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colourbandit's reviews
247 reviews
Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
emotional
reflective
slow-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
3.5
The writing in this book was exquisite - I’ve very rarely seen such beautiful prose like this with quote I’d love to look back on depicting love and all elements of it. Unfortunately, the story didn’t grip me as much as I’d hoped and there were times I unfortunately just couldn’t really stand it (maybe that was the intention?). It was such a shame because I’d heard so many things about it from so many people, but unfortunately I won’t be putting this at the top of my list.
It’s made me more intrigued to watch the film but not too much else. Definitely one for some people but just not for me.
It’s made me more intrigued to watch the film but not too much else. Definitely one for some people but just not for me.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Another one where I fell in love instantly. It was just so. god. damn. cozy. As someone who’s wanted to own a little coffee shop/bookshop myself for as long as I can remember, hearing the story of Viv starting hers and the trials and tribulations which come with this was so welcome.
The cast of characters was absolutely perfect and I’m such a sucker for a slow-burning romance - give me MORE! . You really do grow to love each and every character, their individual quirks, and the bonds that develop between them. It was lovely hearing about Viv’s backstory (including the little short story at the end - although it didn’t draw me in quite as much as the rest of the story), with a perspective you don’t often see from after the battles are done.
Really, really cozy and well written, I loved it a lot. Definitely one to check out for fantasy and DND lovers with a love for coziness and wholesomeness.
Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
reflective
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
3.5
Another lovely instalment in this beloved series. This time we’re in a different shop and a different setting, with a combination of familiar and new faces. We learn more about the lore behind the shops, which I always love, and explore 4 more scenarios of coffee shop time travel.
Unfortunately this one didn’t make me fall in love quite as much as the other two I’ve read, potentially due to me rushing a little through it and not quite being in the right mood? There were however still some very emotional and heart wrenching moments, especially towards the end of the 4 tales. Special mention going to the final story and its ending, that very nearly got the waterworks going, especially as it involved such familiar characters from the book as a whole.
I’ll absolutely be back for book 4 at some point because either way, this series holds a special place in my heart, and I’ll aim to savour it a little more if I can!
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
5.0
I fell so, so deeply in love with this book and this story right from the beginning. I was already in love with it having watched the recent movie adaptation and finally decided to pick up the book having had it sat on my shelf for literal years. It just has absolutely everything I want in a book - incredible romance (with some smut peppered in), beautiful writing, a truly believable love story and conflict within that, exquisitely developed characters and storylines, I couldn’t go on…
I loved the background context of the royals vs presidency and the necessity to challenge assumptions and pushbacks within that, and overall the storyline of the election flowing through. There were amazing family dynamics and of course so many beautifully written and integrated elements of queerness throughout. I honestly can’t say enough about this book, I just loved it so much.
I’ve not read a book like this in a while where I literally could not put it down, which for me is really telling, especially given that it’s over 400 pages. Please, please give this one a go, I’m so glad I finally got around to it. Such a solid 5 star read.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
I’m a bit mixed on my opinions of this book as I started out with it on a completely different page than I finished. Initially I absolutely hated the tone and wasn’t really very engaged in the content or how it was discussed. But then as it progressed, I began to see some of the value in what was being said and how it could maybe apply to my own life.
Mainly what I took from this was the need to redefine your successes and failures to be more tangible, to enable you to make real progress and alter your perceptions about what has happened. It is something I think most of us could benefit from considering as we do tend to be raised with a certain set of expectations, which will naturally transition into our goals for life, but often this isn’t really what we want or what is best for us at the time, and ultimately, like the author discusses, can lead to us becoming stuck and lost.
I don’t think a lot of this book will stick with me unfortunately, but I will take some snippets, which counts for something. It’s a short one with some good messages, so it’s likely worthwhile giving it a go and I’m sure a lot of people will take a lot from it, it just wasn’t entirely for me.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
Like I mentioned earlier, I did however wish some elements had been more fleshed out, especially towards the ending when we learn more about the shadow. I’d have loved to hear about the shadow’s journey to find and acquire each letter, but equally I can appreciate the sprinklings of this throughout the rest of the story. I can see myself loving re-reading this to find all the little ‘Easter eggs’ and further understanding them.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I’d had this book on my radar for so long and after not really being sure whether it would be for me or not, I’m so glad I chose to finally buy it. I love a good romance, stories involving time travel, and shorter books, so it was pretty much set up to be a big win, and it absolutely lived up to those expectations. In fact, this was maybe one of the only books I’ve experienced recently where I actually wished it had been longer to enable it to be more fleshed out and further explored.
It took me a few chapters to get into and figure out what was happening but once I did, I just fell in love. The writing is so, so beautiful, and the way both authors talk about love and their experiences are really magical. I’m so impressed by how deeply we get to know the characters and their relationship in such a short space of time. The two main characters are very unique but both really stand out in their own ways, likely helped by the two separate authors, which I feel worked absolutely perfectly.
It was also hugely creative with the endless delivery methods for each letter and I loved reading the sections between each letter about where each character was on their journey in the war when they discovered the next letter. They almost came across as mini short stories at times - it really kept me engaged.
Overall, I adored this book. It was creative, beautifully written, and very special. If you love time travel and deep romance, it’s one for you.
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
emotional
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
3.5
Well that was definitely something haha. I loved this read in such a cheesy, sexy romance way but I’d never be arguing it was my favourite book ever or the writing was the best I’d ever seen, let’s just say that. It was very steamy and I liked the mix of characters, but I think the sticking point for me was just how unrealistic Alex was, and also how absolutely batshit insane he was to be honest.
Maybe that’s the whole point of a romance like this, to immerse yourself in this unbelievable, sexy story. But I didn’t see myself putting it down very easily so I can’t really say much can I! And honestly I’m pretty sure I’ll be returning for at least one more instalment in the series, even if only for the smut lmao.
Unrealistic, un-put-downable, and hot as fuck.
Schindler's List: also released as Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
dark
emotional
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
Rating a book like this is a difficult one because of course it is necessary to write about themes and horrors like this and to respect their contents, but it almost feels as though you can’t be fully truthful whilst doing so.
Having never watched the film of Schindler’s List, I really had no idea what to expect from the book, and still don’t know how it really compares, but I probably came in with expectations that unfortunately just weren’t met. Of course the topics discussed are vital, however I didn’t really love the way it was done here. It felt like a strange mix of fiction and non-fiction, in a way that for me just didn’t work too well. I found the first 2/3 of the book a bit of a drag, just working through who Schindler was and his connections/relationships before we really got into the whole idea of the list and its execution.
It did provide a new perspective I hadn’t seen before of the holocaust which was interesting to read about, I just wish the style had been different.
Having never watched the film of Schindler’s List, I really had no idea what to expect from the book, and still don’t know how it really compares, but I probably came in with expectations that unfortunately just weren’t met. Of course the topics discussed are vital, however I didn’t really love the way it was done here. It felt like a strange mix of fiction and non-fiction, in a way that for me just didn’t work too well. I found the first 2/3 of the book a bit of a drag, just working through who Schindler was and his connections/relationships before we really got into the whole idea of the list and its execution.
It did provide a new perspective I hadn’t seen before of the holocaust which was interesting to read about, I just wish the style had been different.
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was pretty slow going from the start. I didn’t really know what to expect going into it but as we discover the different characters and the close-knit community vibes the story begins to develop. I enjoyed it more once it started to delve more into the mysterious elements of the story and Lid begins to piece together the mystery of the girl. I also enjoyed the religious notes and themes within the story, highlighting the extent to which some people will go to for religion, or to prove/disprove their point. I’m just not quite sure I agree with it being described as a thriller.
The ending was unexpected and I’m not sure how I felt about it. It just felt like it left us wondering where the story would go next without any conclusive answers.
I didn’t get around to writing my review until a few weeks after finishing the book so I’m probably missing some key opinions, however I can’t say I’ve thought about the book much since finishing it and wouldn’t be rushing to return to it so maybe that says enough.
The ending was unexpected and I’m not sure how I felt about it. It just felt like it left us wondering where the story would go next without any conclusive answers.
I didn’t get around to writing my review until a few weeks after finishing the book so I’m probably missing some key opinions, however I can’t say I’ve thought about the book much since finishing it and wouldn’t be rushing to return to it so maybe that says enough.
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
emotional
fast-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
5.0
I can’t believe I waited so long to finally pick up volume 5 after it’s release. This was the first heartstopper where I’ve not read it consecutively and had to wait for release, but it was so worth the wait and really easy to get back into the story.
I feel like each volume is becoming more and more mature in the topics it covers and they way it approaches them, which works really well for the characters. I loved the conversations surrounding definitions and experiences of sex, asexuality, struggles with life becoming more normal after periods of mental illness, and family conflicts.
As with all the other heartstoppers, I read this furiously in one hour-long sitting and loved every minute of it. And I just have to mention my love for Alice’s facial expressions - especially the disgruntled/sarcastic flat faced glare. I’m going to be so sad that this series is coming to an end when the final volume comes out! Here’s to looking forward to it in the meantime.
I feel like each volume is becoming more and more mature in the topics it covers and they way it approaches them, which works really well for the characters. I loved the conversations surrounding definitions and experiences of sex, asexuality, struggles with life becoming more normal after periods of mental illness, and family conflicts.
As with all the other heartstoppers, I read this furiously in one hour-long sitting and loved every minute of it. And I just have to mention my love for Alice’s facial expressions - especially the disgruntled/sarcastic flat faced glare. I’m going to be so sad that this series is coming to an end when the final volume comes out! Here’s to looking forward to it in the meantime.