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shereadytoread's Reviews (823)
emotional
funny
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book had a lot of moving elements. I loved the relationships of the MC. It gave a good perspective on how we can make poor choices or even hurt each other despite good intentions. The family and friend relationships were strong and well developed. THE BANTER. The back and forth with the rivals romance was so well done. Even some of the banter between the supporting characters worked well.
This book gave a really great look at grooming and how manipulative power dynamics can influence someone, even if they are aware something is wrong. I did think the pacing with this book was a bit off. A lot of time was spent developing the premise and relationships which was really great, but gave limited time for the wrap up so it felt a bit rushed. It also touched on elitism, higher education and the difficulty of “The American Dream”.
Overall, I think it was a solid read that I really enjoyed. I read in print and audio and I would recommend the audio over the print for this one!
The Diversify Your Reading Book Club selected How to Succeed in Witchcraft for our November book Join us here: https://bookclubs.com/diversify-your-reading-2/join/.
This book gave a really great look at grooming and how manipulative power dynamics can influence someone, even if they are aware something is wrong. I did think the pacing with this book was a bit off. A lot of time was spent developing the premise and relationships which was really great, but gave limited time for the wrap up so it felt a bit rushed. It also touched on elitism, higher education and the difficulty of “The American Dream”.
Overall, I think it was a solid read that I really enjoyed. I read in print and audio and I would recommend the audio over the print for this one!
The Diversify Your Reading Book Club selected How to Succeed in Witchcraft for our November book Join us here: https://bookclubs.com/diversify-your-reading-2/join/.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation
Minor: Slavery
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the atmosphere of the bed and breakfast affected by the unresolved traumas of the past. The author did a great job examining both past and present effects of colonialism in Vietnam and how members of a diaspora can feel about their homeland. The slow building relationship in the book was so well done and didn't take away from the horror of the story. The only thing that I didn't really like was the repetitive focus on the relationship with her father. While I think it was a great dynamic to include in the relationship, so much of the story had the same repetitive thoughts and lines in regards to their relationship and I think there was so much more that could have been said or explored there.
This was the October pick for Diversify Your Reading, a virtual book club aimed at reading BIPOC authors across genres and reading outside of your comfort zone. Join us here: https://bookclubs.com/diversify-your-reading-2/join
This was the October pick for Diversify Your Reading, a virtual book club aimed at reading BIPOC authors across genres and reading outside of your comfort zone. Join us here: https://bookclubs.com/diversify-your-reading-2/join
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Colonisation
Minor: Homophobia
emotional
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
I really enjoyed this one. Lots of fun magical hijinks and general friendship humor that I loved. The fake dating romance built well, and while I typically HATE the miscommunication trope, I enjoyed that they gave the story actual stakes. The end was a tad bit predictable to me but it didn't take away from my enjoyment at all. Sapphic witchy romance perfect for fall
Pros:
- Rom-com with ACTUAL humor in it
- Believable build to the romance
- Fun exploration and even some action scenes with magic
- Friend group with depth that moves the plot along
- Large cast kept the story interesting and made the world feel full
- Good contemporary fantasy world-building for a rather short book
Cons:
- slight miscommunication trope
- terrible family members being terrible got a little repetitive
Pros:
- Rom-com with ACTUAL humor in it
- Believable build to the romance
- Fun exploration and even some action scenes with magic
- Friend group with depth that moves the plot along
- Large cast kept the story interesting and made the world feel full
- Good contemporary fantasy world-building for a rather short book
Cons:
- slight miscommunication trope
- terrible family members being terrible got a little repetitive
emotional
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was *cheesy* cute romance. I loved the cheese puns, cute dog and the light love story about being true to yourself. Not a heavy plot, but still pulls on the heartstrings at times.
challenging
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this is overall well-written, and something I would never want to reread. It definitely pulls off queer, lovecraftian, cosmic horror. However, the book is split into parts that make me feel like I'm watching random scenes of a film, but the connective tissue is missing. The scenes are striking and there is lots of social commentary to go around. I think there are some missteps in a few characters, but overall the choices do enhance the horror and depravity of the world the characters exist in.
If you can't stomach gore and body horror, this might be one to skip.
If you can't stomach gore and body horror, this might be one to skip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Infertility, Suicide attempt, War
Minor: Trafficking
This is a short book with a lot of emotional depth, built on a simple premise. I like the core of each story is easy to relate to regardless of the specific situation. It definitely pulls on the heartstrings a bit. The magical premise was simple and easy to integrate, but doesn't over specify things so there are holes to poke.
I enjoyed how each person's individual story played into the larger group and the characters stick around in one way or another. It really emphasizes the importance of connection and relationships.
Our virtual book club, "Diversify Your Reading" picked this for a cozier fall read and it was liked all around. Join us here: https://bookclubs.com/diversify-your-reading-2
I enjoyed how each person's individual story played into the larger group and the characters stick around in one way or another. It really emphasizes the importance of connection and relationships.
Our virtual book club, "Diversify Your Reading" picked this for a cozier fall read and it was liked all around. Join us here: https://bookclubs.com/diversify-your-reading-2
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Death of parent
This book runs middle of road for me. It had an interesting plot, some good magic action scenes and I loved the magic system of the book. It had all the makings of a great ensemble, but didn't execute well for me overall.
What worked for me:
1. The magic system was so good. There was a lot of variety, and it didn't drag itself down in rules of how the magic works. It's intrinsic and lends to character depth because it was a part of them.
2. Every member of the friend group felt distinct personality wise
3. The magic action scenes were well done and engaging
4. Small town drama is always fun
What didn't work for me:
1. I think that both authors combining their style of writing resulted in a really formal and distanced writing style, that didn't give a rom-com feel.
2. It is advertised as a rom-com, but it really felt like a contemporary fantasy with a romantic subplot. They made the romance integral to the plot, but didn't back up the romance. I found myself skimming the romance scenes by the end because they felt so disjointed to the rest of the story.
3. It set up a series but it didn't seem to have a complete arc for the book apart from the series arc. It felt like it ended literally in the middle of a scene.
What worked for me:
1. The magic system was so good. There was a lot of variety, and it didn't drag itself down in rules of how the magic works. It's intrinsic and lends to character depth because it was a part of them.
2. Every member of the friend group felt distinct personality wise
3. The magic action scenes were well done and engaging
4. Small town drama is always fun
What didn't work for me:
1. I think that both authors combining their style of writing resulted in a really formal and distanced writing style, that didn't give a rom-com feel.
2. It is advertised as a rom-com, but it really felt like a contemporary fantasy with a romantic subplot. They made the romance integral to the plot, but didn't back up the romance. I found myself skimming the romance scenes by the end because they felt so disjointed to the rest of the story.
3. It set up a series but it didn't seem to have a complete arc for the book apart from the series arc. It felt like it ended literally in the middle of a scene.
The story itself was okay but the characters are so one-dimensional. The book is really short and felt underdeveloped. I love great MG stories but this one wasn't it. The plot pacing was weird, nothing was really explained and then a random exposition dump (which still didn't explain much). The basis is interesting and hopefully better explored in the next book.
dark
This is a book in three parts. It started off strong, and then I disliked each part more than the previous.
The premise is very interesting. A haunted payphone swallows up a kid and the only witness (with a troubled past) because the prime suspect. But this book quickly devolves into something I did not quite love. I think it has all the elements of a great story, but some additions of not so great storytelling overshadowed them.
I think if this was a novella with only part one of the story, it could have easily been a 3.5 (maybe higher) rated read for me. The premise is interesting and although we follow the MC and know what happens, the negative reactions that he receives are pretty plausible. You want to root for him because we know the horror, and it makes for an overall likeable MC.
What didn't work for me is that the second and third part seem to try to keep building on the initial part but in a way that overly complicates (and me eventually ruined) the initial part. This book also pretty heavily leans into negative stereotypes of mental illness, in a way that seemed completely unnecessary to the plot of the story.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted print ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The premise is very interesting. A haunted payphone swallows up a kid and the only witness (with a troubled past) because the prime suspect. But this book quickly devolves into something I did not quite love. I think it has all the elements of a great story, but some additions of not so great storytelling overshadowed them.
I think if this was a novella with only part one of the story, it could have easily been a 3.5 (maybe higher) rated read for me. The premise is interesting and although we follow the MC and know what happens, the negative reactions that he receives are pretty plausible. You want to root for him because we know the horror, and it makes for an overall likeable MC.
What didn't work for me is that the second and third part seem to try to keep building on the initial part but in a way that overly complicates (and me eventually ruined) the initial part. This book also pretty heavily leans into negative stereotypes of mental illness, in a way that seemed completely unnecessary to the plot of the story.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted print ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury