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magsisreadingagain's reviews
1940 reviews
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards by Jessica Waite
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Memoirs can be hit-and-miss for me. I’m not a fan of self-aggrandizement, or self-help flavors. But give me a memoir that peels back the layers and looks at life with an unflinching gaze, and I am fully in!
Jessica Waite has unapologetically tackled the realities of losing a life partner, and discovering he was not the person that she believed him to be. She had opportunities to bash her husband, as she discovered infidelity and financial mismanagement. And yet, she doesn’t. Instead, she acknowledges the anger and heartache at every step, while giving her husband the grace he deserved due to his mental health concerns and stress. I appreciated her willingness to share the ugly manifestations of anger, since I think we all want the chance to let people know exactly how they hurt us. But it was when she opened herself to realizing the stresses that her husband had placed on himself, and that she had unwittingly reinforced, that I felt my soul crack just a bit.
I will be recommending this book to coworkers and clients, as we all work together in processing grief in the context of mental health concerns.
Many thanks to the Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for offering me an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I anticipate hearing great things about this book when it publishes on July 25.
Jessica Waite has unapologetically tackled the realities of losing a life partner, and discovering he was not the person that she believed him to be. She had opportunities to bash her husband, as she discovered infidelity and financial mismanagement. And yet, she doesn’t. Instead, she acknowledges the anger and heartache at every step, while giving her husband the grace he deserved due to his mental health concerns and stress. I appreciated her willingness to share the ugly manifestations of anger, since I think we all want the chance to let people know exactly how they hurt us. But it was when she opened herself to realizing the stresses that her husband had placed on himself, and that she had unwittingly reinforced, that I felt my soul crack just a bit.
I will be recommending this book to coworkers and clients, as we all work together in processing grief in the context of mental health concerns.
Many thanks to the Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for offering me an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I anticipate hearing great things about this book when it publishes on July 25.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sally Hepworth does it again! A psychological thriller that has kept me flipping pages and trying to figure out the truth amidst so many secrets. In Darling Girls, Hepworth takes on the lasting legacy of abuse of foster children as they are growing up in a flawed system. These three "sisters" have faced some challenges and found strength from each other. I think the thing I appreciate most about Hepworth's writing is her ability to bring characters to the page that are so perfectly imperfect. Jessica, Norah and Alicia have lived through very difficult times, and still manage to put one foot in front of the other, despite the secrets they have all had to harbor. My only complaint for this book would be the ending, which felt a bit rushed and tidy in comparison to the remainder of the story.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin
adventurous
challenging
reflective
fast-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
4.0
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Vol. 1 by Gisèle Gordon, Kent Monkman
dark
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
I love when the right book hits at the right moment. Enter The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, picked up as I slid into the inevitable late-spring head cold mixed with a gloomy rainy day, and you have the recipe for a two-sitting read.
Center knows how to write banter and how to create realistic characters with “all the blemishes”. Emma is a sweet, anxious, self-critical writer who is accustomed to taking care of everyone around her and ignoring her own needs. Charlie is the rugged, dismissive, successful screenwriter who has sheltered himself from feeling emotions, pain or *gasp* love. Put the two of them in Charlie’s mansion, with a bit of pushing from their agent Logan, to rewrite Charlie’s terrible attempt at writing a rom-com, and watch the fireworks fly. Of course, throw in a couple of moments with Jack Stapleton and I am a very happy reader. I giggled out loud several times, and then surprised myself with some tears when Emma’s dad shared some of his own thoughts on love and forgiveness. Perfect book to boost my mood!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Center knows how to write banter and how to create realistic characters with “all the blemishes”. Emma is a sweet, anxious, self-critical writer who is accustomed to taking care of everyone around her and ignoring her own needs. Charlie is the rugged, dismissive, successful screenwriter who has sheltered himself from feeling emotions, pain or *gasp* love. Put the two of them in Charlie’s mansion, with a bit of pushing from their agent Logan, to rewrite Charlie’s terrible attempt at writing a rom-com, and watch the fireworks fly. Of course, throw in a couple of moments with Jack Stapleton and I am a very happy reader. I giggled out loud several times, and then surprised myself with some tears when Emma’s dad shared some of his own thoughts on love and forgiveness. Perfect book to boost my mood!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The Offing by Roz Nay
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
What's Not Mine by Nora Decter
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0