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thelovelylibrarylady's reviews
961 reviews
The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I did not realize how central religion would be to this story when I picked it up. It was over the top for me, as God, prayer, and the church were mentioned in every (short!) chapter. I went in looking for a holiday romance novella and walked away feeling like I had just read some major Christian propaganda.
(PUB DATE: 09/24/2024)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)
Drift: Willa & Koy: A Narrows Novella by Adrienne Young
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Drift read more as a prologue to a full novel than a novella. It was nice to revisit Willa, one of my favorite characters from The World of the Narrows series, but she deserved more than this short piece! Fingers crossed we get more of Willa and Koy’s story in the future.
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)
Ward D by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In this novel, we follow Amy, a medical student, on an overnight shift at a psychiatric ward. Throughout the night, people go missing, and weird things happen, leaving her on edge. The plot became unbelievable as the story went on, and while it had a good surprise twist, I just found this title to be okay. If you are looking to try a book from McFadden, I recommend trying Never Lie instead.
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)
Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan
emotional
reflective
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
Late Bloomers is a fantastic literary fiction title. If you are a fan of family sagas, this novel deserves a spot on your shelf. Varadarajan’s characters are well-rounded, and you can’t help but fall in love with them. The plot moves at a great pace and I wish I could read it for the first time again!
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)
An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten
dark
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
I listened to this title in one sitting, and I cannot wait to get my hands on its sequel. An Elderly Lady is Up To No Good was both shocking and hilarious. If you are a fan of lovable antagonists, interwoven short story collections, or just a good murder mystery, this is a title that you should try!
I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee
informative
slow-paced
2.0
I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki was atrocious. Most of the novel is literally transcripts from the author’s own therapy appointments. These could have used some heavy editing. The rest of the story are essays. If the book had just been essays it MAY have gained another star from me, but overall this title was just a huge miss.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
My bookish unpopular opinion is that I haven’t enjoyed McQuiston’s writing previously. As they are one of the most popular authors right now in the LGBTQ+ literary sphere, I usually keep this to myself. I am happy to report that I have FINALLY found a McQuiston book that I enjoyed: The Pairing. Theo and Kit, the protagonists, are exes who find themselves on a culinary tour through Europe. Between the good food and romantic backdrops they find themselves in, a second-chance romance unfolds. Funnily enough, this is the third book I have read with a character becoming or being a wine sommelier this year. Is this the new “small town baker” trope? Only time will tell!
Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
For a short story, Below Zero packs a punch. There is constant action and I felt that I got a complete picture of Ian and Hannah’s relationship. I did not realize that this was the third book in the series so I plan to go back and read the first two novellas to see how the other couples featured in this one made their way to each other. Overall, I am glad I read this title as I was able to have a small taste of Hazelwood’s writing style without committing to one of her full-length novels.