xangemtheelibrarian's reviews
985 reviews

The House Swap by Yvette Clark

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was interesting. I thought Sage and Ally had a lot of relatable problems, and I especially felt for Sage. I definitely also went through my own spy girl phase when I was a kiddo, and that was really fun to see in Ally. A very "life is messy but we make the best of it" kind of book.

Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O'Shaughnessy
Did not finish book.

another one I skimmed to get through. The bits I read, I found the writing style engaging. The chapters written semi-like letters were very interesting as they deviate from the classic "narrator tells the reader a story." The main character is instead telling her grandmother what's going on in her life after her grandmother passed.

I think that this story would really appeal to those who are looking for a found family. 

Girl Out of Time by Clyde Boyer
Did not finish book.

Skimmed this, but didn't read every page, so that's why it's in my DNF pile. I couldn't get into it. The premise sounded so cool and looking at the ending, it was meant to be a really sweet sci-fi story. But the writing... It bored me so much. 

Half Moon Summer by Elaine Vickers, Elaine Vickers

emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

Decent. I enjoyed Drew and Mia's relationship, but I can't help but hope that they end up a couple when they're older haha.

I admire both kids' tenacity and desire to just try to make things better. And running 13 miles?? That is an astounding accomplishment.

No One Leaves The Castle by Christopher Healy

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

If Knives Out had been written by Lemony Snickett, this is what that movie would have looked like. It's quirky, fun, lighthearted, and a TWISTY mystery. The narrator made me laugh out loud so many times throughout this book. Altogether, a very good time!

Eagle Drums by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This story touches my heart. I love hearing the myth behind how the Iñupiaq people came together. I can't imagine living such a solitary life as Piŋa and his family had, even as introverted as I am. I wasn't sure if I wanted to like the eagles or hate them. They seemed so callous for so much of the story, until Piŋa dropped his guard and truly saw them. How beautiful it was to show Piŋa opening his heart to others by how they are portrayed in the narration.

I think this audiobook pairs nicely when read alongside the ebook or physical copy, so you can see the Inuit words and names in this story. 

Eagle Drums by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This story touches my heart. I love hearing the myth behind how the Iñupiaq people came together. I can't imagine living such a solitary life as Piŋa and his family had, even as introverted as I am. I wasn't sure if I wanted to like the eagles or hate them. They seemed so callous for so much of the story, until Piŋa dropped his guard and truly saw them. How beautiful it was to show Piŋa opening his heart to others by how they are portrayed in the narration.

I think this book pairs nicely when read alongside the audiobook, so you can hear how to correctly pronounce the Inuit words and names in this story.

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 53%.

A quote of issues I listed out to my friend that I have with this book that caused me to dnf it:

"It's giving... idk. This poor girl. He's stalking her. And this guy. He's like. "Good" in the sense that he goes around murdering sex traffickers and pedos. He always talks about how he hates watching women get hurt. And then he turns around and NONCONSENSUALLY sexually assaults this girl. And the girl has a strong fear kink, and she low key loves having this stalker's attention. And he makes her feel so good. But her guilt and shame are warring with her desire to see him again and have him scare/touch her again. And like, he also punished her by FUCKING HER WITH THE BARREL OF A LOADED GUN. 

"So like. Am I eating up these spice scenes that really are not okay? Yes. Am I confused as to whether I want them to actually get together? Also yes.

"I honestly will probably not get book 2, but I am also just honestly shocked at how many booktokers have been obsessed with this. Like, they have to be just thinking of the spice. And I am honestly more concerned with these contradictory ideals of the stalker and the conflicting ideas in the main character's head. It's like... excusing rape specifically in her case just because she came from it?

"And the conflicting interests of our main girl. She is literally doing everything to egg the stalker on. But this isn't BDSM. They have not established consent for nonconsensual scenes or even a safeword. Stalker dude is just like 'She won't give me consent yet. But she will. And then she'll fall in love with me. And we'll get married. And then she'll carry my children.'

"And like. The book was better honestly before he started assaulting her. The tension was great. You could tell she was interested. But that gun scene man."

Don't Leave Me by Eden Emory

emotional reflective tense medium-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

4.0

Did I just read a forbidden, Alabama-style step-sister romance and fucking enjoy it? Yes. Yes I did. Those spicy scenes were intense. That miscommunication trope though had me literally wanting to strangle BOTH of them.

Mist by Marta Palazzesi

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I thought that this was a really cool look into the life of a mud lark in England. I hated the realistic view of how the circus treated their animals. It's short and sweet, and the longer I take to digest it, the more I like it