Scan barcode
hermusings's reviews
270 reviews
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
funny
lighthearted
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Quirky and cringe yet fun, sexy, & thoughtful
Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder
3.5
With the Foxx Bourbon series, Wilder does a good job at building a romance with intrigue and suspense. This sequel does not fail to deliver on those fronts and more.
Although at face value this book is a suspense romance, I was pleasantly surprised by how much was also centered around sisterhood. It also built beautifully on the story from the previous book which I think added dimension to the town and the characters.
Excited to see how this series will conclude with Ace & Hadley’s story.
Thank you to Victoria Wilder for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This not only found me well but at the right time!
Natalie Sue wrote a corporate comedy with depth, introspection and juicy office drama. I devoured it and found it timely for me on a personal level but also as a good respite from the state of the world. I went into this blind which allowed me to have a delightfully funny and surprising experience.
Also, the audiobook narration by Nasim Pedrad was phenomenal!!
Born a Girl: It Takes Courage by Alice Dussutour
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
They truly never want to let the girly pops live 😭
This should be mandatory reading — informative, concise and real.
Also beautifully illustrated.
This should be mandatory reading — informative, concise and real.
Also beautifully illustrated.
The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song
3.75
Read this during elections week and that’s honestly my biggest regret. 😭
Mulan is one of my favorites so knowing that this was a retelling was all I needed to know to pick up this book. Essentially, I went into it relatively blind.
I loved that it felt more grounded than the Disney version (shocker) – from opium addictions to class and political dynamics.
Along with Song’s incorporation of a magical realm, made this story feel elevated while still being true to what we know. It was immersive in nature and the story telling incorporating the folklore with beautiful proses was wonderful to read.
The ending to this story leaves off on a note that makes you think “surely this is not the end of Meilin’s story” as the series is meant to continue it aims to leaving you wanting to find out more. However, I left feeling the opposite. The characters felt two-dimensional and hard to root for. The main driving force is the intrigue of this forbidden magical realm/creatures and how it unravels in their lives. At the end, so much of the magical aspect had been revealed that the occult lies within the characters that had little pull for me.
I think If you are familiar with Mulan’s story and do not read a lot of fantasy because of the dense world building, this may be a good choice as you already have a leg up on the main plot.
Also, physically, this book is gorgeous. The only physical edition right now (in US) is the first edition hardcover and it’s insane they made it look so good. Even down to the type of paper it’s printed on.
Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one pleasantly surprised me. However, it felt like two separate books as the thriller took a significant back seat to their relationship on the second half of the book.
Looking forward to the next books in the series.
Looking forward to the next books in the series.
Strikeout by Millie Perez
2.5
There were things about this story that just weren’t for me.
However, I really like the trajectory for where this series seems to be going so I’ll be picking up book 2 once it drops.
However, I really like the trajectory for where this series seems to be going so I’ll be picking up book 2 once it drops.
The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don’t know how to feel.
Maybe this was too short and in turn, fell short of fully saying something of worth.
Maybe this was too short and in turn, fell short of fully saying something of worth.
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This was honestly kinda sad.
SMG is incredible at writing horror and thrilling mystery in comparison, this book falls short. Yet, her usual intriguing and complex story telling is still felt as she explored this genre.
It was interesting to get so many different POVs and to have the myth and plot run parallel course.