laurmyfe's reviews
181 reviews

Heartsong by TJ Klune

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

Brutally sad. I took a long break in between reading the first 3/4s and the last 1/4 because life got hectic, which definitely influenced how I see this now because it feels a little disjointed. 
Wolfsong by TJ Klune

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. These characters are so earnest and tender! The amount of familial love and affection in this book is so insane that it makes me want to hug both of my parents and cry. 

The conflict is also very authentic. There’s an enemy that’s consistent and small and centered enough that TJ Klune doesn’t even have to overly develop his world in order to explain it. The motivations are simple but executed in a way that allows for complexity and depth!!!! 

This is seriously one of the most touching books I’ve ever read. I went to three bookstores to try and buy it with no success bc it’s receiving the hype it deserves. 

Literally life changing. 
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
I’ll come back to it. Took it to the office and now I’m reading Wolfsong so I know I won’t touch it for awhile
Bride by Ali Hazelwood

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I meaaaaaaaaaan, i did gobble this up so
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

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

3.0

Very lighthearted. The banter was very funny and endearing. But man, the ending was messy.
Everything from Arthur’s injury on felt kind of random and sudden. Then the tied up with a bow ending seemed so quick and toooo easy
. Anyway, light read.
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

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adventurous funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was nothing special really. It was a quick read but I don’t really feel like it added to the Percy Jackson universe? And also, there were a lot of call backs to old books, so it almost just felt like Rick needed a walk down memory lane.
The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.5

Kell and Lila, you will always be in my heart (lays hand on chest). Alucard and Rhy, I don’t know why she did this to you. It had me bottoming out with sadness to the point where I took like a two week break in the middle of this. (Raises champagne glass) Nadiya, may you continue to girl boss, gaslight, gatekeep. (Closes eyes) And
Holland, my dark boy, my sweet, sweet prince, I’m so glad to see you back on your bullshit and stirring the pot
. Cheers! (I might skip the next one and just read fanfic!) (chugs champagne) ❤️
1984 by George Orwell

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

4.0

I was enraptured by this. Much easier to read than I expected. A bit heavy handed but I mean that’s kind of the point. Ending was about as expected as well. I enjoyed though! Glad I can finally say I’ve read it.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I am truly conflicted.

I think the premise of this is insanely good. The portrait and the ending were so good. Basil’s death had my jaw on the floor. 

But damn, I HATED Lord Henry. Him and Dorian were the some of the most sexist characters that I have ever read about. The best part of the book was when Lord Henry wasn’t present. 

The last third felt very Shakespearean. The banter between Lord Henry and the Duchess was unmatched. The Duchess was hands down the best character in here.

The middle where we discuss Dorians hobbies in intricate detail for twenty pages was a little mind numbing.

Ending was flawless.


Edit: bumping down because this was significantly worse than 1984, which I gave 4 stars so
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I love love love the writing style in this. Although it could sometimes be a bit confusing with the narrative switches. 

I like that women are centralized and also very nuanced. They feel extreme anger, jealousy, etc but are also very feminine at the same time. They like and dislike each other. They aren’t deferential to men.

It kind of reminds me of He’s Just Not That Into You in the way that the characters are all connected in a way but they aren’t aware of it.

It also feels similar to One Day. That might be just because I just watched it but the idea of two characters not choosing each other and then living their entire lives on the outskirts of each other and constantly thinking of what could have been.

Very glad to have read this!