Reviews by betweentheshelves

2.83k reviews by:

betweentheshelves

Titan of the Stars

E.K. Johnston

4.0

adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is a fairly quick read, though as you get closer to the end, you'll definitely realize there isn't enough time to resolve everything in the plot. Leaving you with a cliffhanger that will definitely make you want the next one immediately. If you like space horror, especially when people get trapped on a spaceship with something sinister, this is definitely the book for you!

Content Warnings

A Dark and Starless Forest

Sarah Hollowell

3.5

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book really hits its stride about halfway through, immersing itself in the magic and the mysterious nature of the forest. It is quite a dark book; trigger warnings for grooming and death/murder. I thought the magic system was intriguing, and it does have a good cast of core characters. I'm interested in checking out what else this author has done since this one!

Content Warnings

One of the Boys

Victoria Zeller

4.5

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This is definitely an important book to read given the current political climate, but also just a lovely book to read otherwise! I'm not necessarily a huge football fan, and though a lot of the plot is about football, it's also about finding your place, being comfortable in your skin, and having confidence in your own identity. It's also about friendship and community, and I loved the community that Grace ended up finding in the football team.

Though one is about sports and one is about theater, this reminded me of Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve, mostly in tone and theme. One of the Boys does feature some theater as well, though! If you like coming of age, identity finding stories, definitely check this one out.

Content Warnings

A Wish in the Dark

Christina Soontornvat

4.0

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

There's a lot to explore here, especially when it comes to power, privilege, and incarceration. I loved the magical twist on Les Miserables, with a cast of characters that will for sure steal your heart. This book has been recommended to me a couple of times, and I'm glad that I finally picked it up. Definitely one that I'll be recommending at work!

Content Warnings

Not Quite Dead Yet

Holly Jackson

3.5

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to Bantam and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson to review! This is Jackson’s adult debut, so I was interested in checking it out. She is known for her twisty YA mystery/thrillers, and this one definitely still fits that bill.

I will say, this is a pretty unique premise for a book. Someone who was violently attacked, alive long enough to solve their murder. Because of the premise, this is a fast-paced book with twists that (probably) won’t see coming. There were a couple that also surprised me, and it’s not always easy to surprise me. Jet ends up unveiling dark secrets that her small town might have wanted to keep in the dark.

While the driving mystery definitely keeps you reading, the writing felt bumpy from the beginning. There are also not a lot of likeable characters in this, which isn’t always a bad thing, but I’d like to at least like some of the side characters. There’s also a little bit of a romance, which I honestly could have done without (but it did add more emotion overall to the story).

All in all, I still think A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is Jackson’s best book, but if you’re looking for a dark, twisty mystery to pick up this summer, definitely try this one when it comes out at the end of July!
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Review to come!

Content Warnings

If Tomorrow Doesn't Come

Jen St. Jude

4.0

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A layered, end of the world story that definitely took me too long to get to. Not only is it a story about the end of the world, but it's also about mental health and accepting who you are despite what the world around you says. It's a beautifully devastating story, flipping between the past and the present with an ending that leaves you wondering. Definitely a book I'll be thinking about for a while.

Content Warnings

Let Them Stare

Jonathan Van Ness, Julie Murphy

3.0

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

So Jonathan Van Ness reads the audiobook for this, which meant that I could only picture the main character as Jonathan Van Ness because they have such a unique voice. Which is both a good and bad thing! The voice definitely fits the main character, and helps to bring the overall story to life.

This is a slightly cheesy, sweet story about finding your place and uncovering unknown queer history. It's a lovely little story, even if there are so many pop culture references included throughout. Like, so many. It is poking fun at influencer culture, though, so the references make sense, but I always find that that many pop culture references always pull me out of the story.

All in all, definitely an entertaining read!

Content Warnings

Huda F Wants to Know?

Huda Fahmy

4.5

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Huda Fahmy always has a knack for tackling difficult subjects in a more lighthearted, accessible manner. The third installment in her Huda series is no different; navigating divorce, regulating emotions, and what might come in the future. People of all ages will be able to relate to Huda and her struggles, with an art style that makes the book entertaining as well. If you haven't picked up this series yet, definitely do it!

Content Warnings

That Devil, Ambition

Linsey Miller

3.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Quite honestly, I'm not sure what to think about this book. The premise is fascinating, and it definitely fits the dark academia vibes if you're looking for that. It's actually quite dark; there's quite a bit of violence and dark magic included in this. There's also a lot of twists that make you want to keep reading to the end. And the ending is pretty shocking!

There were pieces of the world building that felt a bit confusing, though, which could have been attributed to the fact that I was listening to it. I wanted a better feel for the magical world overall, outside of this school.

Despite that, if you're looking for a haunting, dark read, definitely pick this one up!

Content Warnings

Beetle & the Chimera Carnival

Aliza Layne

5.0

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A delightful follow up to the first book, which is already a delight! I was so happy when I saw this on the shelf at the library and I realized that it was a sequel to one of my favorite queer middle grade graphic novels. This installment is about feeling comfortable in your own skin, even when that skin might be changing. It's such a wonderful message for a middle school audience, with a cast of characters who you want to be friends with.

All around, an A plus and I can't wait for a third book!

Content Warnings

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