kathsinclair's reviews
161 reviews

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

Go to review page

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

4.0

A fun read and I loved the strong protagonist that is Olivia. I would have appreciated a bit more tension/conflict a little earlier on, but overall a great romantic read.
Islands of Decolonial Love by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

Go to review page

mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I have a difficult time getting into short stories, especially when there are other formats like songs included… that said, this collection holds some really powerful writing. My favourite story was hands-down nogojiwanong. 
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

3.75

This took me much longer to get into compared to other Beth O’Leary books. I think I found the characters to be so dislikable until at least halfway through. By the end however, I was grinning happily as the ends all tied up. A good read, but not my favourite O’Leary book.
Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Go to review page

emotional 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? Yes

4.25

This book followed the traditional Pride and Prejudice story enough to feel familiar, but ventured off the path often enough to keep me guessing as well! A heartwarming read, and the incorporation of Muslim and South Asian culture was beautifully done. 
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition by Brené Brown

Go to review page

funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Brene Brown always has a magical way of presenting her research through storytelling, which is a much more palatable format for someone like me! This is a quick overview of topics that she explores more in-depth in some of her other books, but the short book length made the information easily accessible for me. An engaging, educational read.
In the Night of Memory by Linda LeGarde Grover

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book reads like a warm hug. A timely read considering the recent upholding of ICWA and the way that ICWA provides context for the book, I truly loved that this book was not overly focused on the trauma aspect, but rather the healing of returning to one’s home community and the sweetness of family. 
Hunting by Stars by Cherie Dimaline

Go to review page

adventurous emotional tense 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? No

4.5

Dimaline’s writing is becoming some of my favourite, and I want more books in these series to read! It’s such a heavy premise for a story, but the characters continue to work their way into my heart and the story completely drew me in. 
Sober Spirituality: The Joy of a Mindful Relationship with Alcohol by Erin Jean Warde

Go to review page

informative reflective fast-paced

3.0

I really wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t. Content-wise, the author addresses several important truths and starts a good conversation, but each chapter seemed to really skim the surface of its topic and lacked depth. I found the writing style to ramble on a bit, which was difficult to engage with at times. Overall a good read, not a great one. 
Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez

Go to review page

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

3.75

A solid plot, but something about the narrative kept me from being truly sucked in. The ending was beautifully done, but the click bait chapter titles pulled me out of the story every time. A solid light summer read!