katietotallybooked's Reviews (785)

 Jacqueline Woodson has such a way with words and her entire backlist is on my tbr list for this year.

With the ongoing sadness and high level of coping that our young protagonist ZJ is experiencing and having to manage in regards to his father's changes, you can't help but feel compelled to care for ZJ. The reader grows to understand ZJ's divergence from football because of how it is impacting his father and his family. You also witness how ZJ is coming to terms with his own manhood and his desire to pursue a different path for himself. I don't think I've read anything quite like Before the Ever After before.

Even though this book is written for middle grade readers, I'd recommend it to any reader, young or old, who wants a beautiful story written in a poetic verse narrative style. 

 First audiobook of 2021!

Can you call a book 'tasty' and 'delicous'? Because this had my mouth watering as it invigorated my taste buds, and it had my mind remembering how lovely real French food tastes. I couldn't help but reminisce about my own trip to Paris while listening to Ann's stories. There truly is something delicious about French cuisine. And croissants are not the same anywhere else. HANDS DOWN!

Each chapter also ended with a recipe, which would be great for foodies or anyone who wants to give French cuisine a whirl in their own kitchen!

However, I wanted more from this book, and that's why my rating is only 3/5. I would have loved more talk about French desserts and wine. And I don't feel like I came out of this book with any life-changing takeaways or insights. But it is still a good listen, and I think if you are more of a foodie or a chef, you'll enjoy this book more. 

 After being on my Goodreads TBR list since 2013, I can finally cross this one off! But only to add several more because now I want to finish this loose series and read the author's backlist! I am so grateful that my book club often has 'read the book that's been on your TBR the longest' prompts in challenges or else I may not have discovered Marisa de los Santos.

Love Walked In is a heartwarming story that features the dual perspectives of Clare, an 11 (going on 30) year old who struggles with an absentee father and a mother who just isn't acting the same anymore, and Cornelia, a true romantic who loves movies and Hollywood and isn't expecting love to walk in to her love when it does.

I loved Clare's character. She captured my heart from the very beginning. Cornelia - not so much. But if you can give this book the first 100 pages to build up from it's slow-start, your fondness of her might grow too.

This book touches on mental health that is more sensitive and alluring than if it was written in 2020.

I really enjoyed the writing, which is why I want to read all of the author's books! This really is my kind of book about love. I found the entire story very endearing. I guess I am more a fan of contemporary love stories than romance. And if you're a reader out there who appreciates and knows the difference, then you might enjoy this too. 

 Here we have a book that is unique and quirky and unlike anything I've ever read before. It's a 'day in the life' story set at a New York City apartment building where you have a cast of endearing, yet sometimes irritating characters. Martin is the building's superintendent who is struggling with the challenges of his work and is using meditation and mindfulness to cope. Then we meet his twenty-something daughter Ruby, who has just moved back home after college and is trying to figure out her next step. Debra is Martin's wife and Ruby's mother, and she's a Librarian who is off to a conference and not present during most of the novel. Then there's a bunch of side characters, including Caroline, John, and Andy - oh wait until you meet Andy.

The writing is detailed and descriptive - after all, the whole 300 pages are set over one day. This is a character-driven book, and the author takes a dioramic approach to storytelling. There are parts of this book that truly shocked me with their absurdity, yet I will remember this book with some fondness.

I'd recommend this book to literary readers who appreciate character-driven novels that are unique and 'day in the life'-esque.