blewballoon's reviews
697 reviews

Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Nope. This is one of those contemporary books where you're just following the train of thought of some 20-30 year old woman and whatever quirks the author has decided to give her. Unfortunately, I don't like being in this character's head and that's going to keep me from enjoying whatever plot this book may have had.
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Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

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funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

So much fun!! This is definitely a high school romance with aspects of a coming-of-age story, but as an adult reader who appreciates sweet, grounded teen romances like Heartstopper this was a great time for me. This is a little more lighthearted than Heartstopper, but just as charming. I was immediately invested in the story. Riley is a vibrant protagonist driven by her passions and learning from her mistakes. Nathan, the love interest, is a great character as well. He has enough layers for Riley to peel back to be intriguing and to make his moments of vulnerability feel more impactful. He has some insane charisma, the dude is ridiculously smooth during the fake dating scenes. It's easy to see why she'd fall for him and how well their personalities compliment each other. The supporting cast of friends all felt like individuals with their own lives and personalities. I loved the balance between Riley's other budding or established friendships, her growing understanding of her parents, her musical theater goals, and the romance. It was all woven together very well and the tension and pacing felt just right. I could have easily read this in one sitting if I had the time.
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Taxi Ghost by Sophie Escabasse

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

4.75

This aims more middle grade than some other YA graphic novels I've read, but it was cute and sweet. I was surprised by the resolution of the gentrification plot, it was more realistic than how I've seen other stories tackle that type of plotline.
A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

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

3.0

For me this was like the author bought a bunch of ingredients that could have made a great dish, but nothing was seasoned or cooked properly and it just kind of tastes like bitter mush. If you like mean lesbians who have no character growth, grumpy + sunshine pairings where neither have any nuance, dark academia: backpacking edition that feels as immersive as a puddle, extremely thin allegories, and a gaggle of uninteresting interchangeable characters, then this will hit the spot. Jokes aside, I feel like there will be plenty of people who enjoy this who aren't as character-driven of a reader as I am. I could not make myself care about the main character and her straight line of starting the book as a broody jerk and finishing the book as a broody jerk, and her perception of every other character is so narrow and unforgiving that I couldn't latch onto anyone or anything to keep my attention. Despite excellent narrator Saskia Maarleveld's efforts, I felt like my mind was constantly wandering away from the book. 3 Stars because I think there was potential and I think there will be an audience for it and I'm happy for those readers, but I personally didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.
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The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

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

4.0

Hollywood-centric romances aren't really my favorite, or celebrity romances. I've read two by Katherine Center so far and she actually does them in a way that manages to keep my attention. The characters and settings feel grounded and interesting enough that I find myself drawn in despite not being drawn to the tropes of the sub-genre. This one lost me a bit towards the end, but if you want a no-spice contemporary romance I do recommend this and any of Katherine Center's other books. Even when I'm not in the mood for them when I pick them up, they always end up charming me through.
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Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

5 Stars because this book brough me nothing buy joy when I needed it. I absolutely loved the premise of the Earls and Earl-to-Be being beacons of healthy masculinity and male friendship. Communication. Empathy. Support. Found Family. If those wholesome male relationships weren't enough, we also get the beautiful reconnection of two somewhat estranged sisters as they come to fully understand each other and become true friends. The romance was a sweet slow burn of mutual respect and affection, with a flavor of childhood-friends-to-lovers. I also enjoyed what seemed to be some historical ADHD representation as well as lightly touching on some heavier subjects while keeping the story focused on how having the right people around you can make anything more bearable. 
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Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier

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

4.25

This is a heavy read that will potentially trigger painful memories of the Covid pandemic. It was particularly difficult to read just after the 2024 US Presidential election, when the same type of scapegoating and fearmongering of 1347 seems to have won in our modern age. Eleanore is a compelling protagonist and fortunately encounters enough enlightened and open minded people that the bleak atmosphere of the story is somewhat bearable. The story could have gone much darker than it did, and I'm grateful for the hope spots and kindnesses that were highlighted instead.
The dog does not die!
Saskia Maarleveld was an excellent audiobook narrator, as always. 
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Evocation by S.T. Gibson

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dark emotional tense slow-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

4.25

This is a book for character driven readers. Yes, there's supernatural stuff going on, a secret occult society, witches, mediums, demons, and there's allegedly a plot about dealing with a demon potentially collecting someone's soul, but that's all just set dressing and background aesthetic for the tangled knot of emotions and conflict between the main three characters. Fortunately for me, I did get quickly invested in the characters and their relationships and that was plenty to keep me interested. That being said, the pacing was a bit inconsistent and some of the more interesting stuff happens off page. I also feel like the characters went around in circles and didn't realize the obvious, but that fit the situation, so it wasn't too frustrating. Overall I enjoyed the spooky stuff, the tension, and the writing style.
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Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-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

4.25

I've read two other books by Talia Hibbert, one was a short kobo plus ebook and one was a YA romance. I was impressed by the prose here, it felt elevated. I have gotten a bit used to more simplistic and maybe a little clumsy writing in the romances I've read lately, but this had more finesse in the dialogue and descriptions. I liked both characters and the romance, but there is really no plot outside the romance at all. The drama is just them miscommunicating or jumping to conclusions unnecessarily, which was a bit tiring, especially in the 3rd act. The fibromyalgia representation helps the book stand out, that was the most unique element. I'll definitely read more of this series though and I loved that the audiobook was narrated by the actress who plays Lady Danbury on Bridgerton. 
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How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.5

If you liked Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, I don't think you'll be disappointed. This felt very similar in tone, and once again you have an eclectic mix of strangers all becoming a found family of friends. I think the characters were a little more flawed here, Ziggy and Art in particular had a lot of growing to do.  This has some similarities to the Thursday Murder Club and also reminded me a little of Call the Midwife. The audiobook narrator was great. I was invested quickly and couldn't put it down. 
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