tabatha_shipley's reviews
1326 reviews

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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slow-paced

2.0

What I Did Like:
+Of course the original intention of this book was to capture life in the South in the 1930s. It does that beautifully. From language to racial tension and everything in between, this historical fiction novel takes you back to the perspective of growing up as an affluent white child in the 1920s south. 
+The trial aspect, while only a small percentage of the actual book, is captivating. This is the part of this story that makes this memorable and long lasting. The best dialogue and the best points come from this section of the story. 
+Beautiful prose. The descriptions work, never leaving the reader wondering what we were talking about. The emotions of our main character come through, especially when Scout is angry! There’s a lot of examples here of well crafted sentences and that’s worth noting. 

Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of classic or historical literature who aren’t bothered by stories targeting a younger audience. 

My Rating: 2 Stars
While a classic, this one hasn’t aged well. In my opinion (which is all reviews really are) there are better books for these topics now. 
Voices Carry: A Story of Teaching, Transitions, & Truths by Raven Oak

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reflective

4.0

What I Did Like:
+The voice comes across as natural and comfortable. This reads like the author sat down across from you and started talking. It’s captivating.
+As a former teacher myself I related to a lot of this content, sometimes painfully so. It’s nice to have a raw and honest book about being on the front lines of teaching. The entire book is not about teaching … but the entire book IS raw and honest. 
+The unsent letters to people are such a great addition! I’ve often written letters to people that I never plan to send, in fact a few also ended up in my blog as the author mentioned as well. It’s just one example of relatable stuff in this book.

Who Should Read This One:
-Memoir fans. This one is well done and packed with things you’ll relate to. Plus, it has a great voice! 

My Rating: 4 Stars
As memoirs go, this one is well done. It reads quickly, feels comfortable, and is packed with interesting information. 
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What I Did Like:
+I love the vibe happening here. Right from the first chapter you’re aware of how little information you have and you are sucked in by your desire to learn what you’re missing. 
+The layers of secrets to this one give a satisfying reveal a piece at a time, perfect for any mystery lover. 
+The romance line works in the way that it has to for this story. That is to say it wouldn’t work in a romance but it works as the side arc in this story, if that makes sense. 

Who Should Read This One:
-Mystery fans who want that Ocean’s 11 vibe where there’s more going on than you think and you can be guessing until the end. 

My Rating: 4 Stars
The Trials of Lila Dalton by L.J. Shepherd

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

What I Did Like:
+Compelling opening chapters. This is one of those books that captures your curiosity quickly. Just the opening chapter was enough to get me hooked. 
+There are a LOT of complicated layers to this story but it’s somehow not overwhelming. You peel back those layers slowly and get completely buried in the story.
+The ending has the capability to shock even seasoned readers. 

Who Should Read This One:
-This is designed for readers who like puzzles that are more than they appear, are deep thinkers, and like an interesting ending. 

My Rating: 3 Stars
Well done but definitely niche. If you’re not a deep puzzle fan, you may not love this one. 
The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

What I Did Like:
+The mystery grabs hold of you quickly and keeps your interest. There are a lot of layers here coupled with lots of unanswered questions. You get lost in the case, which is what makes this one fun. 
+There are a lot of clues and misdirections to keep the reader guessing. That’s always a fun way to have a mystery book progress because it keeps you in the story.  
+There are some hints at things/characters we could bring back later in the series. No spoilers, of course, but I’m looking forward to seeing more cases. 

Who Should Read This One:
-Mystery action movie fans. Hang on, I’m aware this isn’t a movie. But many parts of it read like those action movies with one guy against the evil corporations. If you’re a fan of those, this is your book! 

My Rating: 4 Stars
Future Unfolded: A Novel by J. L. Yarrow

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

3.0

Note: This is the second book in a series. We are reviewing this one on its ability to stand alone apart from the series.  

What I Did Like:
+Hunter is a well written character. There’s depth to him as well as changes he undergoes as the book goes on, which makes him relatable.
+The AI concept is played around with in an interesting way. No spoilers but I definitely hadn’t seen all of this before and original is always good.
+The twists in the plot come together and make sense eventually, which is all you really want in a time travel science fiction.

Who Should Read This One:
-Time Travel fans. This one has a lot to offer. 
-Readers who enjoy stories where the characters thought they were doing what was right and have unintended consequences, specifically with technology.

My Rating: 3 Stars

For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2024/07/08/2024-book-review-future-unfolds/ 
The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

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

3.0

What I Did Like:
+The opening chapters for each POV beautifully set up a dangerous cat and mouse game. Each character becomes instantly clear with only one quick chapter. You pick sides and develop strong feelings.
+Twists you can’t anticipate. This is always the best part of a thriller, getting surprised and caught off guard. This book does that well.
+Getting up close and personal with a bad character is not common, especially with a book this dark. The author doesn’t shy away from the macabre in this one, you’ll go along for the ride and won’t fade to black.

Who Should Read This One:
-Dark thriller fans who enjoy a cat and mouse game.

My Rating: 3 Stars
I wanted more character development but the cat and mouse aspect was well set up. 
The Runaway Jury by John Grisham

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

4.0

What I Did Like:
+A fun sense of mystery. There are things that are kept from you throughout the book, only some of which you realize are being kept from you. These make for a fun read as you try and figure out what is missing. 
+I’m no expert in the legal system but I’ll say this book reads as if it was vetted by people who ARE. Nothing is inherently wrong with the procedure and, in fact, it makes a point to tell you when something is OUT of procedure as a plot point. That’s good research and I can appreciate that. 
+Great stick it to the man sort of story. Big corrupt corporation combined with lots of corrupt players makes for an interesting story. It is written in such a way as to make the reader almost feel like the only good guy in the story, like you profit from this. The fact that this was written in our past and the reader can note changes from procedures actually supports this feeling.

Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of courtroom drama. This is sort of an original for a reason. It’s thrilling, intense, and well researched. 

My Rating: 4 Stars
The Fate of Crowns by Rebecca L. Garcia

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

4.0

What I Did Like:
+Descriptive language adds a poetic flare to the settings. The author does a good job of describing the settings in a way that makes them easy to picture clearly. Often in the setting descriptions the language almost sounds like poetry.
+The ending is intense. It ups the stakes and makes you question who you can trust leading into the sequel. 
+Morgana. She’s a deeper character than we get a chance to explore in this book (although I have hopes we can explore her more in the subsequent books) and she’s definitely coming across as morally grey (my favorite).
+Fae, magic, and the idea of a staff to allow mortals to wield magic are all intriguing and well done. 

Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of magical fantasy books with royalty will enjoy this one. 
-Poetic language fans who enjoy a well crafted description.

My Rating: 4 Stars
A solid fantasy that sets off a series well.
The Glass Box by J. Michael Straczynski

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

What I Did Like:
+Some creative ways of getting in the MCs head. From a page full of “I Hate You” to literally arguing with herself, this one had some good ways of expressing her POV.
+Critique on government without being obvious about it. This one inserts some obviously dystopian ideas but roots them in real politics. This makes for an interesting lesson in “what if”.
+Frankenstein. I liked the depth, I liked the originality of this character when set against the others, and I liked the nods to a true understanding of the source material. 

Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of dystopian books that rely on politics gone wrong.
-One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fans … you’ll like the similarities. 

My Rating: 3 Stars