bookbrig's reviews
1743 reviews

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

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adventurous lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

This is a fast-paced and fun mystery! I loved the characters, and the writing has a really cinematic quality which makes for an extra vivid and entertaining story. If you like an audiobook, this has great readers, and I liked that they had different folks for the two timelines. I would also love to read more adventure/thriller/other genre-fic featuring older women-it's just fun and I'd much prefer to read non-literary fiction with older characters.
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Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

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reflective 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? No

4.0

Quiet and cozy, this is like a lit fic found family? With lots of coffee details and really compelling characters. A bit abstract and slow at times, but very satisfying. I keep coming back to the characters over and over, even though there were a few times where I felt like the book was a little too slow while I was reading. This is a story that lingers, and the more I think about it the more I enjoy it!
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A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
I'll come back and try again, but I'll need to start it over I think. Just wasn't in the mood and it always has a holds list at the library so I can't ever keep it long enough to get into it.
Modern Asian Baking at Home: Essential Sweet and Savory Recipes for Milk Bread, Mooncakes, Mochi, and More; Inspired by the Subtle Asian Baking Community by Kat Lieu

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informative medium-paced

2.75

Some interesting recipes and lovely photos, but there wasn't anything that jumped out at me as something I was dying to prepare. 
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

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emotional reflective relaxing 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? No

3.25

I really enjoyed some of the elements of this, but it was quiet and slow enough that I wasn't compelled to finish it. I had to prompt myself to pick it up a second time, because I didn't find myself curious about where the story was headed. That said, it wasn't a bad read, and I did enjoy the world building and Mosscap in particular. I don't think I'll come back to this one though.
The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller

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mysterious 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? No

4.0

I liked the title, which is why I checked-out this audiobook. The reader did an excellent job, and it was a quick, fun read. I liked the premise and our leading ladies, even if some of the action felt a bit awkward. It was wonderful to read about women over 40 having mystery adventures. I think I've read so much YA for so long, it's still novel to encounter adult protagonists just... existing. Anyway, a satisfying not quite cozy mystery, and I'd love to read more in the series (the author had an interview included at the end where a second book is mentioned).
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It's Hard for Me to Live with Me: A Memoir by Seth Davis, Rex Chapman

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emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

3.75

I'm reading adult books that I think might work for a teen audience right now, and I grabbed this one because sports titles are often popular and it had a relatively short audiobook. The voice is so conversational and blunt that I do think it might be a good fit for the right teen reader. There's profanity and frank discussions of sexuality and addiction, with a refreshingly straightforward perspective. The opening does a great job of building suspense, and for a big chunk of the book Chapman is a kid/teen/college student. I found it interesting and somewhat endearing even though it wouldn't normally be a story I'd pick up for myself. Would recommend for basketball fans or anyone curious about what it's like to navigate college and professional sports. Also a deep dive into what addiction can look like and how difficult it can be to navigate for those affected. 
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The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill's Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops by Damien Lewis

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adventurous informative fast-paced

3.75

Couldn't remember why I'd put this on hold, only to realize the movie is coming out soon. I chose it because I thought it might work for teen readers wanting more WWII history, and after reading it I think it could be a good fit for the right teen. It's a little bit gory, and very fully of bravado and action. The main protagonist the story follows is only in his mid-twenties by the end of the book, so if there's a teen up for the strategic and politic parts of the book, I think they'd connect quite well. 
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Blitz by Daniel O'Malley

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adventurous funny 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

4.0

I really love the world of this series, and the split time storytelling on this installment was really interesting. It kept me up late wanting to know what would happen, and it was full of wonderful characters. Made me want to reread the others in the series, honestly. I also thought the nods to Little Princess and Secret Garden were kind of sweet!
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Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian

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adventurous dark tense medium-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? No

4.0

I'm not sure why I originally put this on hold, but I highly recommend the audiobook if you can get it. The reader is fantastic, and there are a couple songs in the story that are accompanied by music and are quite lovely to listen to. This is a gritty magical western with a roadtrip adventure feel, and I loved the characters and the slowly twisting journey. It's gory and occasionally kind of gross, but for all the darkness it didn't get too horrifying for me.  And there's a core of kindness and sweetness to some of the characters that offsets all the evil. 

The ending didn't quite stick the landing for me, because after all the build-up I felt like it unspooled too quickly, leaving me wanting a little something more. But I'd still recommend it. I think I'll booktalk this one for teens who enjoy Stephen King, though I'd likely go with readers in high school or older.
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