paperbackportals's reviews
697 reviews

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

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adventurous tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I thoroughly enjoyed Daughter of the Moon Goddess, but I did not enjoy the second book as much. I found it difficult to get into and the plot a bit frustrating - it seemed predictable and a bit slow and the love triangle less intriguing than previously. That being said, I do still love and highly recommend the duology. The writing is beautiful and descriptive, and the celestial kingdom is imaginative - I would love to explore it with Xingyin. I just would have preferred the first as a standalone. 
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Love and Latkes by Stacey Agdern

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Christmas by the Book is a lovely holiday story about the power and importance of community. Highly recommend. 
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Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
I wasn’t really drawn into the story. I don’t tend to like infidelity trope so that didn’t help but it’s just not the right fit for me at this time. I love Kristin Hannah though, so this is just an anomaly. 
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

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adventurous inspiring lighthearted 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? No

4.0

This was a fun holiday read about a chance meeting and budding romance. 
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
Honestly, I was bored. It started out well, but then it was dragging. I thought I might skim until I was more invested but now I don’t know why I’m doing that. I know a lot of people loved it but it wasn’t for me. 
A Cat Cafe Christmas by Codi Gary

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lighthearted 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

4.0

Romance+cats+Christmas = a feel good, purrfectly delightful holiday read.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

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adventurous 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? No

5.0

Amari Peters is may have immediately become one of my favourite fictional characters. Amari and The Night Brothers is a fantastic middle grade novel with a ton of magic intertwined with important lessons and truth. Honestly, I don’t have the words, but I  recommend this read to anyone who loves fantasy. If you’ve got a middle grader in your life, gift this book to them asap. 

A fantastic pick for readers of all ages who have read and loved Legendborn or the Chronicles of Narnia. 
The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative by Thomas King

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

“But don’t say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story. You’ve heard it now.”

Thomas King analyzes the effect and truth of story and how we use narratives to inform everything we know. He then intertwines it with reflections of historical and current issues for Indigenous people. These lectures are masterfully developed and I think I would have enjoyed them even more in their true form as a lecture.