i expected this to just be a fun little romance with some workplace drama sprinkled in there too… now tell me why this book made me so emotional! i fei expected this to just be a fun little romance with some workplace drama sprinkled in there too… now tell me why this book made me so emotional! i fell in love Jolene—whether that is because i relate so much to her or not has yet to be determined; she is funny and witty and i absolutely loved watching her come out of her comfort zone and look beyond the walls of her own cubicle to actually form a connection with her colleagues.
every single character was extremely well fleshed out, it warmed my heart how Jolene eventually managed to forge a relationship with all of them. Cliff, of course, was the most endearing of them all, but i appreciated how the romance didn’t take over this story—this was about Jolene’s personal growth first and foremost, and about the realization that there is so much more to life than a boring office job.
this book felt like receiving a warm hug, i don’t know what else to say. hands down one of the best reads i’ve had this year!...more
"Sometimes, he thought to himself, you were able to choose the life you wanted. And if you were of the lucky sort, sometimes that life chose you ba
"Sometimes, he thought to himself, you were able to choose the life you wanted. And if you were of the lucky sort, sometimes that life chose you back."
well, i think it's safe to say that The House in the Cerulean Sea has stolen a piece of my heart forever. it was exactly the kind of book i needed at this point in my life: just charming and delightful from start to finish, it felt like a receiving a warm hug. every single character was so endearing, i couldn't tell you who my favorite was even if you pointed a gun to my head! and, of course, while i wasn't reading this book for the romance, i adored Linus and Arthur's relationship.
the way TJ Klune describes the general atmosphere, it's like you're right there at the house in the cerulean sea with all of them. i closed the book feeling both blissful and devastated that it was time to say goodbye. i need more stories like this! ...more
oh wow, oh wow, oh wow... how do you even begin a review when you’ve just closed the book and then spent the next five minutes staring into noth[4.75]
oh wow, oh wow, oh wow... how do you even begin a review when you’ve just closed the book and then spent the next five minutes staring into nothingness, pondering over what you’ve just read?
the first two installments were good. they were incredibly well written—this is, after all, Hanya Yanagihara—and eloquently crafted. some passages, however, didn’t manage to hold my attention, and instead made the reading of this book quite tedious, because to be honest i got bored. this isn’t to say i didn’t find the characters or themes interesting, just that the pacing wasn’t to my taste. at this point, i was ready to give the book three stars.
but the third installment? the third installment was like a kick to the gut. it reminded me of why i love reading and left me with the same feeling i had after finishing A Little Life—though perhaps a little less intense, for obvious reasons. it’s the feeling of utter despair mixed with a love for the characters so fierce you don’t even know what to do with yourself. Charlie, her relationship with her grandfather and the way she is portrayed both through his eyes and in the first person point of view was fascinating to read. she is such an intriguing character and i felt for her so much. i was also glad to see Hanya Yanagihara finally place a woman at the center of one of her works!
regarding the book as a whole, i thought it was extremely unique. i loved discovering three different universes and meeting so many characters from different generations who have led separate lives and yet are all connected to one another—whether it be by their names, their heritage, their complex family dynamics or their constant, desperate search for love and acceptance.
it’s truly a beast of a book and definitely not the kind you can fly through in just a couple of days, but i loved it. please go read it and, more importantly, take your time with it!...more
this was absolutely delightful!! i just love Sarah Hogle’s writing so much. having read all of her books so far, i can confidently say that she is onethis was absolutely delightful!! i just love Sarah Hogle’s writing so much. having read all of her books so far, i can confidently say that she is one of the funniest contemporary authors i’ve ever seen, and this transpires in every single character she creates: they are so hilarious. and trust me, i don’t have a habit of laughing out loud while reading, but Bettie’s internal monologues had me giggling on several occasions.
speaking of the characters—halfway through the book, i already knew i would get unhealthily attached to Hall & Bettie, just like i did with Wesley & Maybell (Twice Shy) and Naomi & Nicholas (You Deserve Each Other). i honestly find them so unique and unlike any other characters in the genre?? a special mention goes to Hall because he is such a refreshing love interest; he is nothing but warm, pure and tender-hearted, i don’t think i’ll ever get over him (i’m still thinking about the fact that he kept accidentally making mistletoe appear above Bettie’s head when he wanted to kiss her and had to make it disappear before she noticed… so adorable). also, i was thrilled to see that the author made him bisexual!
all in all, Just Like Magic is a sweet, lovely story that doesn’t even take itself too seriously—if Bettie’s nieces and nephews’ names are any indication—but manages to steal a piece of your heart anyway. if you don’t mind magical realism in contemporary romance then please go give it a try! oh, and it’s a Christmas romance, which means you have no excuse not to read it this month!!!...more
**spoiler alert** there are so many things i could say about this book; i could talk about how stunning i found the writing, how much i loved all the **spoiler alert** there are so many things i could say about this book; i could talk about how stunning i found the writing, how much i loved all the characters, how bittersweet that epilogue was, how rare it is that a YA fantasy makes me feel so many emotions...
but what struck me the most, over everything else—even the romance—, was the bond between Will and Jem. it was so beautiful and heart-wrenching, i don't think i've ever seen anything like it, nor will i ever again. writing parabatais into this universe was the best decision Cassandra Clare could have possibly made. what more can i say except that the scene where Will finds out Jem died through their rune is permanently inked into my brain and my heart aches every time i think about it!
i'd also like to take a moment to appreciate Jem's character. i loved Will and Tessa, of course—oh how i loved them—, but Jem was just something else. his kindness and selflessness brought tears to my eyes on multiple occasions; he deserved so much better than what he got. the only thing that comforted me was the epilogue, but even then... that boy was sick his whole life, gave Will and Tessa his blessing without an ounce of hesitation when he thought he was dying, then spent over a century all alone in the Silent City, before he could finally have his happy ending with her... it was all i could do not to throw myself onto the floor sobbing when i closed the book. that's how much he moved me.
i am so grateful i got to read this trilogy. it was heartbreaking, yes, but Cassandra Clare writes her characters with such depth, their actions so consistent with who they are, that you can't help falling in love with them. ...more
j’aurais du mal à bien l’expliquer mais il y a vraiment quelque chose dans cette série qui me touche profondément ; le contexte napolitain, l’extrême j’aurais du mal à bien l’expliquer mais il y a vraiment quelque chose dans cette série qui me touche profondément ; le contexte napolitain, l’extrême variété des personnages, le fait qu’on s’attache et s’identifie très facilement à Elena…
ces livres sont un énorme coup de coeur, je me lasserai jamais de les recommander <3...more
what a rare and wonderful thing it is to finish a novel not entirely sure whether the tears filling up your eyes are of sadness or joy… i sometimes fowhat a rare and wonderful thing it is to finish a novel not entirely sure whether the tears filling up your eyes are of sadness or joy… i sometimes forget this can actually happen—that is, until i stumble upon that one book that makes me wish i could instantly forget everything about it to discover it anew.
this is only the second volume that i’ve read of Cassandra Clare’s series, but i now fully understand why it gets so much praise. the writing, of course, is exquisite; the story is perfectly paced, to the point where you don’t even notice you’ve gotten sucked in until you look up and realize you’ve read 200 pages in one sitting; and oh, the characters… how do i even to describe the attachment i feel towards the characters. i was laughing with them one moment, and crying for them the next.
i hardly ever connect on such a level with fictional characters, not to mention this is YA; i have nothing against the genre, but it’s known to be simpler, to remain more or less superficial. in The Infernal Devices, however, Tessa, Will and Jem have truly stolen a piece of my heart. individually, they are so dear to me, and romantically… well, let’s just say it takes a tremendous amount of talent to be able to write a love triangle without the reader rooting for one side or the other for too long at a time. it’s absolutely heart-wrenching—especially with Will and Jem’s backstories—, but i wouldn’t want to be reading anything else. ...more
j’ai vraiment adoré cet essai, qui constitue un peu mon introduction à la théorie féministe ! l’autrice a soulevé énormément de points très pertinentsj’ai vraiment adoré cet essai, qui constitue un peu mon introduction à la théorie féministe ! l’autrice a soulevé énormément de points très pertinents — certains dont j’avais déjà connaissance mais que j’ai apprécié lire à nouveau, et d’autres que j’ai découvert avec beaucoup d’intérêt !
point bonus, c’est entre autres grâce à ce livre que j’ai pu déterminer mon sujet de mémoire pour mon master ; je vais travailler sur la représentation des sorcières dans la littérature du XXe siècle, donc merci Mona Chollet ;)...more
there is no universe in which this book isn't a 5-star read for me, i knew this with absolute certainty only a few chapters in. it truly boggles the mthere is no universe in which this book isn't a 5-star read for me, i knew this with absolute certainty only a few chapters in. it truly boggles the mind how R.F. Kuang was able to create a masterpiece like this at such a young age. here i thought there was no way she could outdo herself after The Poppy War!
this isn't just your average historical fantasy. it's the kind of novel you take your time with; i wouldn't have been able to fly through it in just a couple of days, because every chapter—particularly towards the end—pretty much requires you to close the book and reflect. just imagining the amount of research R.F. Kuang must have put into writing this gives me a headache. i loved learning about translation and discovering it in a different light: the way it's never just a discipline, but a political tool, a political weapon, even.
the intricate and perfectly crafted magic system blends in flawlessly with the historical context. sure, the entire second half of the book was incredibly brutal and felt like my heart was being ripped right out of my chest, but in a lot of ways i wouldn't have expected anything else. war isn't fair, and R.F. Kuang showed the harsh reality: she showed that no matter how good of a person you are, how innocent you are, it is rarely enough when you're faced with something as powerful as the British Empire and its systemic oppression. and, sometimes, the only way to fight back is to put your morals aside and match the enemy's unrestrained violence.
thank you R.F. Kuang for such a powerful book!...more
oh wow, this went in a complete different direction than i thought it would! the first few pages are extremely confusing and almost lost me, but i soloh wow, this went in a complete different direction than i thought it would! the first few pages are extremely confusing and almost lost me, but i soldiered on because of how much i loved this sort of whimsical and mysterious atmosphere, and i don't regret it one bit. it's one of the most unique books i've ever read!
there wasn't a single point in the story where i wasn't questioning everything or hypothesising on what the plot twist might be—every time i thought i had it figured out, i was taken on a different path entirely. i was fully invested in Piranesi's journey to discover the truth, and what made it all the more captivating was how endearing this character is. i will hold him close to my heart forever <3
i'm extremely jealous of all the people who get to read this book for the first time; i wish i could forget it all and discover it again!...more
c’est le livre le plus perturbant et macabre qu’il m’ait été donné de lire, mais en même temps tellement beau et poétique !! je trouve qu’il permet dec’est le livre le plus perturbant et macabre qu’il m’ait été donné de lire, mais en même temps tellement beau et poétique !! je trouve qu’il permet de voir le monde sous une nouvelle perspective — olfactive, en l’occurrence —, et Grenouille est tellement unhinged comme personnage principal que l’expérience de lecture est finalement hyper singulière et originale. franchement, je valide !!...more
i’ve been feeling myself slowly start to drift away from YA recently, but i have got to say Cassandra Clare might have changed my mind !!
i love[4.5]
i’ve been feeling myself slowly start to drift away from YA recently, but i have got to say Cassandra Clare might have changed my mind !!
i loved everything about this book—the writing, plot and characters were absolutely wonderful, and i am so glad to finally discover this universe after having only watched the Netflix TV show. i will definitely be reading Clockwork Prince as soon as i’m able to get my hands on it ! ...more
this book was nothing short of spectacular, i will forever be in awe of the way R.F. Kuang constructed such a beautiful yet heart-wrenching story! Thethis book was nothing short of spectacular, i will forever be in awe of the way R.F. Kuang constructed such a beautiful yet heart-wrenching story! The Burning God was the perfect finale to a PHENOMENAL trilogy.
i fell deeply in love with so many characters—including my dearest Kitay—, but i got attached to Rin the most. yes, she was deeply flawed, but somehow this led me to love her even more. she made the most awful decisions sometimes, especially in this installment, and i couldn’t even blame her for them because the author gives you such in-depth access to her thoughts and reasonings that you get her. i don’t even know how to explain it. i truly felt like i was by her side through everything she experienced, and it’s so rare for a book to captivate my attention like this! it was enthralling.
the last chapter made me feel like my heart was being ripped out of my chest, but at the same time, i couldn’t imagine a better way for this trilogy to end.
i also don’t think this series would have moved me this much if the writing wasn’t so outstanding?! every single one of my expectations was met. this is one of the easiest 5 stars i’ve ever given, and i am so, so excited to read R.F. Kuang’s future works!...more
what a remarkable read this was!! i can't believe it took me so long to pick it up, as it has now become one of my favorite adult fantasies of all timwhat a remarkable read this was!! i can't believe it took me so long to pick it up, as it has now become one of my favorite adult fantasies of all time <3
while the novel is extremely action-packed and, undoubtedly, plot-driven, i can't possibly write this review without mentioning the characters, who have nestled themselves into my heart in a way that rarely happens but fills me with such joy when it does! i was especially moved by the relationship between all four of the Kaul siblings. my attachment to them—which can only grow from there—largely compensated for some of the less interesting chapters, namely the interludes or the ones centering around Bero's character.
on top of that, the writing was exceptional and participated in making the whole plot and setting captivating—i absolutely loved the magic system Fonda Lee created and i can't wait to see how it evolves in the next two books!...more
"The thing about Shakespeare is, he's so eloquent... He speaks the unspeakable. He turns grief and triumph and rapture and rage into words, into so
"The thing about Shakespeare is, he's so eloquent... He speaks the unspeakable. He turns grief and triumph and rapture and rage into words, into something we can understand. He renders the whole mystery of humanity comprehensible."
re-read [16/03/2024] : my heart aches
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first read [26/01/2022] : everyone go read this book RIGHT NOW !! it was sitting on my shelf for months before i finally decided to pick it up, and now i'm incredibly angry at myself for not doing it sooner! if you're familiar with Shakespeare and enjoy reading dark academia novels such as The Secret History, you'll adore If We Were Villains. i wouldn't say that having a deep knowledge of Shakespeare and his work is absolutely necessary though—personally, i'm not an expert—, but it just enhances your reading experience!
seriously, this book is a masterpiece. i fell so deeply in love with both the story and the characters that it took me several days to, one, get over it, and two, be able to organize my thoughts in order to write this review.
you follow seven theater students in their fourth and final year at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, and quickly discover that the novel is in fact a murder mystery revolving around this little group of students. first of all, i loved that even though you can kind of predict who the author of the crime is—M.L. Rio uses quite a lot of foreshadowing throughout the story if you pay attention to the Shakespeare quotes—, the whole unveiling of the mystery is enthralling, especially from Oliver's (the protagonist) viewpoint.
it was absolutely genius on the author's part to not only create theater students and leave it at that, but to structure the entire story in parallel with the dramatic genre. there is a division in acts and scenes (with prologues at the beginning of each act that help us progressively uncover the truth), but furthermore it contains precisely five acts, just like Shakespeare's plays, which basically follow the pattern: exposition, complication, climax, falling action, denouement.
i won't spoil the ending but i am a huge fan of the way the author left it up for interpretation; i did have to do a little research in order to understand exactly everything it could mean, but once i did this it became all the more interesting!
i will conclude this review by saying that I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR JAMES AND OLIVER!! my absolute babies they deserve the whole entire world !! M.L. Rio really knows how to create complex—sometimes morally gray—characters that you can't help but love anyway <3...more
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