ashleyj_reads's Reviews (370)

TW: child abuse, loss of child, emotional manipulation and abuse. It takes a lot for me to feel the need to give other readers trigger warnings. Tread carefully, especially mothers/parents.

Hoover’s writing style in this story is breathtaking, literally at many points. For a reader to be able to distinguish the difference between characters simply by the vocabulary and sentence structure, is a skill in writing that is hard to find!

I had so much stress - actual heart racing moments - while reading this. My love and hate for the characters ebbed and flowed with the thrill of their stories.

I was told before that Hoover is a fantastic writer, and I’m glad I finally found a book of hers. Next, please!

Best “self help” book, ever.

Jazz took me on a roller coaster of memories, emotions, and eye openers. From this book, I learned that I’m not alone in my experiences or feelings. The steps she took in her journey will help me in my own as I begin to try to heal.

I am excited to see what Jazz does for the world and mental health!

This book is everything I expect from Dessen's writing!

The relatability - the term I don't love but feel so greatly whenever I read Dessen - happened as soon as I met the MC. The realistic problems she and her friends meet as they battle adolescence are at the forefront of the plot, but the emotion that comes with them is so deeply embedded in the characters' actions that you're pulled in deeper with every page turn.

Happy endings are cliche in YA romance/coming of age, but the way this is wrapped up is so perfect and realistically messy that it WORKS! Loved this book so much! Oh. And hate Spinnerbait.

This needs to be turned into a movie.

I was shocked at the writing style in this novel, and then when I found out this was the author's debut fiction novel, my mind was blown. It's hard to explain the style, but I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in the romance/contemporary genres.

The characters have some fantastic personalities that come through the pages, and it's like we already knew them before we started reading. Switching between narrators, which I only like if it's done well, work out fantastically for these characters. I loved being able to actually see all the parts of this story, which we usually don't get.

I wanted more, though! While the resolution was written just as well as the rest of the novel, I don't feel like it gave me enough of the details I was itching for.

Tracy Wolff is the QUEEN plot twists. Just when I thought I knew what was coming, I’d turn the page and something even juicier happened. Or what I expected happened with a twist that made it even better.
This book closed some story lines I wanted to see the end of (but also not because they are that good) and opened up a lot of new ones that I’m sure are the story for Charm. I’m DYING for July to get here.
I love a great, strong, woman MC…but when she has an ensemble of support who each have their own detailed stories growth that perfectly fit within the plot?! It’s the cherry on top.
The continuation of paranormal YA fantasy without following the typical canon is everything. I love this series so much. Bonus: this one finally gave me my first “book boyfriend” love!

It’s so great to get some extra background on a big piece of a complex series. I loved all the extras this book gave me: character profiles, Katmere information, and deleted scenes (the last one is SO COOL). As much as the extra scenes and points of view help shape the earlier books in the series, I wanted more, like the history of the school. Give me a prequel please!

I think what’s most important to start off with is that there are parts where I felt jealous of the author’s success. However, just like she says in the book, you can’t compare yourself to another creator‘s journey/path.

I was happy to see that about half of the lessons she is teaching, I have already learned or am in the process of learning.

The activities are awesome tools to work through for growing one’s creativity! I definitely recommend this book to any artist/crafter who is in a rut.

I was thoroughly impressed with this book. Historical fiction is typically one of the genres that's harder for me to get interested in and finish, but I flew through this book in a week! Brandes wrote the perfect balance of romance, familial love, thrill, violence, magic, and more. There wasn't a question left unanswered or string left untied. A piece of history I previously knew nothing about is now at the forefront of my research - I want to know more! Overall, a fascinating story and beautiful depiction.

Where are the feels!? As I read this book, this is all I kept asking myself. Writing structure and style: fantastic, except for what's missing. Characters' design, flaws, growth: well rounded and done perfectly within the plot. Plot: climax could use some more UMPH but otherwise really good. Relatability to relationship issues and life problems: spot on. Details: meh.

All the YA tropes are there, the predictability that comes with knowing the genre is there. But the details and emotions are not. I like to be able to picture the character in my head and mock their facial expressions and mannerisms as I read. I want to be able to feel what these guys in this little world are feeling. The writing style is missing these details - the things that make me 100% invested in the story.