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blkgrl_bibliophile's reviews
681 reviews
Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing by Jessa Hastings
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
I quite liked this Daisy Haites book better than the last one. I really like that we get all three POVs of Daisy, Julian, and Christian and I like even more that Hastings is able to weave the events of the last book into this book in a way where you are provided with a different perspective and context. It’s part of what I like most about her writing. The other part is her ability to share the POV of the character’s perspective of the events unfolding, while also sharing their reaction to said events, and then their ability to read the other characters’ reactions and responses because of how tight knit these groups of people are. All of that makes these books incredibly addicting because the storytelling is just so good.
Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home by Jessa Hastings
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.75
I wasn’t ready for the ending. Don’t even know what to think right now. You spend all of this time reading about these characters and with this book, you are able to understand the context that contributes to most of the mess they find themselves in. Despite the mess, the characters are likable and the story is very addicting. I’m fully invested in wanting to know what the conclusion is because each book ends on a cliffhanger. Honestly, I feel like I’m part of the Box Set.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings
emotional
slow-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
I didn’t think anyone could be messier than BJ and Magnolia, but here comes Daisy and Christian.
To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced eARC.
Overall, I liked the messages and themes from this book. I resonated with Aurora’s character deeply having lost my own mom unexpectedly and feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the grief of it all. Aurora’s journey to rediscovering her identity and trying to understand how to navigate loss while in the midst of grief was very real and raw. Couple those complex feelings with her also dealing with the loss of her dad and you have a story that I believe sticks with a reader, especially one who finds themself without the only family they know.
I liked the idea of Aurora being reconnected with a sense of family as she navigates to Sicily to meet her mother’s family that she didn’t know existed. Unfortunately, I think there were several instances where the writing just fell short and I found myself just wanting to get to the end of the book.
This is a good read, but felt rushed in some places and too drawn out in others.
Overall, I liked the messages and themes from this book. I resonated with Aurora’s character deeply having lost my own mom unexpectedly and feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the grief of it all. Aurora’s journey to rediscovering her identity and trying to understand how to navigate loss while in the midst of grief was very real and raw. Couple those complex feelings with her also dealing with the loss of her dad and you have a story that I believe sticks with a reader, especially one who finds themself without the only family they know.
I liked the idea of Aurora being reconnected with a sense of family as she navigates to Sicily to meet her mother’s family that she didn’t know existed. Unfortunately, I think there were several instances where the writing just fell short and I found myself just wanting to get to the end of the book.
This is a good read, but felt rushed in some places and too drawn out in others.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
3.5
I liked this way better than Part of Your World. Something about an incredibly anxious teddy bear just pulls my heartstrings. Brianna believing she was broken and unloveable was something I think some of us women who have had bad luck with men have thought at least once, so her trauma was very real. I think I loved the letter writing the most. Such an antiquated and intimate way of communicating, especially when someone takes the time to actually write them by hand rather than type it out. I loved this story even in the parts where they were both being ridiculous with one another and honestly with themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Abandonment