Scan barcode
thebookishmel's reviews
405 reviews
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) by Jesse Andrews
3.0
I ended up finishing this book on an hour long flight but I can’t give this book 5 stars. Although I loved the wit and humor behind our narrator, the story itself just fell flat. I know the point was for it to not be a typical fictional YA, but there just wasn’t enough character development for me to like it. I had higher hopes after a bit but it just ended so quick, with so little umph and impact to make it something that would resonate with me.
The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft
3.0
Maybe it was because I listened to it instead of reading it, but I just didn’t love this book. The writing style was just a narrator talking with maybe 2 monologues throughout the entire book, and the “accents” were terrible.
The idea of “horror” didn’t really strike me until the last 20 minutes or so. And even then, it was very Edgar Allan Poe like with the tapping on the door at the darkest part of night.
The ending was fairly good, gave a little twist that could definitely be predicted but nonetheless was built up really well. Just a meh book.
The idea of “horror” didn’t really strike me until the last 20 minutes or so. And even then, it was very Edgar Allan Poe like with the tapping on the door at the darkest part of night.
The ending was fairly good, gave a little twist that could definitely be predicted but nonetheless was built up really well. Just a meh book.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
5.0
So I said I was going to finish this tomorrow... I couldn’t go to bed without knowing how it ended.
This book has me feeling like I’m in middle school reading Percy Jackson for the first time. That feeling is something I’ve missed in books/a series for SO long.
With that being said, THE AMOUNT OF PLOT TWISTS, OH MY GOODNESS. I was so shocked and it came to a point where I had to reread it to make sure what I had read was what was written.
Overall, I’m so incredibly pleased with this story and this book. Epilogue left a fun cliffhanger to start City of Ashes and I’m really excited!
This book has me feeling like I’m in middle school reading Percy Jackson for the first time. That feeling is something I’ve missed in books/a series for SO long.
With that being said, THE AMOUNT OF PLOT TWISTS, OH MY GOODNESS. I was so shocked and it came to a point where I had to reread it to make sure what I had read was what was written.
Overall, I’m so incredibly pleased with this story and this book. Epilogue left a fun cliffhanger to start City of Ashes and I’m really excited!
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
5.0
I can already feel the pattern for TMI to be 5 stars all around. But City of Ashes really wowed me.
There were so many times where I quite literally had to put the book down and take a second and really process what had happened. Or several moments where I audibly screamed/shrieked/gasped. I haven't felt this into a book in a while, and Cassandra Clare's writing is doing just that.
The amount of plot twists always has me wanting to know more and honestly, I just can't wait to read City of Glass soon!
There were so many times where I quite literally had to put the book down and take a second and really process what had happened. Or several moments where I audibly screamed/shrieked/gasped. I haven't felt this into a book in a while, and Cassandra Clare's writing is doing just that.
The amount of plot twists always has me wanting to know more and honestly, I just can't wait to read City of Glass soon!
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
4.0
4.5-5
I am so pleasantly surprised with this book. I got it as my “Blind Date with a Book” from my local library, so I really had no clue what I was getting into necessarily. I had heard people talk about this series for a bit but nothing extensive and it really blew past some of my expectations.
The good: I LOVED how Maas wrote in the time aspect of the story. There are so many novels that will make it seem like its been days where really its been months or vice versa. But with this, I could FEEL the time change. I could tell how long has passed and the story just flowed really well with the change in time.
The eh: The ending was great, but the last chapter kind of lost it for me. It was a very cliche they walk into the sunset type of deal and I really didn’t want that to be the ending. There was so much development and buildup but it just fell short. Reminded me of the ending to Breaking Dawn Part 1 and it just didn’t click right.
Nonetheless, I’ll be picking up the rest of the series.
I am so pleasantly surprised with this book. I got it as my “Blind Date with a Book” from my local library, so I really had no clue what I was getting into necessarily. I had heard people talk about this series for a bit but nothing extensive and it really blew past some of my expectations.
The good: I LOVED how Maas wrote in the time aspect of the story. There are so many novels that will make it seem like its been days where really its been months or vice versa. But with this, I could FEEL the time change. I could tell how long has passed and the story just flowed really well with the change in time.
The eh: The ending was great, but the last chapter kind of lost it for me. It was a very cliche they walk into the sunset type of deal and I really didn’t want that to be the ending. There was so much development and buildup but it just fell short. Reminded me of the ending to Breaking Dawn Part 1 and it just didn’t click right.
Nonetheless, I’ll be picking up the rest of the series.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
5.0
OH MY GOODNESS. ACOMAF is a million times better than ACOTAF. I have never been more in love with a world and a set of incredibly dynamic characters in my entire life!
This book features so much character building and so much incredible back story. I loved how Maas told part of the story, then gave us the behind the scenes details through bits and pieces. I also loved the relationship that was grown amongst the characters and how incredibly diverse each one was in terms of their interactions and personalities.
There are so many incredible moments of action, yet so many phenomenal moments of intimacy and emotion and I felt so deeply for these characters who have been through so much in this world but still have grown so incredibly strong from it.
- Spoilers ahead -
After the first part, I was all "bye, bye, Tamlin. See you neva!" And then he decides to show up and ruin the party. BUt OkAY, I love seeing the development between Rhys and Feyre but I waited SO LONG to see some actual action because they were both so scared like 99.9% of the time.
Side note - I COULD NOT STAND FEYRE THROWING UP EVERY 2 SECONDS AT THE BEGINNING. I JUST SAT THERE WAITING FOR HER TO LIKE BE A STRONG, INDEPENDENT, CONFIDENT FEMALE PROTAGONIST THAT WAS BUILT SO WELL BY THE END OF THE BOOK JUST WOW. I'M SO WOW.
This book features so much character building and so much incredible back story. I loved how Maas told part of the story, then gave us the behind the scenes details through bits and pieces. I also loved the relationship that was grown amongst the characters and how incredibly diverse each one was in terms of their interactions and personalities.
There are so many incredible moments of action, yet so many phenomenal moments of intimacy and emotion and I felt so deeply for these characters who have been through so much in this world but still have grown so incredibly strong from it.
- Spoilers ahead -
After the first part, I was all "bye, bye, Tamlin. See you neva!" And then he decides to show up and ruin the party. BUt OkAY, I love seeing the development between Rhys and Feyre but I waited SO LONG to see some actual action because they were both so scared like 99.9% of the time.
Side note - I COULD NOT STAND FEYRE THROWING UP EVERY 2 SECONDS AT THE BEGINNING. I JUST SAT THERE WAITING FOR HER TO LIKE BE A STRONG, INDEPENDENT, CONFIDENT FEMALE PROTAGONIST THAT WAS BUILT SO WELL BY THE END OF THE BOOK JUST WOW. I'M SO WOW.
The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand
3.0
4-4.5 stars
After 5 years of not reading the sequel to The Chocolate Thief, I’m so glad that now is when I chose to read The Chocolate Kiss. This world that Florand creates is so beautiful and so immersive! It’s total chick-lit, so if you wanted a good book to just fill you with all the happy feelings, I’d recommend it in a heart beat.
The one reason I’m giving this a 4-4.5 rating is because I wanted to see more development between Philippe and Magalie. We get the development in terms of their resistance to their feelings for once another and eventually giving into them, but I wanted to see more when they got upset with each other. It was as if they just switched their mindsets so quickly to mend to what the other wanted, and it fell short of the anger and passion that I was looking for between them. I also wish I had seen a little bit more from the last two chapters in terms of their “Happily Ever After,” but that just leaves more room for the reader to imagine!
Overall, in love with this world, the characters and the struggles they go through to be someone in their worlds. Off to start The Chocolate Rose! ✨
——-
Edited * Dropped it from a 4.5-5 to a 3.5-4 because I realized that I really didn’t feel anything for this book after the month was over. A 4.5-5 resonates with me, but this was just eh.
After 5 years of not reading the sequel to The Chocolate Thief, I’m so glad that now is when I chose to read The Chocolate Kiss. This world that Florand creates is so beautiful and so immersive! It’s total chick-lit, so if you wanted a good book to just fill you with all the happy feelings, I’d recommend it in a heart beat.
The one reason I’m giving this a 4-4.5 rating is because I wanted to see more development between Philippe and Magalie. We get the development in terms of their resistance to their feelings for once another and eventually giving into them, but I wanted to see more when they got upset with each other. It was as if they just switched their mindsets so quickly to mend to what the other wanted, and it fell short of the anger and passion that I was looking for between them. I also wish I had seen a little bit more from the last two chapters in terms of their “Happily Ever After,” but that just leaves more room for the reader to imagine!
Overall, in love with this world, the characters and the struggles they go through to be someone in their worlds. Off to start The Chocolate Rose! ✨
——-
Edited * Dropped it from a 4.5-5 to a 3.5-4 because I realized that I really didn’t feel anything for this book after the month was over. A 4.5-5 resonates with me, but this was just eh.
The Chocolate Rose by Laura Florand
2.0
2-2.5
The lowest rating I’ve given a Florand book! I think my biggest issue was how rushed it all felt. The other two had some more individual development and for this one, I feel like Jolie just couldn’t hold her own and it really disappointed me. Not only that, but her and Gabriel’s meeting was so quick and abrupt. I just wish there was more like there was in the previous two. I won’t be continuing this series.
The lowest rating I’ve given a Florand book! I think my biggest issue was how rushed it all felt. The other two had some more individual development and for this one, I feel like Jolie just couldn’t hold her own and it really disappointed me. Not only that, but her and Gabriel’s meeting was so quick and abrupt. I just wish there was more like there was in the previous two. I won’t be continuing this series.