Scan barcode
josephineemmah's reviews
60 reviews
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Lightlark by Alex Aster
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Get yourself ready for a long review, because I have a lot to say to this book. My review will hold some spoilers, but only to the words Alex Aster used, not to the plot itself!
I was exited for this book for a really really long time. I remember the first TikTok i saw from Alex, were she just said she had this idea for a book. Since this moment I was hooked. So you can imagine how exited I was when the book was released. And how disappointed, when even before the release there were really bad reviews. So I wasn’t as exited as I was in the beginning. I had a lot of school stress, so I thought „if it isn’t that good, it can wait“. Now I hat time and decided to read it.
First of all I have to say, that you can tell that this is her first book, but I have read a LOT more worse first books than this! I really liked the story and the worldbuilding. One of my problems were definitely that I imagined Oro as a 40 year old king, and not in his 20s. My second problem was, that some words Alex Aster used, seemed like a place holder. It’s the same as when you forgot the name „bottle“ and call it a „plastic thing you can drink water of“. First there was the „starstick“ and guess what it is? A stick from the star court. Next the „bondbreaker“ and guess? It was a stick to break a bond 💀
Also the names of the „courts“. To read one of them alone is bad enough, but to read all of them in one sentence is hell! They are called Wildlings, Starlings, Sunlings, Moonlings and Nightshade. I think she would have also used „Darklings“ if Leigh Bardugo didn’t claimed it for her Shadow and Bone Saga. She and her publishers could have done a better job with those names.
The story itself was really good. It was a bit much, because this world was completely new, no Faes or anything. But I really liked it! And the plottwists were really unexpected. All in all I am super happy that I read this book and I am excited for the second book!
Here are some spoilers to the story, so don’t read if you haven’t read the book!
I would have loved it when the whole story between Isla and Grim were a little more detailed. How he erased her memories and what they did together (because she only remembered the sex). And I also wished that the love story between her and Oro would have been more. Just more. They love each other. But how this that happened!?
That Celeste was really the enemy was unexpected but I kinda had a bad feeling about her. What really took me completely of guard was, that her guardians were also the enemy’s!
I think the whole thing that Isla was born with two powers but thought she had none was not that well planned. For me it doesn’t make sense, because why did her whole land died if she had powers? And also the plants attacked her? I don’t really get it, but maybe I have to think about it. I literally finished this book 5 minutes ago.
I was exited for this book for a really really long time. I remember the first TikTok i saw from Alex, were she just said she had this idea for a book. Since this moment I was hooked. So you can imagine how exited I was when the book was released. And how disappointed, when even before the release there were really bad reviews. So I wasn’t as exited as I was in the beginning. I had a lot of school stress, so I thought „if it isn’t that good, it can wait“. Now I hat time and decided to read it.
First of all I have to say, that you can tell that this is her first book, but I have read a LOT more worse first books than this! I really liked the story and the worldbuilding. One of my problems were definitely that I imagined Oro as a 40 year old king, and not in his 20s. My second problem was, that some words Alex Aster used, seemed like a place holder. It’s the same as when you forgot the name „bottle“ and call it a „plastic thing you can drink water of“. First there was the „starstick“ and guess what it is? A stick from the star court. Next the „bondbreaker“ and guess? It was a stick to break a bond 💀
Also the names of the „courts“. To read one of them alone is bad enough, but to read all of them in one sentence is hell! They are called Wildlings, Starlings, Sunlings, Moonlings and Nightshade. I think she would have also used „Darklings“ if Leigh Bardugo didn’t claimed it for her Shadow and Bone Saga. She and her publishers could have done a better job with those names.
The story itself was really good. It was a bit much, because this world was completely new, no Faes or anything. But I really liked it! And the plottwists were really unexpected. All in all I am super happy that I read this book and I am excited for the second book!
Here are some spoilers to the story, so don’t read if you haven’t read the book!
That Celeste was really the enemy was unexpected but I kinda had a bad feeling about her. What really took me completely of guard was, that her guardians were also the enemy’s!
I think the whole thing that Isla was born with two powers but thought she had none was not that well planned. For me it doesn’t make sense, because why did her whole land died if she had powers? And also the plants attacked her? I don’t really get it, but maybe I have to think about it. I literally finished this book 5 minutes ago.
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I‘ve only seen the films before and also read this book first. It filled some gaps I had and gave information for the storyline, for example: „Where did the lamp in Narnina come from?“ and „Why did this Uncle just have to had a magical wardrobe?“.
I liked the book BUT there are a lot references to Christianity and the book is also kinda misogynistic. Especially the last one I do not like at all but sadly for the time the book was written in (1955), it was normal.
I liked the book BUT there are a lot references to Christianity and the book is also kinda misogynistic. Especially the last one I do not like at all but sadly for the time the book was written in (1955), it was normal.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol
She Gets the Girl by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
It’s like this really cliché love story, but in lesbian. I really liked it! And I am happy that there is a story like this, that is usually only heterosexual.
❤️🧡🤍💜💖
❤️🧡🤍💜💖
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Minor: Drug abuse
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I‘m to stunned to speak. I finished this book maybe 5 minutes ago and I think I need a while to process this book. I really liked the beginning of the book - I know a lot of people don’t -. After the main event happened I thought it would be kinda slow and I thought „okay an now? What will happen on the next 200 pages?“. And yeah for a while it wasn’t so spectacular an I also have to say that I needed longer for this book than I expected. BUT THE END. THE PLOTTWIST. I would have never thought of that. I‘m still shocked and also kinda sad. But what I really didn’t liked about the book was that it has only 8 chapters on 630 pages. It’s personal preference but I like short chapters more.
Tbh I was really hoping for some gay stuff between Henry and Richard 😫 and WTF the whole incest thing? I can’t. And also why hat Richard those rape thoughts. I was so confused and it was so unnecessary and atypical for Richard
Tbh I was really hoping for some gay stuff between Henry and Richard 😫 and WTF the whole incest thing? I can’t. And also why hat Richard those rape thoughts. I was so confused and it was so unnecessary and atypical for Richard
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Animal death and Rape
Stolz und Vorurteil by Jane Austen
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The one and only „enemy’s to lovers slow burn romance“ story. Mainly it’s just a bunch of people going to each others houses and I don’t really care about the upper class in the 1800‘s but Pride and Prejudice is a classic book everybody should read at least once
Autumn In Your Eyes (Cosy Island 1): Slow Burn Romance über die Suche großer Gefühle auf einer kleinen Insel an der amerikanischen Atlantikküste by Elle Ellis
Ich wollte dieses Buch wirklich mögen doch leider fand ich es furchtbar. Vorab, ich habe dieses Buch auf der Buchmesse gekauft und dort Elle Ellis auch getroffen, sie war wirklich super nett und sympathisch, deshalb hatte ich große Hoffnungen in das Buch. Jedoch weißt es einige Mängel auf:
1. der Schreibstil ist nicht wirklich gut. Elle arbeitet sehr viel mit Aufzählung, das heißt die Umwelt und das Aussehen von Personen wird quasi einfach Stichpunktartig abgearbeitet.
2. Das Buch beinhaltet unfassbar viele Klischees. Sowohl das typische „Mädchen läuft in Junge rein und er fängt sie auf“ wie auch das „Mädchen lässt etwas fallen, Junge hilft ihr beim aufheben und ihre Hände berühren sich“ etc.
3. dieses Buch ist wirklich alles andere als Slow Burn
4. Die Charaktere sind leider alle nur sehr oberflächlich angeschnitten und waren mir persönlich auch überhaupt nicht sympathisch, somit auch gleich zu Nummer
5. Autumn ist einfach dumm. Drei Hinweise darauf:
- Sie weiß das Claire drei Katzen hat und fragt sich trotzdem warum ihr Café „Cat’s Café“ heißt
- Sie wundert sich warum das Fest, das an Halloween stattfindet und wofür sie und ihre Freundin extra Pumpkin Muffins und Pumpkin Spice Latte machen, Pumpkin Night heißt
- Sie checkt nicht das Claire auf Chase steht
Leider war das Buch meiner Meinung nach ein ziemlicher Reinfall und ich hatte nach den ersten drei Kapiteln, wo sowohl Sam als auch Autumn schon von Funken zwischen ihnen sprachen (soviel zu Slow Burn), schon keine Lust mehr zu lesen und hab’s nur noch gelesen in der Hoffnung das es vielleicht noch besser wird
Ich glaube Elle Ellis hat Potenzial eine gute Autorin zu werden doch ihr erstes Buch hat mich eher an eine Wattpad Geschichte von einer 14-jährigen erinnert. Deswegen von mir leider auch nur 1 Stern
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
1. der Schreibstil ist nicht wirklich gut. Elle arbeitet sehr viel mit Aufzählung, das heißt die Umwelt und das Aussehen von Personen wird quasi einfach Stichpunktartig abgearbeitet.
2. Das Buch beinhaltet unfassbar viele Klischees. Sowohl das typische „Mädchen läuft in Junge rein und er fängt sie auf“ wie auch das „Mädchen lässt etwas fallen, Junge hilft ihr beim aufheben und ihre Hände berühren sich“ etc.
3. dieses Buch ist wirklich alles andere als Slow Burn
4. Die Charaktere sind leider alle nur sehr oberflächlich angeschnitten und waren mir persönlich auch überhaupt nicht sympathisch, somit auch gleich zu Nummer
5. Autumn ist einfach dumm. Drei Hinweise darauf:
- Sie weiß das Claire drei Katzen hat und fragt sich trotzdem warum ihr Café „Cat’s Café“ heißt
- Sie wundert sich warum das Fest, das an Halloween stattfindet und wofür sie und ihre Freundin extra Pumpkin Muffins und Pumpkin Spice Latte machen, Pumpkin Night heißt
- Sie checkt nicht das Claire auf Chase steht
Leider war das Buch meiner Meinung nach ein ziemlicher Reinfall und ich hatte nach den ersten drei Kapiteln, wo sowohl Sam als auch Autumn schon von Funken zwischen ihnen sprachen (soviel zu Slow Burn), schon keine Lust mehr zu lesen und hab’s nur noch gelesen in der Hoffnung das es vielleicht noch besser wird
Ich glaube Elle Ellis hat Potenzial eine gute Autorin zu werden doch ihr erstes Buch hat mich eher an eine Wattpad Geschichte von einer 14-jährigen erinnert. Deswegen von mir leider auch nur 1 Stern
Normal People by Sally Rooney
No, just no.
There is literally NO point in this whole book. I feel like I wasted my time reading this.
1. the writing was horrible. The whole conversations were without literal speeches, which was just awful to read. I do think that this was on purpose, which leads to …
2. THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION!
I was so mad the whole book. The two main characters just didn’t properly talk to each other. It was so exhausting!
3. the whole bdsm thing. Do I really need to say more? (No Kink-Shaming at this point! I have nothing against this and do enjoy reading books with this topic. But in this book? It came out of nowhere and was really cringe)
4. In my eyes both, Marianne and Connell were just unlovable characters.
5. They also didn’t had any chemistry
6. Also Connell had some serious problems. I was SO confused about his thoughts. Like „I could hit her rn and she would let me“ „I could slip inside her and she would do nothing against it“ „I have her in total control“ … like wtf
I do get it that all of those points have some connections to the (non-existing) plot. Because Marianne comes from an abusive household and searches for abusive men, wants to be hit and dominated etc..
But I don’t really think this book is worth your time. You can do better!
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
There is literally NO point in this whole book. I feel like I wasted my time reading this.
1. the writing was horrible. The whole conversations were without literal speeches, which was just awful to read. I do think that this was on purpose, which leads to …
2. THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION!
I was so mad the whole book. The two main characters just didn’t properly talk to each other. It was so exhausting!
3. the whole bdsm thing. Do I really need to say more? (No Kink-Shaming at this point! I have nothing against this and do enjoy reading books with this topic. But in this book? It came out of nowhere and was really cringe)
4. In my eyes both, Marianne and Connell were just unlovable characters.
5. They also didn’t had any chemistry
6. Also Connell had some serious problems. I was SO confused about his thoughts. Like „I could hit her rn and she would let me“ „I could slip inside her and she would do nothing against it“ „I have her in total control“ … like wtf
I do get it that all of those points have some connections to the (non-existing) plot. Because Marianne comes from an abusive household and searches for abusive men, wants to be hit and dominated etc..
But I don’t really think this book is worth your time. You can do better!
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
*potential spoilers*
I’m not sure what I think about this book. I liked it but I saw the red flags from Ryle since the beginning so I never liked their relationship. I also don’t really like CoHos writing style, the whole „his shirt falls beneath my knees“ gives me too much Wattpad vibes. But I will read the second book because I am interested in how it ends with them :)
I’m not sure what I think about this book. I liked it but I saw the red flags from Ryle since the beginning so I never liked their relationship. I also don’t really like CoHos writing style, the whole „his shirt falls beneath my knees“ gives me too much Wattpad vibes. But I will read the second book because I am interested in how it ends with them :)