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caseythereader's Reviews (1.84k)
emotional
funny
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:
No
Thanks to Berkley for the free copy of this book.
- IT’S ELEMENTARY is just how I like my cozy mysteries - smart, sharp, funny and fast paced.
- I adored Mavis and her inner monologue as she tried to keep up with everything on her plate as a single Black mom in a wealthy neighborhood.
- I do think there was a lot of time spent spinning wheels in the middle of the book, when nothing new was really being discovered. And even though I figured out whodunnit before Mavis, I still very much enjoyed my time spent with these characters and would absolutely read more mysteries by Bryant.
- IT’S ELEMENTARY is just how I like my cozy mysteries - smart, sharp, funny and fast paced.
- I adored Mavis and her inner monologue as she tried to keep up with everything on her plate as a single Black mom in a wealthy neighborhood.
- I do think there was a lot of time spent spinning wheels in the middle of the book, when nothing new was really being discovered. And even though I figured out whodunnit before Mavis, I still very much enjoyed my time spent with these characters and would absolutely read more mysteries by Bryant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Books Forward PR for the free copy of this book.
- THEA AND THE MISCHIEF MAKERS has me questioning why I don’t read more middle grade books, because this was so fun.
- I loved that this book is both a magical adventure and a lesson to look out for others instead of just yourself. Evan doesn’t have a stated diagnosis, but he’s clearly neurodivergent and Thea learns that someone’s awkwardness isn’t worth losing a great friendship over.
- There’s also a great thread of the plot that’s about the unexpected ways grief can manifest itself that’s done so well for younger kids to grasp.
- The duwendes were great too, also a perfect mix of silly and serious.
- THEA AND THE MISCHIEF MAKERS has me questioning why I don’t read more middle grade books, because this was so fun.
- I loved that this book is both a magical adventure and a lesson to look out for others instead of just yourself. Evan doesn’t have a stated diagnosis, but he’s clearly neurodivergent and Thea learns that someone’s awkwardness isn’t worth losing a great friendship over.
- There’s also a great thread of the plot that’s about the unexpected ways grief can manifest itself that’s done so well for younger kids to grasp.
- The duwendes were great too, also a perfect mix of silly and serious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thanks to PRH Audio for the free copy of this book.
- I picked up THE ABSINTHE UNDERGROUND on a whim, and it turned out to be a delight. Cozy, adventurous, magical, sapphic...what more could you want?
- I loved the opposites attract, friends to lovers dynamic of Sybil and Esme. They were such a perfect pair, and each pushed each other to grow throughout the story.
- Even though I was certain it would all turn out fine in the end, each step of the heist had me holding my breath.
- I picked up THE ABSINTHE UNDERGROUND on a whim, and it turned out to be a delight. Cozy, adventurous, magical, sapphic...what more could you want?
- I loved the opposites attract, friends to lovers dynamic of Sybil and Esme. They were such a perfect pair, and each pushed each other to grow throughout the story.
- Even though I was certain it would all turn out fine in the end, each step of the heist had me holding my breath.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
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adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
Thanks to Levine Querido for the free copy of this book.
- What a joy to be back in Elatsoe’s world! SHEINE LENDE is the story of Elatsoe’s Four-Great Grandmother when she was a teenager herself.
- W’re treated to another magical mystery and another group of bighearted friends and family trying to solve it.
- Inside the mystery is a real, tough story of colonization, classism, and racism. Anyone who says these topics can’t be made age appropriate should read this book.
- What a joy to be back in Elatsoe’s world! SHEINE LENDE is the story of Elatsoe’s Four-Great Grandmother when she was a teenager herself.
- W’re treated to another magical mystery and another group of bighearted friends and family trying to solve it.
- Inside the mystery is a real, tough story of colonization, classism, and racism. Anyone who says these topics can’t be made age appropriate should read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Racism
adventurous
mysterious
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
Thanks to William Morrow Books for the free copy of this book.
- ALL THIS AND MORE has such a fabulous premise. What if you could go back to the road not taken? Could you make your life absolutely perfect in every way?
- However, I think this book would have been better in a linear narrative format rather than the choose your own adventure style. Things got repetitive fast since we had to be sure we didn’t miss important plot points on any particular path. At one point I even got looped around to chapters I’d already read.
- The format also meant Marsh’s character growth kind of came out of nowhere. Instead of actually learning things, she just suddenly was a more take charge person because the plot needed it to move.
- The rules and mechanics of the quantum bubble also weren’t really cohesive. I’m not a stickler for explaining all the science in sci-fi, but it didn’t follow its own logic.
- ALL THIS AND MORE has such a fabulous premise. What if you could go back to the road not taken? Could you make your life absolutely perfect in every way?
- However, I think this book would have been better in a linear narrative format rather than the choose your own adventure style. Things got repetitive fast since we had to be sure we didn’t miss important plot points on any particular path. At one point I even got looped around to chapters I’d already read.
- The format also meant Marsh’s character growth kind of came out of nowhere. Instead of actually learning things, she just suddenly was a more take charge person because the plot needed it to move.
- The rules and mechanics of the quantum bubble also weren’t really cohesive. I’m not a stickler for explaining all the science in sci-fi, but it didn’t follow its own logic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, Alcohol
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Avon Books for the free copy of this book.
- I just can’t pass up a reality dating show novel, and THE VILLAIN EDIT is probably the juiciest one I’ve read yet.
- I didn’t think a lot of the plot made sense - How is “failed author” going to make you a beloved contestant? Could you really not see that everyone hated you? Did you think the cameras were really gone? Why would they let you talk openly about producer machinations on air? Etc. Maybe I just watch too much Bachelor, though.
- However, despite or maybe because of all that, I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what would happen next.
- I just can’t pass up a reality dating show novel, and THE VILLAIN EDIT is probably the juiciest one I’ve read yet.
- I didn’t think a lot of the plot made sense - How is “failed author” going to make you a beloved contestant? Could you really not see that everyone hated you? Did you think the cameras were really gone? Why would they let you talk openly about producer machinations on air? Etc. Maybe I just watch too much Bachelor, though.
- However, despite or maybe because of all that, I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what would happen next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Forge Books for the free copy of this book.
- MASQUERADE is a gorgeously rich story. A loose Persephone and Hades retelling set in precolonial West Africa, the world of this story drew me in immediately and the beautiful writing kept me hooked.
- I took some issue with characterization in this book. Òdòdó didn’t have a very solid personality, and she veered between naive and smarter than a room full of generals depending on what the story needed.
- I did love how it was entirely women that drove the plot forward. Women who were trying to break out of the confined roles they were given, and each choosing different ways to try to do it.
- MASQUERADE is a gorgeously rich story. A loose Persephone and Hades retelling set in precolonial West Africa, the world of this story drew me in immediately and the beautiful writing kept me hooked.
- I took some issue with characterization in this book. Òdòdó didn’t have a very solid personality, and she veered between naive and smarter than a room full of generals depending on what the story needed.
- I did love how it was entirely women that drove the plot forward. Women who were trying to break out of the confined roles they were given, and each choosing different ways to try to do it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Gun violence
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
No
Thanks to Libro FM for the free copy of this book.
- OUT ON A LIMB is a nearly perfect romance novel. The ideal blend of sweet, spicy, funny and meaningful. Can you believe I’m saying this about an accidental pregnancy story?! Me either, but it’s true!
- The chemistry between Win and Bo is off the charts. The banter is top notch and the romance incredibly spicy.
- Both main characters have limb differences, and it’s a very important part of their story but it’s not the whole story.
- OUT ON A LIMB is a nearly perfect romance novel. The ideal blend of sweet, spicy, funny and meaningful. Can you believe I’m saying this about an accidental pregnancy story?! Me either, but it’s true!
- The chemistry between Win and Bo is off the charts. The banter is top notch and the romance incredibly spicy.
- Both main characters have limb differences, and it’s a very important part of their story but it’s not the whole story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent
Minor: Suicide, Vomit
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Del Rey Books for the free copy of this book.
- Ooh, THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO had me kicking my feet and giggling! I adored this cozy urban fantasy inspired by Korean folklore, with a dash of enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine romance.
- I would read a hundred books set in the world Kim created here, with gods and magical beings intermingled in the human world.
- This story is funny and cutesy, but also has battle scenes that will have you holding your breath.
- Ooh, THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO had me kicking my feet and giggling! I adored this cozy urban fantasy inspired by Korean folklore, with a dash of enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine romance.
- I would read a hundred books set in the world Kim created here, with gods and magical beings intermingled in the human world.
- This story is funny and cutesy, but also has battle scenes that will have you holding your breath.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol