Publish date: June 30, 2020
Genre: Romance Rating (1-5): 2.8
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada, Doubleday Canada, and Marian Keyes for an ARC of Grown Ups in exchange for an honest review. All of my opinions of this book are my own and not influenced by receiving an advanced copy.
CONTENT WARNING: eating disorders I am rating this book a 2.8 out of 5 stars. I rate different categories that are important to me personally in a book, and then take an average of the scores to get my overall rating. I don’t share this rubric, because everyone has their own opinions on what makes a great book, and should cater their ratings to their own personal preferences! I’m honestly having a hard time formulating an opinion on this book. There were plenty things I liked, but also quite a bit that I didn’t like. My overall view of the book would most likely be improved if I had liked the writing style better. It just seemed to jump from character to character so fast and it felt like whiplash. There never seemed to be a main plot the book was following, and sometimes it made me feel tired trying to read it because I was wondering if there was ever going to be a point made. It made the overall story somewhat hard for me to grasp, and it was hard to pay attention to the book. I think that if the novel was trimmed down a bit, I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more. I really loved the character depth of Cara, Nell, and Johnny. Those three were so developed to me, and they felt very relatable. At the beginning of my post I put a content warning for eating disorders because Cara struggles a lot with bulimia in this book, and it could be triggering for those who have suffered from the same illness. I’m not totally writing off Marian Keyes on my to read list because I know she has written quite a few bestsellers. It just so happened that the first book of hers I tried, really fell short for me. SYNOPSIS FROM PUBLISHER: “They're a glamorous family, the Caseys. Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together--birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they're a happy family. Johnny's wife, Jessie--who has the most money--insists on it. Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much . . . Still, everything manages to stay under control--that is, until Ed's wife, Cara, gets a concussion and can't keep her thoughts or opinions to herself. One careless remark at Johnny's birthday party, with the entire family present, and Cara starts spilling all their secrets. As everything unravels, each of the adults finds themselves wondering if it's--finally--the time to grow up.”
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Publish Date: June 2, 2020
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Rating: 3.2
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children’s publishing, and Kester Grant for an ARC of The Court of Miracles in exchange for an honest review. All of my opinions on this book are my own and not influenced by receiving an advanced copy.
I am rating this book a 3.2 out of 5 stars. I rate different categories that are important to me personally in a book, and then take an average of the scores to get my overall rating. I don’t share this rubric, because everyone has their own opinions on what makes a great book, and should cater their ratings to their own personal preferences! The overall idea of this book is so intriguing to me, and I was hooked right in the first chapter. What happens in the first few chapters is the motivation behind everything our protagonist, Eponine (Nina), does. Her sister being sold into the Guild of Flesh (basically a prostitution ring) and having to serve The Tiger (Lord of the Guild of Flesh), sends Nina’s life into a spiral of revenge. Unfortunately, I feel like this is the only angle of Nina we see. I understand the whole premise of the book is to take down The Tiger, because why wouldn’t you? He’s a terrible person. However, if potential love interests like St. Juste, the prince, or Montparnasse are being introduced, it would’ve been good to see one or two (or three hehe) of those relationships develop more. Honestly, this story would not require a love story woven in, but since it was somewhat introduced, I just felt a little empty when it wasn’t explored. The world building was outstanding. It was so good that I don’t even want to try to summarize it, because it was so detailed. That was the main thing about the story I enjoyed. The writing felt choppy at times, which can happen when a book is jumping forward in time. But still, many transitions felt rushed, and it was so go-go-go, that sometimes I just felt confused ?. I’m still looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and will still recommend it to my sister (and her colleagues) to put in her classroom. Just fell short for me in a few areas, but a good book overall. Synopsis from publisher: ”In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina's life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father's fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie). When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger--the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh--Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city's dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice--protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.”
Happy Reading!
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AuthorHi, I'm Genny! You can always find me with a book in my hand. Dystopian, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction are among my favorite genres. I hope you enjoy the reviews I provide and can help you pick out your next book! Archives
October 2020
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