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emilymax21's reviews
136 reviews
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
emotional
funny
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Nightbane by Alex Aster
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
funny
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? Yes
3.75
This is a great fiction book, but I don’t know that I can call it a thriller. Maybe it’s the upbeat wear the narrator read it, or maybe it’s because of how many POVs there was, but it wasn’t entirely suspenseful. There was a plot twist, and some tense situations at the climax, but I think it needs to be a little more than tense to be a thriller. I think having the antagonists POV may have taken away some of the mystery as it was clear they were a little crazy from the beginning. But as a fiction book, it is still entertaining, I was compelled to keep reading to know how it got resolved, and it handled its themes very well.
I do think this story will translate well as a thriller for a tv show where we aren’t exposed to every character’s thoughts and actions. Probably one of the rare situations where the show may be better than the book, and I look forward to watching it.
I do think this story will translate well as a thriller for a tv show where we aren’t exposed to every character’s thoughts and actions. Probably one of the rare situations where the show may be better than the book, and I look forward to watching it.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book would have been rated much higher if the ending wasn’t so abrupt and the twist being so boring and upsetting. It is hard to explain without spoiling much, but this book had so much potential and then ended so poorly. The ending was so predictable and stereotypical that I just disregarded it as a theory entirely until it actually happened.
The writing before that point was okay; it was pretty basic & not incredibly consistent with pacing, but kept me intrigued and curious, as well as invested but furious with the narrators and their choices. This author knows how to correctly write unlikeable characters. Although I question how much research they really did into the justice system and the lawyer profession.
The writing before that point was okay; it was pretty basic & not incredibly consistent with pacing, but kept me intrigued and curious, as well as invested but furious with the narrators and their choices. This author knows how to correctly write unlikeable characters. Although I question how much research they really did into the justice system and the lawyer profession.
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cannabis for Chronic Pain: A Proven Prescription for Using Marijuana to Relieve Your Pain and Heal Your Life by Rav Ivker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
It had some good educational points about the title topic, but it strayed off topic so much it was hard to keep listening. I appreciate an intersectional and holistic approach, but it would be like 1 minute about cannabis to every 10 minutes of other topics. That’s not very helpful when cannabis is literally in the title.