alltheradreads's Reviews (1.9k)

I was curious about this one,but honestly... I am not “pop-cultures” enough to truly appreciate the art of this one. I was pretty sheltered as a kid and was a 90s baby so most of his references and stories and analogies went straight over my head sadly. That’s not to say this wasn’t well written, funny, or worth reading— it just wasn’t one I personally could connect with! If you’re a movie buff or a little older than I am or you looooove all things pop culture and find them interesting points of references for bigger questions of humanity, life, and faith, you will LOVE this one. I’m so glad he wrote it, especially for those people, and I can’t wait to pass this on to a friend who I know loves this stuff.

Thanks for the free book, @booklookbloggers!

I’ve pretty much determined Kristin Hannah can do no wrong. After living The Nightingale and The Great Alone, I wanted to go back and read some of her other books, and this one did not disappoint! The cover is misleading in that this one had very little to do with water (and seashells?!) and a lot to do with horses and ranches and rodeos and romances... Anyway... It was a bit slow to get going but once it did, it flew by and was a moving story of relationships, sisterhood, hope, the court/prison system, racism, and family. I wouldn’t say it was my favorite Hannah novel (Nightingale still wins!) but it got 4/5 stars from me!

A quick Saturday read — it really is true to the description of Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars! Twisty and layered and suspenseful enough to keep you guessing and trying to out the pieces together throughout every new chapter and all the details revealed about each character. I wasn’t shocked by the ending but also didn’t totally see it coming, so I’d say that’s a solid YA mystery plot right there!

This was a random book sale grab and it was a quick and easy read. It’s similar to books like The Nest, with a strong family focus told from different female perspectives. It’s much more about the characters and their family’s backstory than it is about plot, and I didn’t honestly find many of the characters especially likable or engaging or the story particularly compelling. Not a bad airplane read, but not a winner either.

Had an hour between my counseling session and an evening event and was glad I had this one in my bag to read! It’s an inspiring and compelling collection of short and easy to digest chapters about how to find your thing and do it well with what you have and where you are. I found it to be a good blend of personal stories and applicable encouragement, and think anyone with a dream to serve or change the world or make something that matters would find this helpful and motivating!

I don’t actually think I have read the others in the Devil Wears Prada series (but I saw the movie!) and this one definitely can stand on its own, but it just didn’t really impress me much. There was a lot of name dropping and references that felt forced and a little fake and like this book was trying too hard to be relevant… it some slight Scandal vibes (with the main character being a “fixer” for celebs) and some Real Housewives vibes, but mostly it was must pretty “meh.”

I’m such a big fan of Jedidiah Jenkins. His heart of gold, his wild and pure sense of adventure, his openness and honesty, his authentic desire for connection and exploration, his beautifully poetic style of writing… he is one of a kind and I’m glad he finally wrote this book. His Oregon to Patagonia adventure was incredible, the way he tells stories is engaging, and I didn’t want to put this one down. I loved the way he fictionalized and characterized his companion on the journey— it played as a perfect balance to his personal reflections and experiences. I wanted a bit more depth to his reflections and realizations and felt like he left a lot unsaid that would have been powerful to read, though. Parts felt unresolved in the end too, but overall, this one is worth a read!

This was an interesting one for me. Out of my comfort zone for sure (which I welcome gladly!) and challenging to get through, as it required a lot of shifting in my established thinking around gender, sexuality, relationships, self-discovery, and family. I’m actually unfamiliar with the author in terms of the shows/movies she’s made, and I think that would have been helpful in going into this one. I still learned a lot and gained empathy and a deeper understanding of what it’s like to come out as trans or queer and how it affects every aspect of life, work, love, etc. There’s so much I still don’t understand or feel totally comfortable with quite yet (and that’s okay!) but I’m thankful for brave writers who share their stories and by doing so help the rest of us learn and grow and evolve, too. Lots to think about after this one!

Finished this trilogy and LOVED it. Sometimes you just need to totally escape reality for a fantasy world and intergalactic battles and love stories and deception and intense drama and overthrowing hierarchies, right?! So glad I read these and can’t wait to dive into Iron Gold next and see where all my fave characters are ten years later!

My girl Anne has done I again. Honest and hilarious and hopeful, like the best chats with a friend over mugs of coffee. Her signature writing style shines here and it just feels genuine and relevant to life these days. Big fan. (As always.)