lotts_library's reviews
15 reviews

This Is How You Remember It by Catherine Prasifka

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback. Thank you NetGalley!

This book blew me away, I’ve never read anything like this. The second person point of view was so interesting to read! The story is very compelling and beautifully written. It’s a sort of love letter to growing up as a girl at the beginning of the internet and I identified with it a lot.

I really went through a journey reading this book and it was so interesting to me that I was able to see the world and experience it through someone else’s perspective but then at the same time feel nostalgic towards my own experiences. Particularly the teenage school years brought up a lot of feelings that I had long forgotten.

Tender, eye opening, and poignant, this book is a must read for anyone who remembers their parents bringing home their first family computer and lived their childhoods through the computer screen.

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

funny reflective 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

I loved getting to know all of the different characters and seeing their storylines and interpersonal relationships progress. The character progression was *chefs kiss*. I feel like this book shows you the best and worst of normal people, and in a weird way that comforted me. 

I LOVE JOLENE! She is the perfect unlikable, morally grey, satire main character that you can’t help but love even when you want to shake her.

If you have ever worked in an office, you will absolutely love this. Having access to everyone’s emails and messages sounds like a dream to everyone who lives a bit of office gossip - but the reality is horrendous and I’ve actually realised it would be my worst nightmare. I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book, it really was a rollercoaster!

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-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

4.0

This was such a lovely, cosy read. This book instantly drew me in as it was about a woman who was burnt out in her job and so decided to leave and set up a bookshop. This was such a touching story and I like the way that the book focused on a set of characters and their lives and how they all intertwined rather than reading it from one perspective. I also liked that you weren’t given the full backstories of the characters when you first met them, but rather you learned more about them and their past as you spent more time with them and pieced things together. I loved the character progression and the found family aspect. I wish the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop was real, I would spend all of my time there drinking coffee, reading or crocheting! 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

adventurous dark mysterious 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

5.0

I know it’s a little early but this might be my favourite book of the year. I couldn’t put this down. I really felt like I was watching a movie or in the oasis instead of reading a book. I really enjoyed all of the video game and retro pop-culture references. Sections that could be considered slow to others regarding world or character building were actually some of my favourite parts as it added another layer to the experience. I “buddy read” this book with my husband and it was so nice to chat along the way about what we thought. We both flew through reading the book and then celebrated by watching the movie which I think felt more inspired by the book than an actual movie of the book. 

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I can’t believe that this is a debut novel! I completely understand the hype for this book and I feel like it’s going to stay with me for a while; especially the darker elements of the book (please check trigger warnings). This is definitely a book about characters - I loved reading about their complex and interwoven lives in NYC. Without giving anything away, I think it takes something special to make people fall in love with a character based on only two chapters. This wasn’t exactly the story I was expecting it to be, but I think that made it better. 

I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. It’s been 2 weeks since I finished it and I wanted some time to reflect on my thoughts but I think that I just didn’t “get” it. I did enjoy the theme of social media fixation but the relationship aspect was lost on me. 

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I devoured this book in two evenings. This is beautiful story about love, loss & finding your way again. There’s just something about the way that Gabrielle Zevin creates characters, develops them throughout the book and writes about the human experience. This book made me feel so hopeful about humanity. I wish I could visit Alice Island!

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback. Thank you NetGalley!

A story following the members of the movement (logistics) team in a superstore in Upstate New York. We follow them as they complete their daily tasks under the scrutiny of their boss Meredith. That is until the store manager role opens up and the team decide to come together to try and get Meredith promoted up and away from them. 

It felt like very familiar territory to me as someone who worked in retail for years and spent a lot of time in stockrooms. The cast of characters were very realistic, I feel like we have all worked with a combination of these characters at some point in our lives. I know I have definitely worked with a Marcus and a Meredith! 

I really enjoyed the writing style and the theme of (reluctantly) found family. There is something special about the bonds that are formed while working together - especially when faced with difficult working environments and trying to navigate workplace politics. 

This book is perfect for fans of the TV show Superstore, and I really felt like I was working amongst the Town Square movement team. What is quite a simple plot gave so much more. Adelle Waldman has made what could be a very mundane subject into something captivating. I wanted to carry on reading to find out more about my colleagues!

DallerGut Dream Department Store: The Dream You Ordered is Sold Out by Mi-Ye Lee 이미예

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

I loved this book so much, it truly felt like a warm hug and was the perfect bedtime read. I loved the concept, the story and the characters. Both the author and translator’s notes alone were adorable enough to give this book 5 stars. I’m so excited that there’s a second booking coming the end of this year! 

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

dark emotional funny reflective 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? Yes

3.5

This book was such an interesting concept and I couldn’t put it down. I suppose it’s a story about how we deal with trauma and how we view ourselves and others. You have Greta who is self deprecating and Big Swiss who is very self aware. Greta and BS were unlikeable characters that I couldn’t help but like even with how much they frustrated me. This was a darkly funny book and at times it felt like a car crash I couldn’t look away from. I’m not entirely sure how to feel as it was such a wild ride! I can definitely see why this book has been so successful. A real highlight for me was the way that the dogs were written about, especially piñon.