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maeenads's reviews
209 reviews
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
4.75/5
I was surprised to find myself liking the interview style structure of the book, since I’m normally drawn to the conventional paragraph style/ chunky descriptions. But I believe this made it easy to read the book and go with flow; I felt as if I was reading an extended column in a magazine or watching a TV interview.
I find TJR’s writing style very easy to read; the oral history format of this novel was such a crucial point to flesh out the events that occurred. It was clearly shown through narration that sometimes the stories didn’t line up with how one remembered it; there would be a clash or a contradiction, and I think you can understand and get to know the characters the way they laid out their parts and confessions.
As for the characters; I found them deeply flawed, terrible and selfish at times, but also loveable in their own ways. I had such complicated feelings towards Daisy and billy that I couldn’t figure out if i loved them or loathed them (I did both throughout various moments in the book).
Overall, this was fun. Camilla dunne and Karen Sirko, you’ll always be my favourite girls <333
I was surprised to find myself liking the interview style structure of the book, since I’m normally drawn to the conventional paragraph style/ chunky descriptions. But I believe this made it easy to read the book and go with flow; I felt as if I was reading an extended column in a magazine or watching a TV interview.
I find TJR’s writing style very easy to read; the oral history format of this novel was such a crucial point to flesh out the events that occurred. It was clearly shown through narration that sometimes the stories didn’t line up with how one remembered it; there would be a clash or a contradiction, and I think you can understand and get to know the characters the way they laid out their parts and confessions.
As for the characters; I found them deeply flawed, terrible and selfish at times, but also loveable in their own ways. I had such complicated feelings towards Daisy and billy that I couldn’t figure out if i loved them or loathed them (I did both throughout various moments in the book).
Overall, this was fun. Camilla dunne and Karen Sirko, you’ll always be my favourite girls <333
We Spread by Iain Reid
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
2.75/5
This was…dissatisfying.
The first few chapters were promising, but the ending was confusing? I loved i’m thinking of ending things (it’s one of my all time favs) but this novel couldn’t even compare. It gave me kind of Mexican gothic vibes and I wish the ending was different.
I loved that the main theme was based around the fear of aging, death and change; it was incorporated well to the horror plot.
However, this wasn’t sinister enough for me.
Pros: quick read, loved the combination of science, mathematics, and art within the creep factor, good flow
Cons: dissatisfying ending, nothing much really happened?
This was…dissatisfying.
The first few chapters were promising, but the ending was confusing? I loved i’m thinking of ending things (it’s one of my all time favs) but this novel couldn’t even compare. It gave me kind of Mexican gothic vibes and I wish the ending was different.
I loved that the main theme was based around the fear of aging, death and change; it was incorporated well to the horror plot.
However, this wasn’t sinister enough for me.
Pros: quick read, loved the combination of science, mathematics, and art within the creep factor, good flow
Cons: dissatisfying ending, nothing much really happened?
Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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? Yes
5.0
For someone who’s very picky with romance books, I enjoyed this a lot!!
The main plot follows a lawyer, Molly and her ex-best friend’s ex-boyfriend, Andrew, a photographer. It follows a very cute tradition between the two; flying home to Ireland during the holidays, until tragedy struck in their 10th year flight. Somehow determined to get Andrew home for Christmas, Molly plans the most ridiculous, impressive trip. However, falling for each other was not in the plan. It also features scenes from their previous 9 flights in between chapters and it’s wholesome!!
This book was hilarious and fun from the first page till the very last, not a single dull or boring moment. I absolutely loved the dialogues and the banter between the two characters — their flaws and attributes made them real.
Honestly, I recommend this 10000% and if you want to get those festive vibes, read this around the holidays/Christmas as holidays and family is a big theme in this book
The main plot follows a lawyer, Molly and her ex-best friend’s ex-boyfriend, Andrew, a photographer. It follows a very cute tradition between the two; flying home to Ireland during the holidays, until tragedy struck in their 10th year flight. Somehow determined to get Andrew home for Christmas, Molly plans the most ridiculous, impressive trip. However, falling for each other was not in the plan. It also features scenes from their previous 9 flights in between chapters and it’s wholesome!!
This book was hilarious and fun from the first page till the very last, not a single dull or boring moment. I absolutely loved the dialogues and the banter between the two characters — their flaws and attributes made them real.
Honestly, I recommend this 10000% and if you want to get those festive vibes, read this around the holidays/Christmas as holidays and family is a big theme in this book
Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Let me start this review by saying this is my second TJR book and I absolutely loved it. There’s something special about Reid’s novels that has you hooked from the very beginning which is not an easy skill to hone. Even though her writing style does not carry heavy pretentious prose, it is beautiful and direct; easy to follow with a smooth flow. I never thought I’d be interested in a book about tennis, but here we are; Reid knows what she’s talking about and it shows through her text (fyi: there’s a lot of tennis talk in this book).
Furthermore, it’s very rare to see books exploring the father-daughter relationship, and if they do it’s very rare to witness one in a positive light. Javier — I’m at a loss for words. I loved his bond with Carrie, his efforts not only to drive his ambitious daughter to the top, but to help her understand and live in the beauty of the game she dominates. I was on the verge of tears when Reid made Javier use terms of endearments (I almost cried when he called her ‘my heart’) to call upon Carrie. It was beautiful and pulled on my heart strings. All in all, the father-daughter bond that goes from “I want to make you proud. I want to be the best for you,” to “I need more than you can give me, tell me I’m the best, make me the best even if it hurts me,” to finally, “I understand what you wanted for me, I understand what I need, but you’re not here anymore, but I understand you wanted me to be happy, win or lose,” is one of the most beautiful storyline’s I’ve seen.
As for the characters, Carrie Soto is a complex person.
She’s a high achiever, an unbeatable athlete, a b*tch at times, a scared child with a closed heart, a woman trying her best to better, a role model, and an inspiration (also I’m sure she’s an INTJ). It’s easy to see parts of yourself in her and that’s what I think is special about Reid’s characters — they are human, fleshed out.
Overall, I can go on and on about this book, but to simply put it out there, this was beautiful. The themes that engulfed this novel — athleticism, family, love, ambition, courage, loneliness, the challenges women face in male dominated industries, especially as they age, were intrinsic and honest. I particularly liked how Reid showed how powerful women who knows their worth are perceived as arrogant and a b*tch by the world for not bowing their heads and for not acting the way they want them to, how women have to run twice the distance to be given an ounce of the respect that men receive, particularly in sports. I highly recommend this to anyone that’s looking for swift read that will keep you in your toes.
Let me start this review by saying this is my second TJR book and I absolutely loved it. There’s something special about Reid’s novels that has you hooked from the very beginning which is not an easy skill to hone. Even though her writing style does not carry heavy pretentious prose, it is beautiful and direct; easy to follow with a smooth flow. I never thought I’d be interested in a book about tennis, but here we are; Reid knows what she’s talking about and it shows through her text (fyi: there’s a lot of tennis talk in this book).
Furthermore, it’s very rare to see books exploring the father-daughter relationship, and if they do it’s very rare to witness one in a positive light. Javier — I’m at a loss for words. I loved his bond with Carrie, his efforts not only to drive his ambitious daughter to the top, but to help her understand and live in the beauty of the game she dominates. I was on the verge of tears when Reid made Javier use terms of endearments (I almost cried when he called her ‘my heart’) to call upon Carrie. It was beautiful and pulled on my heart strings. All in all, the father-daughter bond that goes from “I want to make you proud. I want to be the best for you,” to “I need more than you can give me, tell me I’m the best, make me the best even if it hurts me,” to finally, “I understand what you wanted for me, I understand what I need, but you’re not here anymore, but I understand you wanted me to be happy, win or lose,” is one of the most beautiful storyline’s I’ve seen.
As for the characters, Carrie Soto is a complex person.
She’s a high achiever, an unbeatable athlete, a b*tch at times, a scared child with a closed heart, a woman trying her best to better, a role model, and an inspiration (also I’m sure she’s an INTJ). It’s easy to see parts of yourself in her and that’s what I think is special about Reid’s characters — they are human, fleshed out.
Overall, I can go on and on about this book, but to simply put it out there, this was beautiful. The themes that engulfed this novel — athleticism, family, love, ambition, courage, loneliness, the challenges women face in male dominated industries, especially as they age, were intrinsic and honest. I particularly liked how Reid showed how powerful women who knows their worth are perceived as arrogant and a b*tch by the world for not bowing their heads and for not acting the way they want them to, how women have to run twice the distance to be given an ounce of the respect that men receive, particularly in sports. I highly recommend this to anyone that’s looking for swift read that will keep you in your toes.