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danadoesbooks's Reviews (954)
Thank you to Knopf Doubleday and NetGalley for a gifted ebook of Great Circle! All opinions in this review are my own.
I was intrigued by the premise of Great Circle, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. I read about 150 out of 580 pages before deciding to DNF this novel.
While I typically enjoy a novel with multiple timelines, I found the opening of this one confusing. There were too many time shifts and it was difficult at first to figure out how they all connected.
From the part that I read, it seemed like quite a bit of the narrative wasn't necessary and I didn't feel like slogging through another 400 pages to finally make it to Marian's final flight.
I was intrigued by the premise of Great Circle, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. I read about 150 out of 580 pages before deciding to DNF this novel.
While I typically enjoy a novel with multiple timelines, I found the opening of this one confusing. There were too many time shifts and it was difficult at first to figure out how they all connected.
From the part that I read, it seemed like quite a bit of the narrative wasn't necessary and I didn't feel like slogging through another 400 pages to finally make it to Marian's final flight.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Thank you to BiblioLifestyle, Mariner Books, William Morrow Books, and the author for the gifted copy of Holding Her Breath! All opinions in this review are my own.
Holding Her Breath is captivating! The cover initially drew me to this read, but I enjoyed reading about Beth's first year in college. The mystery surrounding her grandfather and Beth trying to figure out her own identity made this short novel really powerful!
Holding Her Breath is captivating! The cover initially drew me to this read, but I enjoyed reading about Beth's first year in college. The mystery surrounding her grandfather and Beth trying to figure out her own identity made this short novel really powerful!
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Thank you to BiblioLifestyle, Ecco Books, and the author for the gifted copy of Remarkably Bright Creatures! All opinions in this review are my own.
SYNOPSIS
Ever since her husband passed, Tova has been working at the aquarium. Now she has to deal with another loss on top of the mysterious disappearance of her son over thirty years ago. Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus, may know something about her son.
REVIEW
Marcellus really stole the show for me in this novel. I looked forward to his chapters the most and wish there had been more! As much as I love Marcellus, the mystery surrounding Tova's son was really interesting! I love how everything connected in the end.
SYNOPSIS
Ever since her husband passed, Tova has been working at the aquarium. Now she has to deal with another loss on top of the mysterious disappearance of her son over thirty years ago. Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus, may know something about her son.
REVIEW
Marcellus really stole the show for me in this novel. I looked forward to his chapters the most and wish there had been more! As much as I love Marcellus, the mystery surrounding Tova's son was really interesting! I love how everything connected in the end.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Forever for the gifted copy of Accidentally Engaged! All opinions in this review are my own.
After being let go from another job, Reena is looking for a distraction. Her friends convince her to enter a cooking show, but the catch is that she needs to be part of a couple. Enter her neighbor Nadim, the man her parents are also trying to arrange a marriage with. Can Reena fake an engagement to win the contest and keep her feelings for Nadim at bay?
I wanted to love this book. My favorite trope is fake dating and I love the reality TV show spin. However, I don't think Accidentally Engaged leans heavily enough into these tropes for me. Reena and Nadim are only fake dating when they film their audition videos for the baking show and the baking show isn't even large plot point. Unfortunately this romance didn't live up to my expectations.
After being let go from another job, Reena is looking for a distraction. Her friends convince her to enter a cooking show, but the catch is that she needs to be part of a couple. Enter her neighbor Nadim, the man her parents are also trying to arrange a marriage with. Can Reena fake an engagement to win the contest and keep her feelings for Nadim at bay?
I wanted to love this book. My favorite trope is fake dating and I love the reality TV show spin. However, I don't think Accidentally Engaged leans heavily enough into these tropes for me. Reena and Nadim are only fake dating when they film their audition videos for the baking show and the baking show isn't even large plot point. Unfortunately this romance didn't live up to my expectations.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Thank you to G. P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of The Daughters of Foxcote Manor! All opinions in this review are my own.
SYNOPSIS
First, a baby is found in the woods and a family decides to keep it. A few days later, a dead body is found in the same woods. Years later, Sylvie feels drawn to the woods but can't figure out why.
REVIEW
I love this thriller! I feel like it can be difficult to write a satisfying thriller, but Eve Chase expertly tied up all the loose ends into a conclusion that will not disappoint! I really like that the connections between the two timelines were scattered throughout the novel so it kept the mystery alive. I can't wait to read more of Eve Chase's books!
SYNOPSIS
First, a baby is found in the woods and a family decides to keep it. A few days later, a dead body is found in the same woods. Years later, Sylvie feels drawn to the woods but can't figure out why.
REVIEW
I love this thriller! I feel like it can be difficult to write a satisfying thriller, but Eve Chase expertly tied up all the loose ends into a conclusion that will not disappoint! I really like that the connections between the two timelines were scattered throughout the novel so it kept the mystery alive. I can't wait to read more of Eve Chase's books!
Thank you to Celadon and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of The Latecomer! All opinions in this review are my own.
Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I DNFed it 17% when I realized I didn't really care about the parents and couldn't push myself to get to the triplets' section.
Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I DNFed it 17% when I realized I didn't really care about the parents and couldn't push myself to get to the triplets' section.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Knopf and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of Ghosts! All opinions in this review are my own.
Ghosts took me a little while to get into at first, but eventually I came to really care for Nina. I feel like this is a pretty accurate account for any women trying to date men in their late 20s or early 30s, or even for women who are not on the marriage/baby track.
While I didn't agree with all of her decisions, I still enjoyed Nina's escapades traversing the dating world.
Ghosts took me a little while to get into at first, but eventually I came to really care for Nina. I feel like this is a pretty accurate account for any women trying to date men in their late 20s or early 30s, or even for women who are not on the marriage/baby track.
While I didn't agree with all of her decisions, I still enjoyed Nina's escapades traversing the dating world.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to HarperVia and BiblioLifestyle for the gifted copy of Velorio! All opinions in this review are my own.
Despite being about the aftermath of destruction, Velorio was written beautifully. I look forward to Xavier Navarro Aquino's next project!
Despite being about the aftermath of destruction, Velorio was written beautifully. I look forward to Xavier Navarro Aquino's next project!
emotional
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
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of Must Love Books! All opinions in this review are my own.
I quickly connected to Nora as a character. I appreciated reading a book about someone who tried out their dream and realized it wasn't for them. Normally when you read books about characters trying to figure out what they want in life, they are much younger, so Nora was a refreshing change.
While there is an element of romance in Must Love Books, I wouldn't categorize it as a romance overall. It was more about Nora finding herself and what she wants rather than a partner.
I quickly connected to Nora as a character. I appreciated reading a book about someone who tried out their dream and realized it wasn't for them. Normally when you read books about characters trying to figure out what they want in life, they are much younger, so Nora was a refreshing change.
While there is an element of romance in Must Love Books, I wouldn't categorize it as a romance overall. It was more about Nora finding herself and what she wants rather than a partner.
mysterious
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Ballantine Del Rey and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of Malice! All opinions in this review are my own.
In this queer retelling of Sleeping Beauty, what if it's the "villian" that is able to break Aurora's curse?
Although it took a little while for me to get into, I ended up really enjoying Malice! When I read retellings, I spend a lot of the time in the beginning looking for similarities to the original text. Malice stands out from its original source material and the world that Walter has created should be explored with a new mind. While Malice is a Sleeping Beauty retelling, it does go beyond the original fairy tale and I recommend trying not to compare the two.
I cannot wait for the second book in this duology!
In this queer retelling of Sleeping Beauty, what if it's the "villian" that is able to break Aurora's curse?
Although it took a little while for me to get into, I ended up really enjoying Malice! When I read retellings, I spend a lot of the time in the beginning looking for similarities to the original text. Malice stands out from its original source material and the world that Walter has created should be explored with a new mind. While Malice is a Sleeping Beauty retelling, it does go beyond the original fairy tale and I recommend trying not to compare the two.
I cannot wait for the second book in this duology!