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danadoesbooks's Reviews (954)
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to BiblioLifestyle, William Morrow, and the author for the gifted copy of Notes on an Execution! All opinions in this review are my own.
SUMMARY
Ansel is scheduled to die today. He's confessed what he did to those girls years ago, but his deepest desire is to be understood. Alternating between Ansel's last hours and stories from the women in his life, Notes of an Execution explores the multiple roles Ansel has played in his life and what led to his punishment.
THINGS I LIKED
- There were still twists despite already knowing the ending
- The use of second person point of view, even if it was used for Ansel
I highly recommend checking the content before reading if you are sensitive to certain topics.
SUMMARY
Ansel is scheduled to die today. He's confessed what he did to those girls years ago, but his deepest desire is to be understood. Alternating between Ansel's last hours and stories from the women in his life, Notes of an Execution explores the multiple roles Ansel has played in his life and what led to his punishment.
THINGS I LIKED
- There were still twists despite already knowing the ending
- The use of second person point of view, even if it was used for Ansel
I highly recommend checking the content before reading if you are sensitive to certain topics.
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
A wakes up in a new body every day. This has been happening their entire life and they're used to it. However, one day when they meet Rhiannon, everything changes. A must do everything in their power to see her because they have never felt this way before. Can a relationship work when someone looks like a new person every day?
I clearly had no idea what this book was about because otherwise I would have read it sooner! While A's relationship with Rhiannon was the main focus, I was more interested in reading about the different people A woke up as. The variety is amazing and I would read a whole book just dedicated to A's life.
I clearly had no idea what this book was about because otherwise I would have read it sooner! While A's relationship with Rhiannon was the main focus, I was more interested in reading about the different people A woke up as. The variety is amazing and I would read a whole book just dedicated to A's life.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted copy of Dava Shastri's Last Day! All opinions in this review are my own.
SUMMARY
When Dava Shastri learns that she is terminally ill, she decides to announce her death before it happens. Dava has spent her life building an empire and giving back. Now she wants to read what people have to say about her. However, when her kids learn of her plan, they struggle to not only deal with their grief, but with their mother's deception as well.
THINGS I LIKED
- Dava seems so put together in the beginning of the novel, but the more you learn about her, the more you realize her life is messy just like everyone else's
- Each chapter begins with a quote or post from someone's remembrance of her
- The novel dealt honestly with grief. Not only are Dava's kids grieving for her, but it also explores Dava's grief for the loss of her husband
- This is truly a family saga and you get the perspective of every character throughout the novel
SUMMARY
When Dava Shastri learns that she is terminally ill, she decides to announce her death before it happens. Dava has spent her life building an empire and giving back. Now she wants to read what people have to say about her. However, when her kids learn of her plan, they struggle to not only deal with their grief, but with their mother's deception as well.
THINGS I LIKED
- Dava seems so put together in the beginning of the novel, but the more you learn about her, the more you realize her life is messy just like everyone else's
- Each chapter begins with a quote or post from someone's remembrance of her
- The novel dealt honestly with grief. Not only are Dava's kids grieving for her, but it also explores Dava's grief for the loss of her husband
- This is truly a family saga and you get the perspective of every character throughout the novel
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of Reckless Girls! All opinions in this review are my own.
SUMMARY
Lux is drifting through life. She followed her boyfriend to Maui, but she is stuck cleaning hotel rooms when she was promised adventures. When two girls hire Nico to take them to a deserted island, Lux decides to go too. As the four of them set out for a remote island in the Pacific, they learn that the sinister past may be a curse still lurking on the island.
THINGS I LIKED
- the sinister feeling of the island increasing as the book progressed
- the flashbacks that revealed more about the characters
- how easy it was to read this book in large chunks because I had to know what was going to happen
- reading a book set in a tropical setting when it was below freezing where I was
SUMMARY
Lux is drifting through life. She followed her boyfriend to Maui, but she is stuck cleaning hotel rooms when she was promised adventures. When two girls hire Nico to take them to a deserted island, Lux decides to go too. As the four of them set out for a remote island in the Pacific, they learn that the sinister past may be a curse still lurking on the island.
THINGS I LIKED
- the sinister feeling of the island increasing as the book progressed
- the flashbacks that revealed more about the characters
- how easy it was to read this book in large chunks because I had to know what was going to happen
- reading a book set in a tropical setting when it was below freezing where I was
lighthearted
fast-paced
Let it Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle is made up of three interconnected holiday romances. This novel was originally published in 2008 so it was funny to read about the characters' flip phones and having enough minutes to make a phone call. Unfortunately, there are some jokes made in John Green's story that did not age well.
One of my favorite parts of Let it Snow was seeing how the stories overlapped. It comes as no surprise that Maureen Johnson's story was my favorite. I loved the Truly Devious series and I'm interested in reading more of her titles now!
One of my favorite parts of Let it Snow was seeing how the stories overlapped. It comes as no surprise that Maureen Johnson's story was my favorite. I loved the Truly Devious series and I'm interested in reading more of her titles now!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Despite being much gorier than I would typically like, I really enjoyed Breach of Peace!
An imperial family is found murdered and mutilated in their home. Inspector Khlid must team up with two other inspectors in order to solve this gruesome murder. As the trio dig further, they realize that they may be uncovering something bigger than they had ever anticipated.
Breach of Peace is the first novella in a planned trio. Although at times a bit gross, Greene's writing is descriptive and immersive. In less than 150 pages, he is able to build the world that houses these tough and gritty characters. I like how this novella blends mystery and fantasy to create a page-turning story. I look forward to reading the second one, Rebel's Creed!
An imperial family is found murdered and mutilated in their home. Inspector Khlid must team up with two other inspectors in order to solve this gruesome murder. As the trio dig further, they realize that they may be uncovering something bigger than they had ever anticipated.
Breach of Peace is the first novella in a planned trio. Although at times a bit gross, Greene's writing is descriptive and immersive. In less than 150 pages, he is able to build the world that houses these tough and gritty characters. I like how this novella blends mystery and fantasy to create a page-turning story. I look forward to reading the second one, Rebel's Creed!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Galaxy "Alex" Stern is struggling. She dropped out of school and lives with her drug-dealer boyfriend. One day Alex wakes up in the hospital to learn that she is the sole survivor in a mysterious massacre. When she is offered a full scholarship to attend Yale University and become the next Dante for Lethe House, Alex jumps at the chance. Now at Yale, Alex struggles to reinvent herself while simultaneously monitoring the rituals of Yale's secret societies. When a local girl is murdered, Alex must discover who is behind it and how she fits into the secret societies before it is too late.
The first 100 pages didn't grab my attention so I put Ninth House down for a month. When I picked it back up again, I was immediately drawn back into the world and the story. I love the blend of fantasy and history. Despite the characters not being very likable, I am intrigued about their future adventures.
The first 100 pages didn't grab my attention so I put Ninth House down for a month. When I picked it back up again, I was immediately drawn back into the world and the story. I love the blend of fantasy and history. Despite the characters not being very likable, I am intrigued about their future adventures.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As an orphan, Locke Lamora struggled to survive in the city of Camorr. Over the years he has been able to hone his thieving and con artist abilities to form the Gentleman Bastards. Through Locke's elaborate schemes and trickery, the group becomes infamous. However, when someone threatens to take all that Locke has achieved, he must be quicker, smarter, and tougher in order to keep what is his.
This book is fantastic! The Lies of Locke Lamora is packed with action and despite being pretty gruesome at times, Locke is really funny. I like how elaborate his plots were and how he always had a backup plan in case something went wrong. Although my copy is over 700 pages, I flew through it! I can't wait to read the second book, Red Seas Under Red Skies!
I wish I knew that this series was unfinished before I started. I thought it was just a trilogy but people have been waiting years for the fourth book to come out. At least I have two more books to read until I get to that point!
This book is fantastic! The Lies of Locke Lamora is packed with action and despite being pretty gruesome at times, Locke is really funny. I like how elaborate his plots were and how he always had a backup plan in case something went wrong. Although my copy is over 700 pages, I flew through it! I can't wait to read the second book, Red Seas Under Red Skies!
I wish I knew that this series was unfinished before I started. I thought it was just a trilogy but people have been waiting years for the fourth book to come out. At least I have two more books to read until I get to that point!
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Thank you to Crooked Lane, NetGalley, and the author for the gifted ebook copy of A Three Book Problem! All opinions in this review are my own.
In the seventh book of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, Gemma Doyle is asked to work a Sherlock Holmes themed weekend getaway. As the guests begin arriving, Gemma is confused to learn that many of them are not even Sherlock-enthusiasts. Things become even more complicated when a poison dart sails through the library window. Now Gemma must solve this three book problem.
It can be difficult to start a series on the seventh book, but I thought that A Three Book Problem introduces the main characters in the series and the roles they play well. I want to read the other books in the series because I want to read more about the bookshop and town of West London.
Overall, this was a quick, cozy mystery. I like when mysteries introduce all of the suspects in the beginning because it makes it seem like I could figure out who the murderer is before the end. When it ends up being a character who isn't central to the story, the ending always seems less satisfying. I look forward to reading about more of Gemma's adventures!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of The Last Beautiful Girl! All opinions in this review are my own.
In this YA adaption of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Izzy is forced to leave her life in Brooklyn behind as her parents move her to a small town. At least she gets to live in a beautiful mansion once belonging to an artist's muse, even if it does need some updating.
When Izzy discovers some of Isabella's old dresses and jewelry, she creates an Instagram account where she dresses up as Isabella. Izzy looks gorgeous in the photos, almost unnaturally so, and they quickly grow viral. As her account gets more and more popular, a change comes over Izzy. When other girls start getting hurt, it's clear there is something sinister going on.
I haven't read The Picture of Dorian Gray (hoping to change that this year) so I went into The Last Beautiful Girl with only a vague understanding of the novel it is based on. Laurin does an excellent job creating a sinister atmosphere that creeps up on you as you read. Despite the book being conversation heavy at times, the trepidation that something much worse was coming kept me reading. I cannot wait to read The Picture of Dorian Gray now!
In this YA adaption of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Izzy is forced to leave her life in Brooklyn behind as her parents move her to a small town. At least she gets to live in a beautiful mansion once belonging to an artist's muse, even if it does need some updating.
When Izzy discovers some of Isabella's old dresses and jewelry, she creates an Instagram account where she dresses up as Isabella. Izzy looks gorgeous in the photos, almost unnaturally so, and they quickly grow viral. As her account gets more and more popular, a change comes over Izzy. When other girls start getting hurt, it's clear there is something sinister going on.
I haven't read The Picture of Dorian Gray (hoping to change that this year) so I went into The Last Beautiful Girl with only a vague understanding of the novel it is based on. Laurin does an excellent job creating a sinister atmosphere that creeps up on you as you read. Despite the book being conversation heavy at times, the trepidation that something much worse was coming kept me reading. I cannot wait to read The Picture of Dorian Gray now!