purplepenning's reviews
1660 reviews

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Grave Expectations by Alice Bell

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson

Go to review page

3.75

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

Go to review page

4.0

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
I feel like I gave it up just when the plot was finally going to kick in, but I just couldn't do it any more. I've had this issue with these authors before — the high-angst, slow-reveal method of storytelling just doesn't work for me. (But it does work for others. What I call frustrating, others may call a page-turner.) It's a particular shame this time, because I was actually interested in the story and entertained by the tongue-in-cheek fantasy setting. Just not enough to offset how miserable these characters are and how miserable and frustrated they're making me! Maybe I'll come back and skim to the end sometime.
Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin

Go to review page

The woodsy-PNW-witchy vibes and YA nemesis-to-lovers tropes (complete with "only one tent") are on point. But this one wasn't for me — as sometimes happens with YA, I just couldn't get past the main character (an 18-year-old) doing a Very Dumb Thoughtless Dangerous Thing that kicked off the whole plot. 
You Had Me at Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky

Go to review page

emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Queer, new adult rom-com with excellent mental health rep that goes hand in hand with steamy, toy-assisted sex positivity. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

No one needs my basic, white, Gen- X, middle-class thoughts on Ta-Nehisi Coates's latest message in essays. It's not very long — go read it for yourself.