hayleygray's reviews
69 reviews

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective 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

4.5

Incredible. Powerful. Wow. 
This book was different to my usual reads as I don’t really tend to gravitate towards mythologies. However, this was incredible. It had stories of love, betrayal, power, redemption and Greek gods. Achilles and Patroclus’ love was written in the stars and their story will live on in my heart as it will in theirs. I am truly sad that this story has ended for me and I wish I could read it for the first time all over again. I highly recommend!!!
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The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing tense 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

3.5

After watching the new TV series, I had to read the trilogy! Although the story and characters are slightly different in the TV show (for example, Belly and her family are from Korean descent; Jeremiah is bisexual; Steven is there throughout the summer; and other things) the overall plot is the same and I really enjoyed it. It was a very quick and easy read and I will be picking up the next two books ahead of the TV show renewal. 
I recommend this series if you are looking for something fun, easy, fast and uplifting. 
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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75

The entire time I read this book, I was sad, happy and angry all at the same time as learning educational things through Kya’s love for the marsh. I read this book within 3 days because I could not put it down. And when I did put it down, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again. 
I truly thought I knew who the murderer was but I was so shocked at the last few pages. This was an incredible story about love, acceptance, difference and the harsh realities of the natural order of everything and every living species. 
I cannot wait to see the movie after reading this! Highly recommend. 
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You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing tense 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 am obsessed with Poppy and Alex. 
Everything about them, and their story, was heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time. Emily Henry truly encapsulates what it means to love someone so unconditionally that you will do anything for their happiness – even if it means giving up your own. The story, characters and sexual tension was so well done and I truly took my time reading it because I didn’t want it to end. 
One of my favourite books that I’ve read this year. Highly recommend!
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Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow

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dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

[Thank you to Bonnier Books UK & NetGalley for sending me a digital proof of this book before the publication date!]

This book had intrigued me from the start: murder mystery, curses, female friendships, and diverse characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and the progression of investigating alongside Luca about what happened to the women of Parris. It was a fast read and I felt very engrossed in the majority of it. However, I think the plot twist wasn’t surprising enough – I had guessed what had happened pretty early-on in the story and I was hoping that I was wrong and would be shocked at a surprising reveal. But, it felt anti-climactic with quite a few plot twists that ultimately didn’t add up to anything super shocking. 
However, the ending did help bring me back around to liking this book more as Luca finally feels free and powerful. But, I just think it needed a little bit more of something to make it a great read, instead of a good one. 
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Beach Read by Emily Henry

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

4.75

Emily Henry is an incredible romance novelist and I have loved each book that I have read and already can't wait to start reading another one of her novels. Without fail, her characters are incredibly written and it is so easy to fall in love alongside them (also the sexual chemistry and content is worth the unbelievable tension throughout the book!) This was a story about family, as well as romantic love, and how to forgive others and yourself for past decisions and re-learn what it means to truly love someone else. The whole book was raw, powerful, heart-warming, funny, and emotional and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it – it also only took me a few days to get through it as I was always itching to pick it back up and read more. It was one of those books that, once I had finished reading, I wished I could read for the first time all over again.
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Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

As expected, Colleen Hoover writes another masterpiece. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it, then I was sad that it was over. From the start of this novel, I was hooked – Kenna was a raw, lonely and genuine woman who made a mistake that ruined her life... until she didn't let it anymore; and Ledger is just the epitome of what every man should be. Both of them together (along with sweet little Diem) made this reading experience everything that I had hoped it would be: funny, emotional, tense, hopeful, sad and happy. Along with every other Colleen Hoover book, I highly recommend reading this!
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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

This book was a bit of a slow-burner, for me. After reading (and loving) TJR's previous novels, I felt a little bit disappointed at how long it took for me to get into this one – it actually took me a couple of months to finish it because I didnt have the urge to keep picking it up. However, when I got to the middle of the story, I really enjoyed it and it didnt take me long to finish it. 
This is a story about family – more specifically, the power and love of siblings – and overall, I really enjoyed it.
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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did, before reading it. Emily Henry has an incredible way of pulling you into the experience of the characters and allowing you to indulge in every emotion – and sexual tension. Just like Charlie, I didn't want the story to end but unlike him, I refused to skip the final chapter. I read this book in two sittings and I wish I could re-read it for the first time, again. But, this just means I have to purchase and read her other two books. Incredible book!
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Gallant by V.E. Schwab

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

V.E. Schwab is a magical author. I find myself truly absorbed in her words, worlds and characters. With each of her novels, I have never read another one like it and I am mesmerised, each time. This book was dark, twisting and extraordinary with an incredible protagonist – young woman who cannot use her voice to speak – and the true meaning of home. Incredible!
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