How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
I enjoyed this book. It's very down to earth, but the challenges the main character faces dHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
I enjoyed this book. It's very down to earth, but the challenges the main character faces don't get wholly magically resolved. Even after the happy ending, she needs to face reality, which was refreshing for me in a book that's about changes, a new lease on life and finding that special person. It had some good themes about change and how hard to can be, and I found some things very relatable. It was a good read.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
It's interesting to read the reviews to this book. Half are raving about it, the other half are bashing it completely. For me? I don't know, I'm I'm tIt's interesting to read the reviews to this book. Half are raving about it, the other half are bashing it completely. For me? I don't know, I'm I'm the middle. It feels almost as if this book was so bad it was good? If it was released now, it would certainly deserve another review, but since it's so old, and compared to the amount of books released now, there were so few books back then, and relatively so few people who read them... That it's not easy to apply the same standards at all. To say the least, this book is very interesting for its history.
The pathos in it is hilarious though. If you've ever read Anne of Green Gables, you can be sure that all the books the girls swoon over must be this one and others like it. This book is earnestly written in the same pathos that L.M. Montgomery takes the piss at in her books! I found that unbearably, incredibly hilarious. How cool is it to share the same joke with an author who lived so long ago? I definitely rolled my eyes at the pathos, but I have to admit, I also kind of picked up the popcorn.
The story is terrible, the deus ex machina is terrible, the writing is god awful, but YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY ENGROSSED. What we have here, my people, is a telenovela a couple hundred years old. AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING.
This one was harder to get through than the others in the series so far (but, I mean, it IS book 5). It's much slower and honestly, kind of boring. AnThis one was harder to get through than the others in the series so far (but, I mean, it IS book 5). It's much slower and honestly, kind of boring. Another thing I didn't quite enjoy was how Anne never seems to do any wrong (anymore). She used to be such a lively, real character with flaws and funny hijinks - now she's just always right, correct, proper and well meaning. She's become flat and boring, maybe even a little preachey. Bummer....more
This book was so little about Anne and so much about everyone else it almost felt like a short story collection. It took me a while to warm to the epiThis book was so little about Anne and so much about everyone else it almost felt like a short story collection. It took me a while to warm to the epistolary format that most of the book takes, as less stuff happens than is talked about. But I feel like this might have been a better book than the previous one. Anne is turning too perfect and righteous in many ways, but considering the time period, this is fine. The stories are certainly very warm and sweet. In contrast to a lot of stuff written now, this may be somewhat saccharine, but I'd rather read this than another thing that is deep, but sad, or yet another night of doomscrolling. It makes for much better sleep and a happier evening....more
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
This book was so unexpected! I thought it would be a story that centers on Cecily being a pHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
This book was so unexpected! I thought it would be a story that centers on Cecily being a performer, but it wasn't like that. Mostly, it's a book about (view spoiler)[being abandoned, adopted, losing a child and giving it away (hide spoiler)]. This theme was repeated several times, kind of a bit much even, but in the end it all comes together and makes sense, you can feel like that's what the author chose specifically for the story to have deeper meaning. And it's such a painful story in so many places, some of the things that happen are a bit shocking. I feel like a lot of this history of the early 20th century hasn't been told a lot, and that's why some of the things that happened completely floored me. I feel like this is an important story to tell for those reasons, so I'm giving it 4 stars. I would have maybe gone with 3 if not for the subject matter, because a lot of the book was setup setup setup, and some things didn't move till I was maybe 60% in. The story is told in alternating timelines, and sometimes one of the timelines is moving at a good pace, but the others seem to be lagging behind as if they're waiting for that one to be done getting to the main point. But aside from that, this was definitely a good book.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
4.5 stars, rounded to 5
TW: (not a spoiler, it's how the book begins, but I'll tag it anywayHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
4.5 stars, rounded to 5
TW: (not a spoiler, it's how the book begins, but I'll tag it anyway) (view spoiler)[this book contains descriptions of assault and rape, as well as the aftermath of such a trauma; there is also self-harm (hide spoiler)]
Do you know there are several types of good book? There's the exciting, thrilling kind, there's the happy or sad kind, there's the wrack-your-head mystery kind of good as well. Just this last month, I read an exciting and happy kind of good book, but it's actually been a while since I've read a slow-and-steady kind of good book, and this is just what this one was. It's a slow burn, but what you're getting is just the steady kind of good, you know you'll turn the page and it's just going to be good and keep giving. The author won't let you down. Such a good reading experience.
The book is about an inheritance trial, about proving who you are and belonging, but it's not just that. It's also a book about healing - and the theme resonates through many storylines. There's the main storyline - a widow raising her children, suddenly left without a partner, who was also their breadwinner. Then there's her mother, dealing with a recent trauma and having to reshape her framework due to that. Both women have to reevaluate their points of view, as well as their direction in life, and grow past what's been holding them down.
It's a wonderful book, I especially loved the (view spoiler)[semi-open ending. (hide spoiler)] It was very satisfying and showed great character growth. I think I'll be checking out this author's other books too.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
Wow, I did not expect this one to hit me so hard. I thought it would be a light read, but iHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
Wow, I did not expect this one to hit me so hard. I thought it would be a light read, but it turned out to be actually so strong and so good. It's a story about a man abandoned by his quite deadbeat father, a man who's suffering from anxiety and generally being unable to thrive in life after certain traumas of the recent past.
A lot of this hit close to home for me, although I can't say my dad has a single interesting bone in his entire body, or any advice to give, as opposed to Will's dad being a misunderstood rockstar. But a lot of what Will has gone through, I've known, and what I loved about this book is being seen - a lot of the trauma and anxieties that come with growing up this way seemed to me to be accurately and sensitively portrayed.
I truly didn't expect this book to move me so much, but by the end I could say I was going to give it 5 stars. It was a great read. Definitely recommended.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Can I give this one 6 stars out of 5? Or, like, 10? It was so good. I feel like it's one of my best CRH books I've read so far. Although I kind of tenCan I give this one 6 stars out of 5? Or, like, 10? It was so good. I feel like it's one of my best CRH books I've read so far. Although I kind of tend to say that about most of them, after I finish them.
I'm such a silly head though, that I first got this book as a review copy from NetGalley, and then promptly forgot that, saw it on Amazon and bought it. Why? Because I auto-buy anything I see on sale by Catherine Ryan Hyde, because her books are so great. And then I realized I have two copies for some reason. Facepalm. But now that I'm done with it, I'm happy I bought it. This book deserved to be paid for, even if I'm giving it a review too. It's just so good. CRH is like my absolute favorite author of all time.
This book somehow manages to touch on all the sore subjects of the past few years (covid, school shootings, how unsafe the world seems, all of us sort of anticipating the end of times, at least because of the climate if not other reasons). And it just put everything together so nicely. And that's just the background of the story, it's not the main story itself. The main story is about working through trauma and growing up before your time, healing, and many other things. Oh, just read it for yourself - there is nothing I could say thay could do it justice anyway.
There's another thing I love about her books though. That her characters are always the way I'd like to see people. The good brought out in them. Although they go through terrible things, the world CRH draws is not a meaninglessly violent one. There is always good in it, and more importantly, there are always good and responsible people in it. I don't know if the world truly is like that, I hope so, but.. it's good to at least experience it in a book every now and then.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
3.5 stars, rounded down
This was a sweet story, the premise was very interesting and originaHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
3.5 stars, rounded down
This was a sweet story, the premise was very interesting and original, not sure I've heard anything like it before. But the execution could have been stronger. I do realize this is a middle grade book, but I've read many middle grades that were very strong in prose and plot. This one was fine, but felt more like a novelette - very short, things develop very fast, not much depth at all.
I also didn't love the dialogue - I don't know what it was about it, but either the author or I don't know how kids talk these days, cause it didn't feel like that's how they talk (hey, it could always be me who doesn't know, I don't spend a lot of time with kids). Either way, the dialogue didn't feel very natural, and the teenage characters and their motivations sometimes even more so.
But I did like the story, I LOVED the cover and I also liked the moral of the story as well. Actually just watched the movie Barbie a couple of days ago, and I felt like this book also had a lot of the same points to make, which was great.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
A story becomes a lot less interesting when the main character is all too powerful, almost godlike, completely impossible to best or even approach, anA story becomes a lot less interesting when the main character is all too powerful, almost godlike, completely impossible to best or even approach, and the only moments she fails is when she makes an emotional or tactical mistake. And even those mostly work out for her. The story lost its drive for me because of this....more
I'm not sure where I got this book. Maybe it was a freebie? Just in case it's an old forgotten review copy, I'll leave a review. If it is that case, dI'm not sure where I got this book. Maybe it was a freebie? Just in case it's an old forgotten review copy, I'll leave a review. If it is that case, disclaimer: the books provenance did not affect my opinion. At the time of this review, it was free on the author's website for an email newsletter sub, so if you're interested, you can grab it too.
Anyway, what an odd story! I take it this is a parody of zombie/vampire/any other kind of dystopias/fantasy, as it was popular about the time it was written. Maybe it's even parodying RPG games a little bit? It's really light-hearted and full of black humor. The characters are not taking themselves seriously, and it's kind of funny to read. From how the characters come up, I feel that the author was indeed taking the piss out of the many similar fantasy dystopias at the time. Especially with how the world was manipulated - how the laws of physics change to set up the story and the characters just accept it. This is a common trick in books like that, which made me chuckle. And despite all that - the story had its serious moments, which, despite the lighthearted and playful style of the story, did seem to belong and move you as they were supposed to. The more I read this book, the more I enjoyed it.
So this story was definitely weird, but I have to say, I was very entertained, and I don't even normally like parodies. This book, while totally a pisstake at these kinds of stories, managed to actually involve you on its own, and be engrossing despite using half of the same bad tropes the stories it was parodying would use. I'm not even sure how the author pulled that off! It was a silly and fun read. Definitely a few evenings well spent.
Also, funny story. The book joked on how the main character would rather prefer catatonia to Dame Shirley Bassey, and that's how I discovered her amazing music. I find that just as hilarious as the book, and I'm happy to disagree with the main character's taste in music
Merged review:
I'm not sure where I got this book. Maybe it was a freebie? Just in case it's an old forgotten review copy, I'll leave a review. If it is that case, disclaimer: the books provenance did not affect my opinion. At the time of this review, it was free on the author's website for an email newsletter sub, so if you're interested, you can grab it too.
Anyway, what an odd story! I take it this is a parody of zombie/vampire/any other kind of dystopias/fantasy, as it was popular about the time it was written. Maybe it's even parodying RPG games a little bit? It's really light-hearted and full of black humor. The characters are not taking themselves seriously, and it's kind of funny to read. From how the characters come up, I feel that the author was indeed taking the piss out of the many similar fantasy dystopias at the time. Especially with how the world was manipulated - how the laws of physics change to set up the story and the characters just accept it. This is a common trick in books like that, which made me chuckle. And despite all that - the story had its serious moments, which, despite the lighthearted and playful style of the story, did seem to belong and move you as they were supposed to. The more I read this book, the more I enjoyed it.
So this story was definitely weird, but I have to say, I was very entertained, and I don't even normally like parodies. This book, while totally a pisstake at these kinds of stories, managed to actually involve you on its own, and be engrossing despite using half of the same bad tropes the stories it was parodying would use. I'm not even sure how the author pulled that off! It was a silly and fun read. Definitely a few evenings well spent.
Also, funny story. The book joked on how the main character would rather prefer catatonia to Dame Shirley Bassey, and that's how I discovered her amazing music. I find that just as hilarious as the book, and I'm happy to disagree with the main character's taste in music...more
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
This book felt like such a chore. Someone here in another review has mentioned that the lanHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
This book felt like such a chore. Someone here in another review has mentioned that the language is really anachronistic, and while that's true, it didn't bother me. However, the two sisters kept switching between chapters, but they sounded like the same person, so later in the book it just got muddy whose chapter I'm reading when their circumstances stopped being so different that I could tell who it is solely by that. It was supposed to be thrilling, but was kind of just messy. I was so bored of the story I abandoned it for a couple of months... Then I decided to finish it on principle, and I have to admit, things did get interesting when it hit around the 80% mark, but I mean if you need to almost finish the book to get engrossed? Then it's probably not working. Shame, cause the book had nice ideas about putting things back in the museums of the countries they were taken out of, but... As for the story itself, didn't really hook me.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
To me it seems there are two kinds of Alice Hoffman books - the ones you can connect with eHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
To me it seems there are two kinds of Alice Hoffman books - the ones you can connect with easily (all the recent Practical Magic sequels, Faithful) and those that seem to have a glass wall between you and the book (Practical Magic itself, also this one). Or maybe it's just me? But this one felt distanced from the reader, muted emotions, I just couldn't connect. So I got stuck and dropped it for a long time.
When I finally came back to finish it, I wasn't very invested. I did like the ending, but the story itself, I don't know. It felt as if it was there for the message, but not for the story or the telling of it. It's although the whole story was a dream, muted and unreachable, and just so distant. It was fine, and the message is certainly good, but I don't know. Just didn't do it for me.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
I immediately got into this book and couldn't really stop reading. It's so very well writteHow I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
I immediately got into this book and couldn't really stop reading. It's so very well written, very engrossing and just so moving. Primarily though, it's about how we, as a society, dehumanize those who have made mistakes and how we're not willing to see the difference between those who are sorry for their crime and those who are not. I also don't know how it works in other countries, but judging by this book and some others I've read in the past, it sure looks like in the US, the system is simply designed to keep a person in, once they so much as spend a day inside.
Despite that, this book made me genuinely happy - for the author, and the way things turned out for her. It's a sad story, but not a sad book - and it has a happy ending (I'm not spoiling, okay? The author clearly wrote it, so she's fine!)
There is no way you'll be reading this book and not rooting for Mama Love. I dare you. I fell in love with her within the very first pages.
Oh, and unrelated - but I just wanted to say, how funny it is to find out you've read quite a few of the books co-authored by a person and you never knew. Loved them as well. Hilarious.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Evelina | AvalinahsBooks
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