌶️.
Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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 a sweet cozy read that asks really big questions! I loved the characters and their love for one another. The flashbacks were heartbreaking but nothing scary or anything like that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Still Life by Louise Penny
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.
It just took me so long to get half way through with this book. It's not you, it's me. I'm going through some stuff.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0
Tia Williams is a master at incorporating the reality of the traumas of our life and showing the way that we can fit love and wholeness into our lives as well.
Eva and Shane fell into a tumultuous and acute love affair when they were severely traumatized teenagers. When they meet up again as adults they’re faced with the question of whether or not they are capable of having a functioning live as healed grown ups. This is a powerful conversation.
Eva and Shane fell into a tumultuous and acute love affair when they were severely traumatized teenagers. When they meet up again as adults they’re faced with the question of whether or not they are capable of having a functioning live as healed grown ups. This is a powerful conversation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Alcoholism and Child death
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve never read a 500 page book this fast before. It absolutely busted me out of my reading rut.
This is how you do “grumpy meets sunshine”. This is excellent romance writing. The 3rd act “break up” scene is absolutely believable (one of my personal pet peeves) and the reunion is just as believable! Which is so hard to do!
I am not a series reader but I’ll read all of the Rose Hill books for sure.
This is how you do “grumpy meets sunshine”. This is excellent romance writing. The 3rd act “break up” scene is absolutely believable (one of my personal pet peeves) and the reunion is just as believable! Which is so hard to do!
I am not a series reader but I’ll read all of the Rose Hill books for sure.