mrsclappreads's reviews
338 reviews

The Inmate by Freida McFadden

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

Little Moons by Jen Storm

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wow, what an incredible book! It struck me how perfect this would be for our Indigenous courses at the high school. I'll definitely be recommending it to them.

Now, onto the review. The way it captures the grief felt by the entire family and
leaves us with an unknown ending is so poignant.
It lovingly sheds light on what Indigenous families often endure, especially in light of the tragic statistics surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous women in our country. 

Presenting this as a graphic novel resonated deeply with me, as a visual learner. I'm confident it will easily make it into my top 15 favorites.
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Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book easily ranks in my top 10 favorites. It gave me a Shadow and Bone vibe, which was a delightful surprise. As I read, I found myself drawn in more and more, and by the time I reached 80%, it clicked – this was reminiscent of Shadow and Bone! What's great is it's a standalone novel, which I really appreciate.

The character development and world-building were exceptional. While I felt the ending,
where Sultana triumphs over the Portuguese,
was a tad rushed, it wrapped up nicely within about 400 pages, just like many other dystopian fantasies. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read!
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Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Just couldn’t get into it. Had a hard time with the language slowing me down and I got frustrated and quit. A few friends read it and said it was quite good though. Don’t let my frustration stop you from trying it! 
Misadventures in Ghost Hunting by Melissa Yue

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.25

I initially underestimated it, thinking it might be too young for my taste, but I found it quite enjoyable. It is a nice fit for a YA book. Not too long, but not too short. I think it would more appeal the tween/younger YA crowd tbh. The ghost story was captivating, woven seamlessly with intriguing Chinese folklore. The narrative's pacing was well-balanced, allowing for a deep exploration of family history and the reconnection with grandparents. It adeptly explored themes of trust, friendship, and family dynamics, adding depth to the storyline.
The Guardians of the Aspis by Sarah L. Rose

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Heirs of Bone and Sea by Kay Adams

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This romantasy featuring LGBTQ characters and an enemies-to-lovers storyline ticked many boxes for me, but it fell a bit flat. It might appeal to Disney fans (think Tangled meets pirates). I appreciated that both girls held positions of power and were on equal footing; neither was portrayed as weaker than the other—they both discovered strengths they didn't realize they had. I liked the alternating POVs, though it took me until chapter 5 to discern that each chapter corresponded to either a wave of water (Evhan) or a moon phase (Kal), which was initially challenging for me to figure out.

The slow-burn LGBTQ+ romance offered a refreshing change compared to most typical fantasy stories I've read. For instance, it avoided the trope of 'man saves the damsel.'

While the world-building was basic and not overly crucial, it served its purpose before progressing with the plot. The story had enough twists and turns to keep me engaged. Personally, I think it could have been a satisfying standalone; it didn't necessarily need to be a series. However, as a reader, I found 
the brother’s POV chapter at the end
intriguing—it filled in some gaps and has me contemplating picking up the second book to see where his story leads.
And Then There Was Us by Kern Carter

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emotional hopeful informative reflective 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? Yes

3.75

"Emotional Damage”, as the kids say. 
     This book was a compelling read, tackling tough themes with sensitivity. I believe it will resonate deeply with many YA readers. The characters are convincingly portrayed and easy to relate to. While the plot's pacing felt a bit erratic to me (perhaps due to my recent reading streak), it realistically mirrors the ups and downs of teenage life and healing from abuse.
     Upon reflection, I'm inclined to bump my initial rating from a 3.75 to an 4. Overall, I found it highly enjoyable.
The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This is book #3 in the series. It is set in the future and the twists and turns are just as interesting as the first two books. I call this a great mystery beach read. Guilty pleasure read. It isn’t a deep read, but it touches on a genre I enjoy and the plot is just enough of a fun ride that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. 
Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5