monarchbooks's Reviews (547)

Nothing Like the Movies

Lynn Painter

4.5

emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

I literally loved this book so much, it got me out of a horrendous reading slump and I read it in just 2 days. There were so many quotes and references to my favorite romcoms and an addictive soundtrack.

The reason for their break up was heartbreaking and the forced miscommunication was not as annoying as it usually is - I understood Wes's though process. Wes was really interesting to read and I loved seeing his interactions with Helen.

I do however wish we had gotten more of Liz's perspective of after the break up. What really pushed her to change so much? Changing her whole wardrobe over a break up and you're not going to explain her thought process on it? Really?

ALSO!

Are you telling me Wes never finds out Liz and Clark were FAKE dating? How does Clark cope not having Wes as his best friend?

My Oxford Year

Julia Whelan

4.5

reflective sad fast-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

"What if Oz is home now?"

That is the question that Ella Duran, the protagonist of My Oxford Year asks herself in the moment she chooses to abandon her life plan. Ever since a tragic loss in her childhood, her plan has always been: Become a Rhodes Scholar. Have an amazing political career. Never fall in love. And it seems to be working out for her, because on the same day she landed in England, she was offered her dream job consulting for the future first female President of the United States (they hope). She can do it all! But also on that same day, she (literally) runs into Jamie Davenport, the man destined to fuck up her blouse and her plans. But still, she can't help but be interested and when he happens to show up everywhere, particularly in her most embarrassing moments, who is Ella to say no when he makes her a proposition? Great sex. A tour guide around the city. And absolutely no falling in love. But you know what they say: We make plans and God delivers life changing news to our doorstep... or something like that.

The Giant Garden of Oz

Eric Shanower

4.0

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-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

Pretty good but some weird bits

The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library

Cleo Coyle, Alice Kimberly

4.5

adventurous dark mysterious 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

An interesting tale spun from a fictional mystery surrounding Edgar Allan Poe's death (His true last words were ""Lord, help my poor soul"")

Dorohedoro, Vol. 1

Q Hayashida

3.75

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I enjoyed it a lot! But this is just an intro novel and nothing really special happened so it's not the greatest.

Chainsaw Man, Volume 12

Tatsuki Fujimoto

4.0

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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: Yes

Enjoyable read. Don't like the meta manga jokes.

Sky Island

Janet K Lee, Amy Chu

4.0

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

If you looking for something close to the original story, this is not for you. However, I did really enjoy this graphic novel and the new story the authors wrote for Trot and Cap'n Bill.