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bgoodbookclub's reviews
752 reviews
But How Are You, Really by Ella Dawson
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this book but wasn’t in love with it. I enjoyed the characters and really liked Reese. The boss & Aubrey were complete trash.
I think I might have listened to this too fast and didn’t give myself time to sit and fall in love with the characters.
I unfortunately resonated a lot with Charlotte’s relationship with Ben and how that can stick with you.
Read this if you liked Old Enough!
Thank you to NetGalley & PRH Audio for ARCs of this book 🫶🏻
I think I might have listened to this too fast and didn’t give myself time to sit and fall in love with the characters.
I unfortunately resonated a lot with Charlotte’s relationship with Ben and how that can stick with you.
Read this if you liked Old Enough!
Thank you to NetGalley & PRH Audio for ARCs of this book 🫶🏻
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Unfortunately, I wouldn't say I like WWII Historical Fiction books, which is why I rated this 3.5 stars.
With that being said, I think this is a very important book and I don't think I've ever read a book about Malaysia so I liked learning more about it!
WWII books are so sad (understandably) and bum me out a lot and I think I'm in a stage where I'm reading for enjoyment & to escape the bummer of a world we live in.
I don't think my 3.5 is reflective of Chan and her writing, more that this book is just not the genre for me and this is not the right time for me to read it and that's ok!! I would still very much encourage others to read it if this genre is their thing!
With that being said, I think this is a very important book and I don't think I've ever read a book about Malaysia so I liked learning more about it!
WWII books are so sad (understandably) and bum me out a lot and I think I'm in a stage where I'm reading for enjoyment & to escape the bummer of a world we live in.
I don't think my 3.5 is reflective of Chan and her writing, more that this book is just not the genre for me and this is not the right time for me to read it and that's ok!! I would still very much encourage others to read it if this genre is their thing!
Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire by Alice Wong
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
3.5
I love a short story/essay and I love it when it's nonfiction. This book was so easily digestible in the form that it was in and I learned so much! I think I personally liked Disability Visibility better but still so happy that I read this book!
Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As an American who knows very little about Hawaii, this should be required reading and I'm excited to dive into more Hawaiian books. This is a book about belonging, about Hawaii as a place and an entity, about complicated family relationships.
I loved the multiple POV, the changing timelines, the Hawaiian history. This book started off very slow for me and it took a while for me to get into the story and also to get used to the Hawaiian language woven in, however, once I got into it, I was INTO it.
This would be an amazing book club pick!
I loved the multiple POV, the changing timelines, the Hawaiian history. This book started off very slow for me and it took a while for me to get into the story and also to get used to the Hawaiian language woven in, however, once I got into it, I was INTO it.
This would be an amazing book club pick!
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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 read this book years and years ago in late elementary/early middle school. Me and my 4 best friends actually had a pair of pants that we all rotated through and wrote on and documented the adventures. They unfortunately did not fit us all which led to my parents very confused on why I had to wear two belts to keep my pants up.
I haven't read this book since so I really wanted to revisit it and it really brought me joy. I love that the chapters fluctuate between the friends and have little glimpses of their experiences. This book has obviously aged and while I don't really love Bee & Eric's age gap, overall I thought it aged well and I'm excited to read the second book again and re-watch the movie.
I haven't read this book since so I really wanted to revisit it and it really brought me joy. I love that the chapters fluctuate between the friends and have little glimpses of their experiences. This book has obviously aged and while I don't really love Bee & Eric's age gap, overall I thought it aged well and I'm excited to read the second book again and re-watch the movie.
A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Last summer I read The Summer of Songbirds by Harvey and it was not my favorite book of hers so I was very curious on what I'd think of this book and I loved it!!
Having been to Beaufort, I loved that it took place somewhere where I've been multiple times. I absolutely loved the dual timelines, the journal entries, the letters, the mystery of it all. I thought it was so fun and I really loved the characters.
This book is so perfect for the beach. I'm going to be recommending it to everyone this summer to take on vacation!
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!
Having been to Beaufort, I loved that it took place somewhere where I've been multiple times. I absolutely loved the dual timelines, the journal entries, the letters, the mystery of it all. I thought it was so fun and I really loved the characters.
This book is so perfect for the beach. I'm going to be recommending it to everyone this summer to take on vacation!
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!
Bellies by Nicola Dinan
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved the line from Sarah on page 271 that gives the book its name. I loved how it came up later with Tom & Ming. It was so beautiful.
Rob was my favorite character </3 I am heartbroken ugh he was the best friend.
Someone in a review compared this to Normal People which I didn't love and it made me nervous but I felt so invested in this book and the characters and the sorrow that I really enjoyed it. Sometimes I don't enjoy books that are more character-driven, however, I loved the beauty of this book. I loved that it is complicated and sad and unsure.
I'll be thinking about this book for a really long time.
Someone in a review compared this to Normal People which I didn't love and it made me nervous but I felt so invested in this book and the characters and the sorrow that I really enjoyed it. Sometimes I don't enjoy books that are more character-driven, however, I loved the beauty of this book. I loved that it is complicated and sad and unsure.
I'll be thinking about this book for a really long time.
Sketchy, Vol. 1 by Makihirochi
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
I've never read Manga before but I really enjoyed this! I've always been very interested in skateboarding so I think this was a great entry point. One thing that was kinda tricky is that I forgot for the first few pages that you read it right to left.
The artwork in this book is so beautiful! I also loved that it encouraged that you can learn to do something new at any age!
I think I'll check out Sketchy Vol. 2 this summer!
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this!
The artwork in this book is so beautiful! I also loved that it encouraged that you can learn to do something new at any age!
I think I'll check out Sketchy Vol. 2 this summer!
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I liked this one slightly less than the first 2 but still a 4.5 from me! I am enjoying this series so much and how heartwarming they are. So excited to read book 4!
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Read for Bad Bitch Book Club April 2024 BOTM.
I don't tend to love art books but there was enough interpersonal things going on aside from the art that it didn't bore me. I loved the theme of how harmful it can be to change yourself for someone else and how that is woven throughout the story.
I think this book is important and I'm glad I read it but I wasn't in love with it. It felt too long to me but I am happy that I read it.
This was not a calming audiobook at all which is not a complaint!! I just think it's good to share that there's a lot of yelling which is warranted but not if you're looking to listen on a calming walk.
I don't tend to love art books but there was enough interpersonal things going on aside from the art that it didn't bore me. I loved the theme of how harmful it can be to change yourself for someone else and how that is woven throughout the story.
I think this book is important and I'm glad I read it but I wasn't in love with it. It felt too long to me but I am happy that I read it.
This was not a calming audiobook at all which is not a complaint!! I just think it's good to share that there's a lot of yelling which is warranted but not if you're looking to listen on a calming walk.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder and Murder