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meaghancook's reviews
486 reviews
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
MY ONLY CRITICISM is that it took me too long to get into this. After about 100 pages I was fully hooked, but the first bit really dragged. I think the MC starts out a bit too convoluted to stand on her own, but she really shines once the whole troupe is together.
I love these little shits so much it hurts me.
I love these little shits so much it hurts me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was fine but maybe just not for me. I found myself not really caring what happened to these characters and therefore I didn’t really buy into the love story. Overall it was a quick easy read but the stakes just weren’t there.
The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really really wanted to love this one. There were just too many characters for me to keep straight, but they weren’t fully fleshed out as individuals. Considering they’re supposed to be direct parallels to fairy tale characters, it took me far too long to figure out who they were. And that ending was so rushed and outta nowhere. I may give the second one a shot but probably not any time soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Rape
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This would be an absolutely perfect book if I wasn’t so convinced that it’s missing a very important chapter or two. Somewhere between chapters nine and eleven I feel like we could have used a bit more tension building, at least to show the time passing, rather than just telling us it did.
However that is my only critique of an otherwise perfect book. Carley Fortune has done it again and I already can’t wait for next summer.
However that is my only critique of an otherwise perfect book. Carley Fortune has done it again and I already can’t wait for next summer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Pregnancy
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual content
Happy Place by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy
The Protector by Morgan Elizabeth
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
First red flag was when the mmc graciously decided to wait for the fmc to turn 18 before pursuing her. Second red flag was when he found a photo of them together when he was 18 and she was 13 (!!!!!!!!) and reminisced fondly on the love in his eyes for her, even then. Super predatory behavior and absolutely inexcusable, especially given that the author explicitly states that she has gone back and made other socially conscious adjustments to the original story. I get that brother’s best friend is a popular trope but I found no reason for the age gap to be so large or the behavior so predatory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
The Distraction by Morgan Elizabeth
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Definitely cute and fluffy. The third act breakup felt so forced for drama and the resolution was too rushed. Definitely liked the characters and world building and excited to see what’s next in the series.
Finale by Stephanie Garber
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
When I wrote papers in school they would always emphasize that the conclusion should not contain any new information. This author could have greatly benefited from that same advice. We should not be getting earth shattering information in book three!!!!
Overall I found this book far too boring and rushed to be the conclusion of a series I really enjoyed. Far too much expositional monologuing and not enough actual plot. It got very repetitive, especially in the instances of the romantic conflicts.
Overall I’m happy with how things ended but disappointed with how we got there.
Overall I found this book far too boring and rushed to be the conclusion of a series I really enjoyed. Far too much expositional monologuing and not enough actual plot. It got very repetitive, especially in the instances of the romantic conflicts.
Overall I’m happy with how things ended but disappointed with how we got there.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail