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whatellaread's reviews
1093 reviews
One in a Million by Claire Lordon
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I really enjoyed this memoir about chronic illness and the search for answers when there is no diagnosis in sight. Claire’s anxiety about her future and depictions of very various mental health states are heartbreaking yet so relatable. I was particularly moved by her family and friend’s support as she navigated her health challenges. Highly recommended for any kid going through a rough time medically and all those who love them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Really I started this book well over a year ago in December 2023 and then for inexplicable reasons I put it down and couldn’t get myself re-excited about it. It stared at me for over a year on my bedside table and finally a few weeks ago I restarted on audio. Not at all surprised but I really ended up liking it! Lots of fun twists and turns even though the biggest twist was visible (to me) from 10 miles out. My one complaint is that the ending didn't fully work for me. It was both too tidy and yet also had a ton of unanswered questions/ unresolved elements, but it also didn't take a way my overall enjoyment of this really fun novel about friendships and secrets about who gets to own reality. I loved the authors note about the inspiration for this book too so be sure to seek that out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Funny, smart, and SEXY AS HELL, this is a rollicking and delightful gender swapped retelling of Phantom of the Opera and it lands in almost every way possible. So fun. Jen Comfort really swings for the fences and I love her fearless approach to romance!
The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
This is only my second Kinsale and I remain awed by her gift for language and poetic descriptions—you can see the influence on later writers like Duran and Thomas in a big way. This book was slow to start for me, but once it got going—really once they were in Westpark and then on from there—I was spellbound. I did find the ending somewhat abrupt, and I found the focus on Japanese and Hawaiian culture from an author who is, to my knowledge, not a member of those communities a little off putting (although it’s by and large respectfully done and definitely pro-native Hawaiian). Overall, a beautiful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Really enjoyed this, much more than book one. Hero and Griffin are are a great pair and I loved watching them fall in lust and then love, Thomas and Maximus as eat glass, protect Phoebe and Megs forever (did I look up if they get their own books? I did), and sweet Silence!!! What a cliff hanger too, good lord. I was planning to wait a month to get to the next book but now I’m not sure I can!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Physical abuse
Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Loved this!! Alexandra Vasti finds a way to write novels that are simultaneously hilarious and lighthearted, sweet and tender, and sexy with a nice mystery underlying the plot as well. Truly a delightful delicious read, I feel so lucky to be reading Alex’s books as they come out in real time!
My Inconvenient Duke by Loretta Chase
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Alice and Blackwood are both excellent characters and their banter and chemistry is evident from the start. What is missing for me in this book is why their relationship/marriage wasn't working (as we see in the previous two books in this series)--it felt like Loretta couldn't quite bring herself to let these two be miserable, however the end result was a book that felt disjointed and like it stopped and started over and over again. Loretta has a gift for writing witty, compelling characters, and that felt like the true saving grace of this novel. I'll obviously read Loretta forever and Kate Reading absolutely nailed the narration, but despite the fact that the first two books of this series will remain my favorites, this was a bit of a disappointment for me.
Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt
3.5
This is a solid series starter, but between there being so many characters introduced and a core romance I didn't quite buy into...this was just a 3.5 star read for me. However, I totally am hooked on the overall series and excited to dive into book two soon!
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I read this in one fevered sitting and truly could not put it down. Mia Vincy has such a gift for writing emotionally rich, layered, beautifully considered characters and creating premises that naturally throw these characters together into tension with each other in a way that can only be resolved by stripping back those layers. And yet despite the angst in this book, it is also riotously funny. My only quibble is that, like the first book, there are just one tiny thing too many happening near the end of the book that ends up crowding the main central plot. Such a minor issue here though, overall I found this to be just a gorgeous, divine read, and one I already want to pick up and start again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage