Rain
This was SO fun!! The whole reading experience was a blast. But I gotta admit I was a little let down by the ending. However, I did manage to find and read the “extra” chapters and I liked that ending WAY better!
3.5 ⭐️
It was definitely enjoyable and funny even, but it was so much longer than it needed to be, and I never want to feel that way about a feel good romance.
I loved this one. The characters felt so real! I'm literally crying over the fact that the book is over, and these people don't get to continue existing outside of the book.
The format is really fun too. It's written as an interview with all the band members, and reading about how different people remembered or interpreted the same events so differently was great and really funny at times.
And I don't think I've read another book that had so many quotes that stood out to me. I'm actually planning to buy my own copy and read it again, just to highlight all my favorite parts.
Reread 3/6/23: still love this one but I didn't feel the magic the second time around knowing what was coming. VERY excited to watch the series now though!
Book Club pick #10
This book has SO many things going on at once. And I think the author actually did an amazing job at keeping everything straight. But it's almost too much. I loved the beginning. I struggled in the middle because we kept getting so many new characters (and I wanted to go back to the ones I already knew and cared about), and by the end I couldn't keep track of everything to 100% understand the ending. And I took notes!!
Wow!
What a fascinating peek into the lives of a family so different than anything I've ever known. I couldn't believe some of the stories from Tara's childhood, or the way her parents and siblings reacted to what was happening, specifically with all the injuries. It's just crazy to think how different peoples lives can be from your own, especially when you you're not that far apart geographically.
My favorite thing about this book is that Tara never once tells you what to think. She'll tell you a crazy story, but she never actually says “this is crazy, right!?” It's pretty much just, these are the facts of how I grew up and got an education, make of it what you will. In writing her story this way, she allows the people in her family to be whole, complex characters with both good and bad qualities, instead of just being labeled the villain, crazy, etc.
It's also strange to think that this story isn't technically over. I feel like I need to keep up with the author's life out side of the book to see how things with her family play out.
This is one where the story itself isn't necessarily the most enjoyable read. But it's SO interesting! And everything it makes you question about your own beliefs and the discussion that follows makes it a must read.
This one is kind of a mixed bag for me. I don't think I've ever read something so whimsical. There were SO many little details throughout that I absolutely loved and contributed so much to building this wonderful little world. The ending was also really sweet and beautiful, but man was it a challenge getting there. There was just so much of the book I didn't need... and it's not a long book.
Overall, I do think this is a special story, it just didn't really work for me.
I loved getting to know Evelyn and reading about her husbands. I wish I cared more about the journalist writing Evelyn's story, but I just didn't. Luckily, the husband chapters were 95% of the book. But the other 5%, including the ending, weren't my favorite.
If I were to reread this, I think I'd only read the husband chapters and be much happier.
Interesting idea. It was definitely scary in parts. But man it felt long. I enjoyed the beginning and middle, but by the end I just wanted it to be over.
Also, I read this because it supposed to be a companion novel to Delores Claiborne, which I guess it is, but I don't understand WHY it is. Aside from both having events durning the same eclipse, I don't understand the connection at all.
I feel like this book is objectively good. Beautiful writing, realistic characters and dialogue. But I just didn't enjoy it. None of the characters are likable, and not in a fun way. In a way that just makes me feel sad and maybe a little icky. But the story is compelling, and I kept wanting to come back to it.
I don't know, this is a weird one.
I saw a review that simply said “I both hate and love this one” and that's about right.
I'm in love with everything about this book!
I almost didn't pick this one up, because I have zero interest in hockey. But man, I'm so glad I did. This book, although centered around hockey, is about SO much more than that. It's very much a character driven story. I fell in love with almost everyone in Beartown.
This book also tackles a difficult subject and ended up opening my eyes to new perspectives.
I can't recommend this one enough!
This was just a quick, trashy, guilty pleasure read for me, so I wasn't expecting a lot. There were definitely fun parts, and most of the time I enjoyed the relationship between the main characters. But the overall story was sadder than what I wanted, and the plot was convoluted, and the twists were obvious, and the ending was a mess, and, and, and....
It's entertaining for what it is, but it's not one I'd ever recommend.
This was such an interesting concept, and I absolutely loved learning about this futuristic and seemingly perfect world.
Although, I didn't love everything about this book; somethings were a little too convenient, and some of the plot twists slightly predictable, I still found it incredibly entertaining.
I'm definitely excited to continue the series.
3.5 ⭐️
The concept is really cool and it was a fun read.
I've seen other reviews describe the book as having “black mirror” vibes, and I'd say that's pretty accurate. You follow 5 different perspectives and they mostly (not all) start out pretty normal and nice, and slowly you learn that everyone is just terrible. I don't typically like stories with virtually no likable characters. But again, I was entertain, just not blown away.
For most of the book all I wanted to do was sneak away and keep reading. I was obsessed. But then the ending happened. It wasn't bad... but it wasn't great. Meh.
Book Club Pick #3
I listened to the audiobook, which I would definitely rec'd. It's told as a series of interviews, and I hear it's hard to follow physically.
It's started out SO good! I was hooked, and loving it. But the longer it went on the less I cared. I'm bummed. It had such potential.
The story was only a 3; entertaining enough but nothing really special. However, the illustrations were beautiful and therefore, bumped the whole thing up a star.
This was a beautiful story. Its been 3 years since I read it and I still think about it. ✨
I feel like on paper this seems like something I'd really enjoy, but I was just bored.
Book Club Pick #15
I'm not going to actually rate the book because it's a classic, and people love it, and I'm sure for what it is, it's great...
I just hate what it is.