lklitup's reviews
305 reviews

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

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emotional funny reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved How to End a Love Story. Like, I almost can’t believe it. The premise is undoubtedly a unique and extremely complicated situation, but I do think it ends up making sense. The characters, both Helen and Grant, are developed enough that I mostly understand why they’re at the point they’re at with themselves and each other. There are frequent (and believable!) mentions of therapy; Helen and Grant don’t try to hide their messy, traumatic past or, quite frankly, screw it away. They’re honest and dealt with it head-on. I was extremely skeptical about how this story could work, especially after their first meeting and one-on-one lunch, but I fell for Helen and Grant HARRRD. How to End a Love Story is also one of the hottest contemporary romances I’ve read in a while. A contemporary literature reader could enjoy this book as easily and as much as an avid romance reader. Yulin Kuang will be an auto-read author for me.
Paradais by Fernanda Melchor

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challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Disturbing and unsettling plot paired with immersive, visceral writing. The style of writing was such that the reader was rushed and carried through the frenzy of what was unfolding word-by-word, almost like the author COULDN’T give a break because the train was off its tracks. I’d absolutely read another book by this author. 
Welcome Home, Caroline Kline by Courtney Preiss

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emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

This one is for the Jersey girls; the live music lovers; the well-meaning soul searcher; the suburb-grown millennial. Welcome Come, Caroline Kline was a honest coming-to-self tale still filled with hilarity and antics. At one point my boyfriend turned to my cackling and said, “You’re really enjoying this one, aren’t you?!” I love this book— please read it. Welcome it to your bookshelves.
In the Garden of Echo by H.S. Wolfe

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Love me some body horror x romance x fantasy crossover work 🤌🏼
Funny Story by Emily Henry

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-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

4.0

Now THIS is a contemporary romance from Emily Henry! My faith has been renewed in her; Happy Place nearly made me give up on her works! But Funny Story had it all for me: likable and loveable characters— main and side, individually and as a unit. The character development and growth was grounded and realistic (no magic wand of “oh my god my decades of trauma are solved!”). The storyline was, in fact, funny, but also sweet and hot and comforting. 
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My first Leigh Bardugo but not my last! I loved the layers and power dynamics. The story was intriguing and historically informative without being too in-the-weeds. Luzia could have been unlikeable for her brashness, but she was ambitious and powerful— she knew her worth, asked for it, and protected herself. I LOVED her character. 
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

I LOVED this book! Devoured it! The characters, the world building, the plot, the adventure, the emotions!!! No notes and all the exclamation points!!! Dragonfruit has something for everyone and executes it well. I seriously am so thrilled I picked Dragonfruit as my book of the month for April, otherwise I don’t know where else I’d see this book or author. I’m hoping it gets read and shared by many more readers!
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

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emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book is *not* a romance. Oof. Very heavy topics covered that, for me, overshadowed the relationship between Emma and Justin. Additionally, Emma felt very flat; her on-page personality was based on her trauma— explaining it, experiencing it, overcoming it, etc. It was unfortunate treatment for an otherwise strong and likable character! And the one aspect of the ending was rushed and treated as an after thought. Justin and Maddy (in time!) were my shining stars here. 
Worry by Alexandra Tanner

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dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

sad whiny girl vibes— no plot, disastrous characters, couldn’t look away
The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The most polite thing I can say to summarize my experience reading this book is, there’s something for everyone and this wasn’t for me. The character development was non-existent. The plot was fine but extremely rushed and flat-out bananas towards the end.