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697 reviews
The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore
hopeful
mysterious
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
Review: The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore
The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a beautiful and intriguing tale of doomed love and found family.
I’m not sure if it’s possible to tell you how much I loved this story. It was a fabulous mix of plot-based intrigue and lovingly developed characters that steal your heart.
Chloe has returned to work at the Colville library after abandoning her degree in library science to take care of her siblings who have been abandoned by their mother. She works hard and protects her heart. Her grumpy next door neighbour isn’t any help either, he just continues to steal their frisbees when they fall into his lush garden. But things get interesting when Chloe finds a banned library book with a couple corresponding in the margins, which Jasper wants to buy — at any cost.
What is the secret behind Jasper’s off-putting demeanour? Why does he want the book so much? Who is the couple in its pages? And who is this handsome stranger that flirts with Chloe in the stacks?
So many questions that can only be answered when you pick up this delightful story. A perfect pick for readers who love found family, and books like The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson or The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman.
The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a beautiful and intriguing tale of doomed love and found family.
I’m not sure if it’s possible to tell you how much I loved this story. It was a fabulous mix of plot-based intrigue and lovingly developed characters that steal your heart.
Chloe has returned to work at the Colville library after abandoning her degree in library science to take care of her siblings who have been abandoned by their mother. She works hard and protects her heart. Her grumpy next door neighbour isn’t any help either, he just continues to steal their frisbees when they fall into his lush garden. But things get interesting when Chloe finds a banned library book with a couple corresponding in the margins, which Jasper wants to buy — at any cost.
What is the secret behind Jasper’s off-putting demeanour? Why does he want the book so much? Who is the couple in its pages? And who is this handsome stranger that flirts with Chloe in the stacks?
So many questions that can only be answered when you pick up this delightful story. A perfect pick for readers who love found family, and books like The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson or The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.0
This was cute. Good tension. Amusing banter.
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
I enjoyed The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club. I read at a more leisurely pace, because I was prolonging my visit in this seaside British town that has all the meddling and social dramas expected of the time period (1917). The protagonist and the other characters are delightfully real and lovable (or troublesome) in exactly the way of a Jane Austen novel.
If you love Downton Abbey or any 20th century British Drama, be sure to check it out.
If you love Downton Abbey or any 20th century British Drama, be sure to check it out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Violence
Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice
adventurous
emotional
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? No
3.5
An interesting sequel. I liked that the character development was more detailed. It felt maybe a bit long at times but it was a hopeful conclusion to the apocalyptic narrative.
Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I am going to admit that I skimmed most of this book. It wasn’t for me. I don’t tend to like horror and this was too much anticipation for bad things to happen. I admit that it was interesting and woven together in a unique way, but just not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Thinking Reading: What Every Secondary Teacher Needs to Know about Reading by James Murphy, Dianne Murphy
informative
slow-paced
5.0
This book is extremely helpful to secondary teachers trying to help students strengthen their literacy skills. It overviews the importance in a cross-curricular way with some tips to get started strengthen literacy instruction.
The Legendary Mo Seto by AY Chan
adventurous
funny
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
Review: The Legendary Mo Seto by AY Chan
Popping on to say what a delight this middle grade novel is! It’s a high impact, triple kick of a story full of action, lovable characters, and a heroine who inspires.
I’ve often read a lot of contemporary or historically based middle grade novels, but this is a fun fusion of fantasy and contemporary starring Mo Seto, a small taekwondo champion who learns the importance of being oneself and solves a mystery along the way.
This story will have you on the edge of your seat and make you want every pun shirt Mo’s best friend, Nacho, wears. If you read a lot of middle grade, a little bit, or have a middle grader who loves adventure and martial arts, I recommend preordering The Legendary Mo Seto or checking it out June 4th!
Popping on to say what a delight this middle grade novel is! It’s a high impact, triple kick of a story full of action, lovable characters, and a heroine who inspires.
I’ve often read a lot of contemporary or historically based middle grade novels, but this is a fun fusion of fantasy and contemporary starring Mo Seto, a small taekwondo champion who learns the importance of being oneself and solves a mystery along the way.
This story will have you on the edge of your seat and make you want every pun shirt Mo’s best friend, Nacho, wears. If you read a lot of middle grade, a little bit, or have a middle grader who loves adventure and martial arts, I recommend preordering The Legendary Mo Seto or checking it out June 4th!
The Quince Project by Jessica Parra
funny
lighthearted
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
Review: The Quince Project by Jessica Parra
There may not be any talking animals, but The Quince project is full of Disney princesses taking hold of their Happily Ever Nows.
Cas Torres is organized. Cas Torres has it together. Cast Torres has her, and her sister’s and dad’s, perfect HEA (happily ever after) planned out and on schedule. She is determined to take her planning skills to the next level and become a fairy godmother’s apprentice. But first, she needs to land the perfect high profile party for her portfolio. Then she does, a Disneyland YouTuber… but there’s a catch, she has to lie about having her internship already.
You know what they say about perfectly laid plans, don’t you? As Cas’s world begins to unravel, like a string in Cinderella’s frock, she learns the importance of honesty, family, and letting things get a little bit messy.
I would have read this just because Jessica Parra wrote it, and it is no secret that I love her debut novel, Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success. But then, she also gave me Star Wars references, vicarious Disney visits, and another beautiful coming of age novel. This book is a lot of fun as well as beautiful exploration of grief and how we can become who we are meant to be even when the people so pivotal to our life are missing.
There may not be any talking animals, but The Quince project is full of Disney princesses taking hold of their Happily Ever Nows.
Cas Torres is organized. Cas Torres has it together. Cast Torres has her, and her sister’s and dad’s, perfect HEA (happily ever after) planned out and on schedule. She is determined to take her planning skills to the next level and become a fairy godmother’s apprentice. But first, she needs to land the perfect high profile party for her portfolio. Then she does, a Disneyland YouTuber… but there’s a catch, she has to lie about having her internship already.
You know what they say about perfectly laid plans, don’t you? As Cas’s world begins to unravel, like a string in Cinderella’s frock, she learns the importance of honesty, family, and letting things get a little bit messy.
I would have read this just because Jessica Parra wrote it, and it is no secret that I love her debut novel, Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success. But then, she also gave me Star Wars references, vicarious Disney visits, and another beautiful coming of age novel. This book is a lot of fun as well as beautiful exploration of grief and how we can become who we are meant to be even when the people so pivotal to our life are missing.
Vengeful by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Fully enjoyed the second in the Villains series. It was a quick-paced read with the same time-bending build up experienced in the first. I find it so impressive how VE Schwab is able to use the narrative construction to simultaneously build tension and character, as well as make it feel like I’m flipping through a comic book.