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tracithomas's Reviews (1.05k)
lighthearted
fast-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
Another cute romance from Romanoff. I liked this one and found the conversations around success and shame to be interesting. Good sex scenes and a fun twist on enemies to lovers. I also loved the high school nostalgia. There were parts in the third quarter where I thought the book dragged a bit, but over all really fun.
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
This book is a feat of journalism and research. You can just tell the amount of care and respect that went into the process and every detail. I appreciated the depth of the book and the amount of history that is packed in. It did read as long and in spots I wished Gilliland would tighten things up, but overall that desire felt small compared to all that is in this book. She does a great job giving us the many perspectives and balancing the ethical quandaries in play. Plus I knew very very little going in and she is patient with her reader to make sure we get all the pieces -- while still giving us a strong narrative to latch on to.
dark
tense
fast-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
I was surprised by how readable and engaging this book was from the start. So many people have bad things to say about this book, and I didn't feel that way at all. It isn't Morrison's best, but it is a cut above so many other authors (and some of her other books). It is dark and deals with dark stuff but the ease with which the story unfolds is impressive. The sense of place felt very off to me. The argument she is having around child abuse and love and grief is worthy certainly.
informative
fast-paced
This book is rage inducing and so good. Really well researched and presented clearly. Private Equity is confusing and I basically knew nothing going in, and Greenwell breaks it down really well. This book is really about the four people's stories more than anything and won't give your the nitty gritty of PE, but if you're newer to the topic and want to understand the impact, this is your book. The stories are compelling (thought I wished for slightly more variety in outcome of her subjects). Short. Clear. Effective.
informative
medium-paced
Holy research and detail, Batman! This one is so impressive. I know a good amount about Nazis and WWII but this was mostly all new for me. I was aghast throughout at what went down and how it’s all played out into the present. This book is a service to the people.
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked this little novella. It is twisted and ambiguous and thought provoking. I loved the sex, power, and privilege play around disability. It starts with a bang and keeps you locked in throughout with an ending that sticks with you and is haunting as hell.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a very solid prequel. I liked it a lot. I think what Collins does with Snow's origin story is pretty well done. The book felt slow in spots and there were a few loose ends she rushed through or didn't address. But overall I liked the book, the way she gives so many nods to the world we know, while also flipping it all on its head. Smart smart smart.
informative
medium-paced
I really liked this book. It was super thought provoking. I think there were a few arguments (around sexual assault) that I wasn't wild about, but I do think the author did her best to handle them with care. I was really moved by some of the arguments she made around male friendship and boys need for tender emotion. I would have liked a more serious attempt at providing solutions or actions parents can take.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is such a great little romance novella. I loved the characters and the story. The pacing was great. I really appreciated that the author didn't get super obscure in her sex writing (she uses the word normal people use to talk about sex). I like the trope of celeb normies and I liked the shortness of the book. Very cute. Very good.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
This was so hit or miss for me. The takedowns are so so so good. Chu really knows how to trash a piece of art and artist. The newer pieces are fine, the title piece is weaker than the introduction. I got bored with some of the essays to the point of DNFing them. I also found myself wondering what it would be like to read a celebratory piece from Chu. I mean the woman can write, she is so funny and snarky and it comes through beautifully. The essays on trans identity and experience are also very very very good. Again, a real mixed bag for me.