Reviews by betweentheshelves

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betweentheshelves

The Sisters of Reckoning

Charlotte Nicole Davis

4.0

adventurous tense 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

Even though it's been a while since I read Good Luck Girls, I didn't have any issues getting into this book. I felt like it was a seemless transition, which doesn't always happen when I read fantasy series so far apart. I loved what Davis did with the characters, and the plot felt like a natural progression of the first book. Overall, I'd say it was a hit!

Content Warnings

Kaleidoscope

Brian Selznick

3.5

emotional reflective fast-paced

This is a series of short stories, punctuated by Selznick's gorgeous illustrations. This is different from his other books, and the stories are mostly woven together by their focus on loss and grief. I think the overall format is clever and effective for the message that it's portraying. Easy to read quickly, but it's not my favorite of Selznick's books.

A Time To Kill

John Grisham

3.0

dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Read this book for a Banned Book Club discussion and it's safe to say that this definitely isn't my thing. There's a lot of legal stuff in here, and the plot itself is a bit slow moving. It will make for an interesting book club discussion, though!

Content Warnings

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

Laekan Zea Kemp

4.0

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: Yes

This YA contemporary definitely packs a lot off issues into it, filed with great characters and references to some delicious food. I think the romance between Pen and Xander unfolds really naturally, and adds to the tone of the story. Plus, the audiobook features a song written for the book, which is pretty cool!

Content Warnings

Ski Weekend

Rektok Ross

3.0

emotional tense fast-paced

Well, this was definitely suspenseful! Good if you like winter survival stories. More to come in a full review next week!

Content Warnings

Rainbow in the Dark

Sean McGinty

4.0

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

For most of this book, you're in the same boat as Rainbow, not really knowing what's going on. You can piece together events throughout, but nothing is really ever clear. It actually reminded me a lot of More Than This by Patrick Ness, same kind of surrealist, not sure what's really going on kind of book. I don't think this style is for everyone, but I actually really enjoyed it. Super engaging, with characters that will hook you until the end.

Content Warnings

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry

Joya Goffney

4.0

emotional lighthearted 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 was such a great rom-com! It has a bit of a To All the Boys I've Loved Before feel, and I think the topics it delves into are relatable and current. Plus, the characters all felt so real, and I loved Quinn's journey in this book. She learns so much about herself, and the romance worked so well. I would definitely recommend the audiobook as well!

Content Warnings

Frankie & Bug

Gayle Forman

4.0

emotional mysterious reflective 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

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this to review! I love Gayle Forman's YA stuff, so I was definitely excited to read her entry into middle grade fiction. I'm happy to say this book is definitely a success! A lovely story all about friendship and accepting those that are different than us.

The characters! Honestly, this was absolutely the best thing about this book. Frankie and Bug have such great chemistry on the page, and you get sucked into them and their mystery. At the beginning of the book, Bug is pretty set in her ways. But meeting Frankie allows her to let loose a little, learning that even if things don't got the way you expect, you can still make the best of it.

Set in the 1980s, there's also a lot in here about tolerance and learning to accpet those that are different. Forman really captures the 80s feel, and I think a lot of middle grade readers will enjoy this story. They'll get to learn how much things have changed in the US since then, and maybe how much they haven't. There are a lot of little details in the book that really set the stage and bring the whole community together. I loved reading about this little group in LA, and would love to read more adventures from them!

All in all, this is a great middle grade debut that has mystery, friendship, and a great heart.

Content Warnings

Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World

Benjamin Alire Sáenz

3.0

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this to review! I remember loving Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe back when it came out, so I was excited to dive into this one. Especially because it has an absolutely gorgeous cover!

This book picks up pretty much where the first one left off, if I remember correctly. It’s been quite a while since I read the first book. What’s great about these books are definitely the characters. Like Ari, you’ll fall in love with Dante, his quirky personality, the way he doesn’t seem to care what other people think. The side characters are also well developed, creating a cast you’re sure to fall in love with.

However, this book is very slow moving. Usually, I’m fine with slow moving books, but I just had a hard time getting into this narrative. Maybe it’s because it’s been too long since I read the first book. I don’t know. I’m not sure this book needs to be as long as it is, as pieces of the plot definitely feel like they drag a bit. There are beautiful moments, and I wish we had more of a chance to focus on those.

Despite the length, there are absolutely lyrical moments throughout the book. I do wish we got to see more of Dante throughout the book, as this is definitely more focused on Ari’s journey. But, if you loved the first book, I’m sure you’ll be just as hooked in this one.

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I think it's just been too long since I read the original book, and I just wasn't necessarily in the mood for this paritcular story. More to come in a review this week!

Content Warnings

Battle of the Bands

Eric Smith, Lauren Gibaldi

3.0

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

This was such a fun anthology! I loved the premise and overall, enjoyed the stories for the most part. I just think there were maybe too many stories. It made it difficult to keep track of how all of the characters were connected. Still really entertaining, though!

Content Warnings

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