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cassroberts89's reviews
436 reviews
A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo
5.0
I always wait to review books when I’m tired in the evening. Sigh.
Short version: Loved it. Didn’t love some choices the characters made, but loved the book as a whole. And I really LOVED how the title played a role there at the end.
Short version: Loved it. Didn’t love some choices the characters made, but loved the book as a whole. And I really LOVED how the title played a role there at the end.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
5.0
Malinda Lo. I’ll be keeping an eye on that name. Absolutely beautiful writing. Prose is chock full of intuitive word choices and perfect descriptions of such subtle and complex feelings.
My heart absolutely broke for Lily, Kath, and everyone “like them” in this book. There is still work to be done, but society has come such a long way from the hush-hush, demonizing mindset depicted here. Add to that the very real fears of deportation and being labeled communist, and Last Night at the Telegraph Club could have been a jumbled, busy mess in the hands of a less skilled writer. Easy 5⭐️ for sure. I have A Scatter of Light in my hand as I type this and am diving right in!
My heart absolutely broke for Lily, Kath, and everyone “like them” in this book. There is still work to be done, but society has come such a long way from the hush-hush, demonizing mindset depicted here. Add to that the very real fears of deportation and being labeled communist, and Last Night at the Telegraph Club could have been a jumbled, busy mess in the hands of a less skilled writer. Easy 5⭐️ for sure. I have A Scatter of Light in my hand as I type this and am diving right in!
The Counselors by Jessica Goodman
adventurous
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
2.5
Did that really take me four days to read? It felt much, much longer. Wavering between two and three stars, I had to round down because I was pretty much skimming near the end just to finish.
I’ll try to do this without spoilers:
I enjoyed some bits and pieces, but there was just so much toxicity. Weird friendship dynamics, super toxic boyfriend (I don’t buy for a second that he loved her until the end. Actions speak louder, my friend), even Goldie’s parents showed some seriously questionable judgment.
And about the counselors all getting two nights per week off to go into town, get piss-drunk, and then crawl back into cabins full of children? Wha?
I actually really enjoyed hearing about the camp experiences and imagery. It felt very nostalgic, having spent a couple of summers in my youth at a (far less glamorous!) summer camp. The tension between “townies” and campers was good too. That’s really all that carried the book though.
I’ve heard good things about other books by Jessica Goodman that I might take a chance on, but I’m in no hurry.
P.S. The motive was lame. I saw it a mile away.
I’ll try to do this without spoilers:
I enjoyed some bits and pieces, but there was just so much toxicity. Weird friendship dynamics, super toxic boyfriend (I don’t buy for a second that he loved her until the end. Actions speak louder, my friend), even Goldie’s parents showed some seriously questionable judgment.
And about the counselors all getting two nights per week off to go into town, get piss-drunk, and then crawl back into cabins full of children? Wha?
I actually really enjoyed hearing about the camp experiences and imagery. It felt very nostalgic, having spent a couple of summers in my youth at a (far less glamorous!) summer camp. The tension between “townies” and campers was good too. That’s really all that carried the book though.
I’ve heard good things about other books by Jessica Goodman that I might take a chance on, but I’m in no hurry.
P.S. The motive was lame. I saw it a mile away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-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
Loved it!
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.75
I loved this series. I love the characters, the family dynamic, all the love thrown around. This whole third book felt like one big coming of age conclusion to the series.
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Just as cute as book one. The love triangle thing going on here is a little far fetched, but still makes for some fun high school romantic drama.
One thing I appreciate is the kind of self respect this 16yo MC demonstrates. It’s not preachy either. It’s just one sweet girl with thoughts and feelings common to so many adolescents who are still trying to make sense of the world and their place in it. Unfortunately while immersed IN adolescence, it’s easy to convince yourself that you’re the only one, that everyone is at least a couple of steps ahead of you, whether it’s sex, college plans, etc. Lara Jean is plenty unsure, but when it comes to the most serious stuff she has a great head on her shoulders.
Picking up book three now 😄
One thing I appreciate is the kind of self respect this 16yo MC demonstrates. It’s not preachy either. It’s just one sweet girl with thoughts and feelings common to so many adolescents who are still trying to make sense of the world and their place in it. Unfortunately while immersed IN adolescence, it’s easy to convince yourself that you’re the only one, that everyone is at least a couple of steps ahead of you, whether it’s sex, college plans, etc. Lara Jean is plenty unsure, but when it comes to the most serious stuff she has a great head on her shoulders.
Picking up book three now 😄
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Minor: Sexual content
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Super cute YA fake-dating romance! I really enjoyed this and already picked up the next book. I’m curious about the movie adaptation and will probably check that out as well. I’m always on the hunt for recommendations for teens at the library I work at. I’d happily recommend this to an older teen with a side mention to the parents:
The MC and her family are good people, the sisters all have a good head on their shoulders (called “goody two shoes” by other kids, I’m good with that!) There is definitely talk of kids who have already had sex, but no descriptions and MC is pretty uncomfortable with the idea. There are a few kisses described, including one make out session in a hot tub fully clothed. This scene spurs rumors that they had sex on the hot tub. No mention of drugs that I recall, I think a brief mention of kids with a beer or a red solo cup at a party. I know it’s hard to preview everything, so I hope that helps parents be at least a little bit informed.
P.S. MC is a great friend, and the relationship between the three sisters is refreshingly positive and sweet. MC’s love interest is also a great guy once you get to know him, despite rumors.
The MC and her family are good people, the sisters all have a good head on their shoulders (called “goody two shoes” by other kids, I’m good with that!) There is definitely talk of kids who have already had sex, but no descriptions and MC is pretty uncomfortable with the idea. There are a few kisses described, including one make out session in a hot tub fully clothed. This scene spurs rumors that they had sex on the hot tub. No mention of drugs that I recall, I think a brief mention of kids with a beer or a red solo cup at a party. I know it’s hard to preview everything, so I hope that helps parents be at least a little bit informed.
P.S. MC is a great friend, and the relationship between the three sisters is refreshingly positive and sweet. MC’s love interest is also a great guy once you get to know him, despite rumors.
Falling for Your Best Friend by Emma St. Clair
funny
hopeful
slow-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
3.5
This made for a perfect sick-in-bed read. Rom-coms seem to be my go to when I want cozy. They’re what I call “palette cleansers.” This one has the added layer of neurodiversity that I found interesting. I’m not sure Harper’s Google “diagnosis” fully explains all of her choices, but it does resonate with my own experience. That said, I think we could have done with a little less tension or at least a more realistic setup. If this was her best friend/secret love for the past 6 years, a shove plus a simple “I’m overstimulated and overwhelmed, I need some time to sort through some things” would have done just as well as “sorry I’m not into you actually.”
I still enjoyed rooting for them, though. And I like her group of friends and how they continued to rally around each other. I’d gladly pick up others in this series (this was my first)
I still enjoyed rooting for them, though. And I like her group of friends and how they continued to rally around each other. I’d gladly pick up others in this series (this was my first)
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
4.75
I can’t believe I went my whole adolescence without reading this series! I was coerced into buddy-reading this with my 12yo (who has not even finished chapter one 😂 thanks kid), but I became quickly engrossed in this epic story. Paolini’s world building is top notch, and I grew to care so much for most of the characters. There are a lot of books on my TBR, no surprise there. I’m still moving right into the sequel. Like, today.
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
4.75
I’m still in awe that this was written by someone so young, and that it took me forever to read it!