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hann_cant_read's reviews
468 reviews
On Screen & Off Again by Caitlin Cross
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wil had issues from so many different directions but they didn’t seem to leave an actual permanent impact
- things affected her career but not HER, past getting mad and immediately getting over it
- her drinking / going out problem wasn’t addressed because she suddenly didn’t have a drinking problem anymore when she decided not to
- her crime sprees just stopped after getting caught one time
- Her exec producer sexually harassed her as a child and she’s just like …fine other than being kicked off a show. Her career suffered, but we didn't actually dive into how terrible that would have been and the impact it would actually make on her psych (i.e. the drinking problem she just stopped having)
The romance moved way too quick - they fell into bed immediately and conflicts kept popping up and then being glossed over. Despite the fact that no conflict lasted long she was still opposed to the relationship. But she kept hooking up with him. It felt like we were being told a lot of things, but not shown, and at times even that felt clunky. I lost track of how many times someone said something and it was followed by "we laughed." It almost read like a first person script with just "he did this then she did this"
The manufactured will they won’t they just kind of ended. There was no real resolution except this one person said something that resonated with Wil, that other people also said and she ignored, but this time it’s different so I can change my mind
Not a huge fan of the super villain stepmom and the lack of accountability from Wil’s dad. She still thinks her pulling away (at 17?! When he didn’t even care if she was in the room when he proposed?!) was the problem?!
Dax’s relationship with his dads was fixed with one conversation? That whole situation felt weird.
- things affected her career but not HER, past getting mad and immediately getting over it
- her drinking / going out problem wasn’t addressed because she suddenly didn’t have a drinking problem anymore when she decided not to
- her crime sprees just stopped after getting caught one time
- Her exec producer sexually harassed her as a child and she’s just like …fine other than being kicked off a show. Her career suffered, but we didn't actually dive into how terrible that would have been and the impact it would actually make on her psych (i.e. the drinking problem she just stopped having)
The romance moved way too quick - they fell into bed immediately and conflicts kept popping up and then being glossed over. Despite the fact that no conflict lasted long she was still opposed to the relationship. But she kept hooking up with him. It felt like we were being told a lot of things, but not shown, and at times even that felt clunky. I lost track of how many times someone said something and it was followed by "we laughed." It almost read like a first person script with just "he did this then she did this"
The manufactured will they won’t they just kind of ended. There was no real resolution except this one person said something that resonated with Wil, that other people also said and she ignored, but this time it’s different so I can change my mind
Not a huge fan of the super villain stepmom and the lack of accountability from Wil’s dad. She still thinks her pulling away (at 17?! When he didn’t even care if she was in the room when he proposed?!) was the problem?!
Dax’s relationship with his dads was fixed with one conversation? That whole situation felt weird.
In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-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
3.5
This story was cute!
I had only read Pride and Premeditation - but it became clear in the course of reading this that I probably should have read the other Jane Austen Murder Mystery books before diving into this one. There were some relationships that existed that seemed kind of random, until I read the summaries of the other two books (Sense and Second-Degree Murder, and Manslaughter Park)
It's a cozy mystery despite having murder - very predictable, but that's just part of the formula. I like the way the author has experimented with Lizzie's and Darcy's personalities - I've seen some critiques of their characterization being not accurate and I disagree. Of course some liberties were taken, (this is a re-imagining after all!) but I think the crux of both their issues with pride and stubbornness are exemplified and explored in a fun new setting.
I had only read Pride and Premeditation - but it became clear in the course of reading this that I probably should have read the other Jane Austen Murder Mystery books before diving into this one. There were some relationships that existed that seemed kind of random, until I read the summaries of the other two books (Sense and Second-Degree Murder, and Manslaughter Park)
It's a cozy mystery despite having murder - very predictable, but that's just part of the formula. I like the way the author has experimented with Lizzie's and Darcy's personalities - I've seen some critiques of their characterization being not accurate and I disagree. Of course some liberties were taken, (this is a re-imagining after all!) but I think the crux of both their issues with pride and stubbornness are exemplified and explored in a fun new setting.
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book had a slow start, but ultimately by the second half I was flying through it.
I did enjoy getting to know Frank through mostly Twyla’s eyes - how his behavior didn’t change much but her perspective and what she notices really does.
This book knows it’s a little cheesy and quirky, and embraces those facets of itself, which I came to appreciate once the story really began to develop.
I did enjoy getting to know Frank through mostly Twyla’s eyes - how his behavior didn’t change much but her perspective and what she notices really does.
This book knows it’s a little cheesy and quirky, and embraces those facets of itself, which I came to appreciate once the story really began to develop.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I started a challenge a few months back to listen to some of the classic children’s stories that I had never read as a kid as my bedtime audiobook of choice.
After seeing way too many TikTok edits of Anne with an E, I began listening to 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘎𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴.
It’s so good.
Yes it’s still a children’s story, so yes it’s endowed with morals and lessons learned throughout, but it’s not always Anne (the child) who is learning them which I find refreshing. Adults make mistakes too, and sometimes have to apologize to children. Revolutionary.
By the end this book had me laughing and crying in equal measure. I’ve already started listening to 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘢.
After seeing way too many TikTok edits of Anne with an E, I began listening to 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘎𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴.
It’s so good.
Yes it’s still a children’s story, so yes it’s endowed with morals and lessons learned throughout, but it’s not always Anne (the child) who is learning them which I find refreshing. Adults make mistakes too, and sometimes have to apologize to children. Revolutionary.
By the end this book had me laughing and crying in equal measure. I’ve already started listening to 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘢.
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved it. And I think that in large part has to do with the fact that I listened to the audio rather than reading the physical book. The narrators really brought this book to life.
I do think I would have still had a good time reading a physical copy, but some of the pain points I also think would have been harder to glaze over in that format.
The premise is so unique and fun with the shadow magic, even if the world building leaves a lot of questions unanswered. The plot twists were predictable, but I've said it a million times and I'll say it a million more, I'd rather they be predictable than not make any sense.
Pretty excited for book 2, whenever it comes out. I'll be listening to that one too!
I do think I would have still had a good time reading a physical copy, but some of the pain points I also think would have been harder to glaze over in that format.
The premise is so unique and fun with the shadow magic, even if the world building leaves a lot of questions unanswered. The plot twists were predictable, but I've said it a million times and I'll say it a million more, I'd rather they be predictable than not make any sense.
Pretty excited for book 2, whenever it comes out. I'll be listening to that one too!
Wisteria by Adalyn Grace
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I was so excited about this one!
This whole trilogy had me on a roller coaster. I had enjoyed book 1 but didn't love it, I loved book 2 (after dnf-ing the physical copy and instead listening to it) and I was enjoying book 3, until about the halfway mark. The 2nd half left me feeling kind of meh to the whole story.
Much like book 1, book 3 felt a little half baked. Like there was a solid premise, but the solution / conclusion came to her as she wrote it rather than being plotted out ahead of time.
The Percy plot twist of book 1 I thought made no sense. There was no lead up, no clues, it was literally just a twist. But it happened, and the aftermath in book 2 did make sense.
But then to bring him back? And not only that, to make Blythe refuse to kill him? It makes literally no sense, especially considering Fate's curse on him was way worse. Not a single person won in that scenario. Just let him die dude.
With all the build up, the ending just felt anti-climatic.She just had to wait, sadly, for a while, and then everything was fine again. Except for with Percy. His life still sucked I guess.
This whole trilogy had me on a roller coaster. I had enjoyed book 1 but didn't love it, I loved book 2 (after dnf-ing the physical copy and instead listening to it) and I was enjoying book 3, until about the halfway mark. The 2nd half left me feeling kind of meh to the whole story.
Much like book 1, book 3 felt a little half baked. Like there was a solid premise, but the solution / conclusion came to her as she wrote it rather than being plotted out ahead of time.
The Percy plot twist of book 1 I thought made no sense. There was no lead up, no clues, it was literally just a twist. But it happened, and the aftermath in book 2 did make sense.
With all the build up, the ending just felt anti-climatic.
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Somehow these characters have become even more dear to me? I thought I loved them before, but man.
There was such an underlying tension this whole book - I knew something was going to go wrong, I just didn't know how or when. The teasing different smaller problems and then working through them while this horror that the characters were completely oblivious to just loomed over everything kept me turning the pages, despite, honestly, not a whole lot happening plot-wise.
It was very clearly a connector book - filling in the gaps between the plot of the first book and the plot of the second. Normally when I say that it's the lead in to how it's kind of boring, pacing is slow, etc. but that is most definitely not the case here. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The pacing was wonderful, and the characterization / set ups for the third book have me giggling and kicking my feet while also crying.
I cannot believe how long it took me to dive into this one after reading the first one over two years ago.
There was such an underlying tension this whole book - I knew something was going to go wrong, I just didn't know how or when. The teasing different smaller problems and then working through them while this horror that the characters were completely oblivious to just loomed over everything kept me turning the pages, despite, honestly, not a whole lot happening plot-wise.
It was very clearly a connector book - filling in the gaps between the plot of the first book and the plot of the second. Normally when I say that it's the lead in to how it's kind of boring, pacing is slow, etc. but that is most definitely not the case here. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The pacing was wonderful, and the characterization / set ups for the third book have me giggling and kicking my feet while also crying.
I cannot believe how long it took me to dive into this one after reading the first one over two years ago.