spinningjenny's reviews
469 reviews

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

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emotional 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

A book about 4 generations of women and how all of their choices contributed to each other - phenomenal and captured the heart of the midwest and Minnesota in a real way, a way that I could share with people to share my own home. 
Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman

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challenging emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.75

Lighthearted across-the-board,  easy to absorb and a refreshing look at the chaos that being with the same person forever can engender. 
Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca

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dark reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Reflective read with twists at each page turn. Captivating. 
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I don't think I got it but I also felt compelled the whole way through. Interested to see what the movie interpretation is like. 
Absolution by Alice McDermott

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emotional informative sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A beautiful book,  touching and heart wrenching. 
Twice in a Lifetime by Melissa Baron

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emotional mysterious relaxing 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

3.5

When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A collection of short stories,  mostly happening in the same geographical area. Compelling. 
What Kind of Mother by Clay McLeod Chapman

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

3.75

This was mostly sad, far more than horrific. It was more of a treatise on grief and love than anything else. 
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

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lighthearted 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

3.0

This book was OK but I thought the other two in the series were stronger and felt more like women rather than this sort of weak version of one who has been pining over the same guy for her whole life and never managed to get kissed by anyone else while she waited for him. I know it's romance and tropes are there for a reason, this one just didn't feel great.