jsant's reviews
935 reviews

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

2nd book in *the giver" series and it's quite different. Both dystopian YA novels but a different village and characters. The story felt unresolved and incomplete. Left wanting more but not in a compelling way. I enjoyed the first 90% of the book

The Lost Summers of Newport by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Historical fiction with a bit of romance. The stories typed together. One from the late 1800s, one from the 1950s and another from the late 2010s, all taking place in the same game mansion in Newport, RI. 

I wish there had been an author's note explaining the writing process of the 3 writers collaborating on a single book

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Perfectly enjoyable book. The perfect amount of geeky and ridiculous and adventure and intrigue. 

I adore Wil Wheaton's narrations. 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

challenging hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

YA dystopian novel that I've always heard about but had never read. I wonder how many more recent YA dystopian novels were inspired by this one. 

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A breakup story. Written well though I didn't love it. 

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Old Man's War by John Scalzi

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

John Scalzi is a master of SciFi. Always a unique storyline. 

This is set in the future in a time where humans are trying to conquer other planets so they can be colonized. Their recruits: 75 year old humans who volunteer to somehow be made into super soldiers. 

The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President by Edward F. O'Keefe
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.

Will try again another time. Maybe just wasn't in the right head space for it. 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A Twist of Fate by Kelley Armstrong

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

2nd book in the Stitch in Time trilogy, following a different, but connected storyline from the first. A good mystery