#sophie reviews books

[everything-feels-so-sureal]

I finally rewatched howls moving castle today after reading the book version last year and i realized i love both versions equally. the movie is the romanticized version and it depicts the love between sophie and howl in a way that only a studio ghibli movie could. the book shows the story in a more down to earth way. rather than dreamily floating in the air, howl and sophie dont actually get along at first with the parallel between the story and the book where in the movie, sophie is being hit on by two soldiers in an alleyway and is saved my howl and in the book, howl is the one chatting her up. i remember reading another post that said that we should think of the movie as howl’s perspective and the book as sophie’s perspective and i really like that idea. i would say that i enjoyed the movie a lot more after reading the book because it helped me understand more of the storyline and what was actually going on. stories can be told and interpreted in differing ways depending on how you read and understand how they were explained. i think both versions are beautiful stories of a girl who learns to love herself through loving others and through finally realizing that your worth is what you make it. once sophie was free of being stuck in the hat shop as the eldest sister with no opportunities for what she could do with her life, she was able to create her own way of being happy that is most fitting for her. thank you to both diana wynne jones and to hayao miyazaki for telling the beautiful story of howls moving castle

[comfyworlds]

Howl’s moving castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Genre: fantasy

POV: Sophie Hatter (3rd person)

Main characters: Sophie, Howl Jenkins, Calcifer, Michael Fisher

Settings: Kingdom of Ingary (magical realm) and Wales (UK)

Fav quote: “May your bacon burn!” (Write in the comments who is the one saying it;) )

I hope that all of you have watched the movie from Ghibli because it's beautiful! I mean the pictures are incredible and so is the story. Obviously the presence of a certain gorgeous mage is also a good point... I won't lie he was one of the reasons why I ended up reading the book. I heard many comments about how different the book was from the movie, especially regarding Howl and Sophie's personalities and relationship. So here I am telling you all that it was worth it.

In fact, I discovered that the feeling reading the book is the same you get from the film. Relationships between characters (not only Howl and Sophie) are deeper.

For example you might remember Michael from the movie. Ghibli’s version was a lil boy with ginger hair but in the book he is older and (spoiler! Don’t read if you want a surprise) in love with Sophie’s younger sister Martha. Yes because in the book Sophie has two sisters and there’s romance for both.

Eventually the book was verg good, different from the movie but in a good way and also made me appreciate the film even more. Some sequences of the book make much more sense now and I appreciated a lot some scenes that Ghibli brought in the movie identical to how they were in the book.

Atmosphere and plot are basically the same and also the ending is very similar. Fro someome it might be a deterrent but since I like to discover more about the evnts and characters I found it interesting anyway.

Probably I will write a new post with the differences between the book and the movie but for now I leave you with this review. Hope you enjoy!

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Perfect on Paper Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD What's the best advice you've ever received or given? ❓ 🦇 High school junior Darcy Phillips has a secret identity as the relationship advice expert behind Locker 89. Leave a letter along with $10 and she'll provide the perfect solution to your relationship woes. So far, she hasn't been caught...that is, until Alexander Brougham catches her collecting letters. He'll keep her secret...if she can fix his relationship post-break-up, that is. Can Darcy help Brougham win his girlfriend back (without strangling the entitled, rich, yummy-Australian-accent-slinging swimmer) in the process?

💜 Perfect on Paper was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award (Best Young Adult Fiction - 2021) and it's no wonder. This was the exact book bisexual baby me needed a decade ago. Though I've read a multitude of books featuring bisexual FMCs, Sophie Gonzales is the first to capture the authenticity of internalized biphobia. I'll admit I was sheltered enough that it took me a while to realize bi was even an option for me. Bisexual erasure didn't help; once I self-identified, I was given the oh-so-cliche, "that's not real," and "it's just a phase." Bitch, I'm a moon goddess; I'm in a new phase every day of my life. ANYWAY. Darcy is authentic in her concern that a crush over a guy invalidates her bi-ness. The Queer & Questioning Club scene where Darcy's community validates her was everything (and truly got me misty-eyed).

💜 The advice column aspect of the story was brilliant. Darcy's letters are written in a tone that's patient and empathetic yet informative and encouraging. She'd obviously done her research and it shows, but you see her mentally unravel the moment there's personal bias and it's BEAUTIFUL. Darcy isn't perfect. She's a high schooler, still figuring herself out. Yes, she's flawed, but she's also self-aware, willing to grow and change and take her own advice (or the advice she gets from her AMAZING trans big sister, who I adored).

💜 While this is a queer YA romance, there are so many layers beyond that. There's a mixed bag of diversity and personal trauma (and with that, potential for growth) to explore.

💙 The story DID take a minute to pick up speed, so the beginning left me waiting for a catalyst for momentum. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm no a fan of the miscommunication trope. HOWEVER, it does fit here, and proves how easily a tiny moment of misunderstanding can completely alter the course of a friendship. I did have to put the book down at one point, when Darcy's best friend outs her (I was super frustrated on Darcy's behalf because that betrayal was intense). I was disappointed that no one stepped forward and THANKED Darcy for her advice when she was getting attacked as the person behind Locker 89. People were upset BEFORE their letters were taken, but no one thanked Darcy until LONG after the situation cooled. Given Darcy's self-proclaimed success rate (was there a mention of HOW she knew she was successful, beyond the lack of refunds?), I expected a lot more praise for her abilities beyond one person.

🦇 Recommended to fans of Leah on the Offbeat and Imogen, Obviously, with a hint of To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Netflix's Sex Education.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 💌 Bisexual FMC (w/ Internalized Biphobia) 💌 Queer Young Adult Rom-Com 💌 Lots of Rep 💌 Hate-to-Love 💌 Friends to Lovers 💌 POC Sapphic Side Ship

💬 Quotes ❝ "Do you think there’s a chance that [...] you’re intellectualizing things so you don’t have to, you know, feel them?" ❞ ❝ I was sitting in the space between a sound and its echo. Brougham had asked a question, and I had to answer it. It was that, or keep dreaming about love, and working toward helping others find it, while never letting myself risk it. ❞ ❝ In some ways, we mirrored each other. We shared cracks in complementary places. ❞ ❝ Bi people are part of the queer community, and their identity does not change depending on who, if anyone, they happen to have feelings for or date at any given moment. ❞

[juleworm]

hello!! given that it is the first weekend in june, i'd like to go through everything that i read in the month of may and say if i would or would not recommend it and why. lets go !!

in chronological order of reading:

king of pride - ana huang: YES absolutely! god i loved this book. more specifically, yes i would recommend it if you like opposites attract in romance and dating, or if you like income gap relationships ( he's a billionaire, she's a struggling author ), and yes if you like incredibly hot and well written spicy scenes between characters. i honestly can't even think of a no unless you literally just hate spicy romance as a genre; even then i still think this book deserves a chance for your time. i absolutely adore this book.

2. den of vipers - k.a. knight: yes if you miss reading self-insert on wattpad and like pick me fmcs. the vipers themselves do have a lot of good character behind them, but as far as the fmc...i just really didn't like her. i did finish the entire book hoping that it would get better towards the end, but in my opinion the ending was one of the worse parts of the book and throughout it all it felt very predictable. would i generally recommend this? no. but it's definitely a hit or miss book. you'll either really like it, or not like it at all.

3. does it hurt? - h.d. carlton: yes yes yes yes yes. this was my favorite read of the month of may. i'd recommend it even more if you like witty and funny fmcs; it's sort of a dark romance version of grumpy x sunshine. it has a lot of spice and it's very creative if that makes sense? it's not just boring vanilla missionary, that's for sure. the mmcs character is phenomenal and both of them each have very full character arcs. but i wouldn't recommend it if mentions of incest and domestic abuse trigger you, or if body horror and gore triggers you.

4. never lie - freida mcfadden: yes if you're new to thrillers and want something easy to digest. definitely not if you're not new to thrillers and have read some absolutely breathtaking ones that kept you up at night. to me it had a rather predictable storyline, a twist that falls flat, and characters with absolutely zero depth or anywhere near a completed arc. i really did not like this book at all. also yes if you like a quick read; this didn't take me very long to get through.

5 + 6. there are no saints / there is no devil [ sinner's duet ] - sophie lark: yes if you like a "beginner" dark romance that doesn't stray too far into depravity, but still has a very dominant and demanding mmc. no if you've read things by h.d. carlton or other dark romance authors and that's your expectation level. this might come off as boring to you. however as this was a bit tame for me storyline wise, the spicy scenes were amazing and i did like that they were both artists. i feel like usually billionaires are business-oriented but it was cool to see a wealthy and famous artist. also yes if you like mentor romance dynamics.

7. iced out - veronica eden: yes if you like boys who are very clearly written by women ( in a good way! ). the mmc is perfectly balanced; he's as hot and dominant as he is cute and sweet and nice and thoughtful. he's pretty much the picturesque model citizen for what a girl typically would want in a perfectly healthy romantic relationship. there's very little drama between characters, which i personally liked. but no if parental death or familial death or grief/loss are triggers for you. for a more in-depth response, i did a spoiler free book review here!

if you do read any of these let me know! i'd love to see how our opinions differ :))

[oracleofmadness]

This book is phenomenal! If you have ever been curious about Morgan Le Fay from Arthurian legend, then this is a great view on a seemingly misunderstood character.

This story takes the love and the loss Morgan goes thru and turns it into a tale of power. The number of times I found myself relating to this character! I never have known much when it comes to Arthurian legend, and I'm so happy this is how her story was introduced to me.

I feel like this really can be related to so many other instances, real or fantasy, of powerful women being turned into monsters throughout time. I know I keep using this word, but the power in this book. Morgan's strength is unfathomable, and I will not easily forget her story.

Out June 13, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book blurb: "Submission is a gift. The more powerful the person, the greater the gift."

Ramses Howell is a self-made man. A billionaire obsessed with performance, he measures himself by his wins and his achievements. He's proven he can get what he wants, and from the moment Blake Abbot, brilliant and alluring escort, catches his eye, she becomes his top priority. But he can tell something doesn't add up. He sees her skill at what she does, but he knows she's hiding something, and he intends to find out what.

Blake has gone to great extremes to guard her secrets. She's known who Ramses is for years, and knows exactly how dangerous he can be. But when Ramses offers her a game that he created just for her, she can't resist playing. After all, he has what she wants, too. She sets boundaries, adds rules to the game…but soon finds herself breaking her own in the process.

As fantasy invades reality, their new arrangement threatens to consume them. Blake and Ramses both cross lines they swore they never would, questioning everything they thought they wanted—and everything their future could be, if they don't destroy each other first.

Review:

Ramses Howell is a billionaire, a man who prides himself in his achievements and his ability to get what he wants... yet the moment he meets Blake Abbot, he knows he'll do anything to be with her. Blake Abbot is a brilliant and mischievous escort who has prided herself in being able to read men, in being able to win the game and reach her goals. The moment Blake and Ramses meets they both know that they can't stay away from one another. Ramses will have to play Blake's games and see if he can find a way to find out who she really is and if he can break down her guards. Blake has vowed never to fall for a client yet Ramses is different... something about him makes her want to show him parts of herself she's hidden away from everyone. They both can't resist a game or a challenge... but is this really just a game or is it possible that it's more than that and that for the first time they've finally met their match in each other. This was such a good read, I adored how much Ramses and Blake couldn't get enough of each other, how they were so attuned to the other's wants and needs, and how they perfectly fit the other. They are a perfect match, they have amazing chemistry and the care and love they have for each other is both sweet and so so hot. Ramses might be a bit controlling and unhinged but he's in it to win her heart and he'll do anything to prove to her that he's there for the long run and that nothing she does could ever make him not love her. Blake has been through a lot and has her guards up yet something about Ramses keeps drawing her back. I loved this book and had so much fun reading it!!

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, Bloom Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[always-a-joyful-note]

A book rec perhaps?

I don't know...but to the ORV fandom and those who like books and media with heavy meta themes and philosophical musings, I recommend Sophie's World.

What is that you ask?

Well, my friends...it's a book by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder (I read the translated to English version, of course) that follows a 14 yr old girl named Sophie as she randomly starts receiving letters in a philosophy course and finds herself semi-adopted as a student under an old philosopher.

The book gives Sophie and the readers a sort of intro course into western philosophy and worldviews from Biblical mythos to Plato to the scientific eras whilst also incorporating a seriously wild metafictional plot that explores the relationship of fiction to the real world.

I can't say much without giving spoilers but the book is WILD and absurd in ways that will eventually make sense(ish). It makes you really think about the things that can be done with writing and the awareness that knowing philosophies/worldviews/etc. can bring into a "created" being.

It's been a hot while (years, I think) since I've read the book but I was suddenly reminded of it randomly (don't know how) and thought, "Huh. I think ORV fans who enjoyed the meta of the story and some of the philosophies it introduced would like this!"

In short, if you like takes on the relations of fiction to the real world and Thought(tm) that relies on Weird Twists, as well as a cleverly and easy to follow introduction to western philosophy/worldview, not to mention a pretty engaging plot with fascinating characters you will want to study under a microscope....Sophie's World does it really well.

Content warning? Like I said, it's been a few years since I read it, and nothing in particular struck younger me as problematic enough to remember. The book was written in 1991, so there could be some slight sexism (don't quote me on that). It also deals with a buuuunch of philosophies that discuss heavy themes and I recall references to sex and some slight psychological twistiness, but I think it's safe to rate it as PG-13. (If anyone who has read the book recently and knows better please feel free to add/correct any discrepancies in my recommendation)

[triviareads]

ARC Review of The Duchess by Sophie Jordan

Rating: 3.5/5 Heat Level: 3/5 Publication Date: March 26th

Premise:

Valencia is a widowed duchess who is finally free to do as she pleases. The new heir to the dukedom is finally found and it turns out to be Rhian, a Welsh businessman Valencia finds herself inconveniently attracted to. In exchange for helping Rhian's sisters navigate the ton, Rhian agrees to give Valencia financial security and the freedom to leave.

My review:

This was low-heat and relatively short (218 pages) as far as historical romances go. Valencia is in her early thirties, a popular matron of the ton, and finally free to be as merry a widow as she pleases now that her husband is dead. Sophie Jordan has not shied away from writing HORRIFICALLY shitty husbands in her Scandalous Ladies of London series, and the late Dedham haunts Valencia for much of the book. What I found particularly poignant was the rightful blame Valencia placed on not only her husband for his various abuses, but also her father for not protected her when he held all the power to decide her future and her marriage. It feels very real for the time period and drives home the point just how much power men held back in the day.

And Valencia isn't perfect; she's a bit of a snob when it come's to Rhian's countrified sisters initially, and she spends most of the book antagonizing her stepmother Hazel, who is actually younger than Valencia, and was a sex worker before she married Valencia's father. There are a few chapter's in Hazel's POV, and by the end of The Duchess, her romance is set up and Valencia finally begins to realize her hatred is unfounded.

I think where the book fell short of my expectations was with the hero Rhian, and his chemistry with Valencia. Rhian is big, Welsh, a competent businessman (a Rhys Winterborne type superficially, but he doesn't go as hard as Rhys lol), and initially hates that he's attracted to Valencia. But that hatred feels pretty tepid all things considered, and while I could see where that "hatred" morphed into grudging respect, I really could not make out where their attraction, and even their love began. It felt like there was no good reason, apart from base attraction and the low bar of Rhian willing to listen to and support Valencia while her late husband and the men around her never did.

Here's my thing: like I said in my review of the first book in this series, The Countess (see here), a friendship between a bunch of popular, disenchanted older women as a concept is fun, but so far both heroines have spent most of their books quite miserable, and the romantic and sexual payoff with their heroes has been middling at best.

The sex:

There were 1.5 sex scenes in this book. I say .5 because one was vaguely described in a paragraph and mostly glossed over. There is a *mounting* moment in this book, which I did appreciate, but otherwise the sex scenes were... underwhelming. I'm starting to feel like this is a pattern for this series.

Overall:

Like I said earlier, if low-heat, short historical romances with family and marital drama are your jam, you'll enjoy this book. I for one am quite curious about the next book in this series, which features Valencia's stepmom Hazel, who is put in a predicament very similar to Jayne in Lorraine Heath's Waking Up With the Duke...

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

[therabbitthatpostthings]

Finished Howl’s Moving Castle

Love this book would recommend.

If you’ve seen the movie just know they are very different yet still familiar.

The meme is in reference to what the author said in an interview:

[pollyssecretlibrary]

“Anastasia”, by Sophie Lark

STANDALONE

Historical fantasy

5 Stars

“Nobody wanted us to dance together. Nobody but me”

If you are looking for a biography of Anastasia or a recount of the last years of the Romanovs in a photographic kind of way, this is not the book for you. Anastasia and the last Romanov Tsar’s family, as well as some other historical figures like the courtiers and, most especially, Rasputin, are the characters in an alternative coming of age fantasy story where some people develop magic powers. Anastasia inherited her powers from the Tsar, she can slow time for everyone except for herself. That is a very powerful magic talent and it was expected that the tsarevitch, prince Alexei would inherit that, but he didn’t.

History is what it is,There’s only so much Sophie Lark can change to keep the story still recognizable, and she does a perfect job of it. In the same manner of other favorite writers of mine who also do fairy stories, folklore and history retellings like Juliet Marillier or Katherine Arden, she doesn’t recreate history but the legend of Anastasia, which says that she was the only one of the Romanovs who survived the Russian Revolution. Being second to last amongst the Tsar’s children is hard, seeking for her parents’ attention and approval Anastasia isn’t the demure ladylike princess that the photos seem to portray. She loves being outdoors, wearing men’s clothes, flying her gyrfalcon with which she can communicate and she’s in love with a Cossack prince named Damien who is her uncle’s ward.

We also have Damian’s side of the story to complete the full picture of what is to come and why. Damien is the son of the king of the Cossacks, his father was at war with Rusya (alternate name for Russia) and then signed a peace treaty with the Tsar. One of the conditions of the treaty was that Damien became a ward under the Tsar’s cousin’s supervision but no matter how long Damien spends being educated and having a military career amongst the Rusyans, he will always be considered a filthy barbarian. Except by Anastasia, of course. So we get to know his thoughts and his feelings about himself, his life and the people around him.

Anastasia and Damien speak for themselves. Sophie Lark writes in the first person for both characters therefore she gives different approaches to the same story given that Anastasia is a Rusyan princess and Damien a captive, with privileges but a captive all the same. And then there’s this dark mysterious figure that is Rasputin. Rasputin introduces himself as a monk and a humble servant. He is a fortune teller of sorts but he also has some talent for curing people of their ailments and that is the key to his closeness to the Tsar and the empress; Alexei ails from t hemophilia. He has very painful episodes of bleeding or swelling in different limbs, and Rasputin somehow makes the illness retreat from his young patient. But to Anastasia something doesn’t add up in the man and she doesn’t trust him.

I’m pleasantly surprised by Sophie Lark’s fantasy writing because it is so unique to her, usually her books tend to be more plot driven but in this case the book is more character driven. Also despite the liberties she has taken, it is palpable that the research of the History, folklore and customs of Russia and of Europe during the first half of the 20th century has been exhaustive and probably exhausting too. The writing style is very lyrical in a way, it helped that the two narrators speak of their hopes, dreams, memories and ambitions. Of the five books I’ve read this is her only fantasy-retelling and her most recent work, the others were dark mafia romances that I liked a lot, even though the subgenre isn’t exactly my favorite. Fantasy however is my first love in literature. I’m impressed to say the least, that she wrote a book like this, and I’m sure she’s capable of writing whatever she wants and succeed.

What I loved the most is the complexity of her characters, They’re not just black or white, but multicolored, an aspect that makes them more real and believable, and that is quite an achievement especially in a fantasy novel. The plot and subplots are subtle but as complex as the characters, political struggles, intrigue at court, treason, uprising, war, revolution and the change of the times, which is the hardest of subplots humans have to face in order to grow. But the most important aspect to differentiate the genres is that Romance, especially mafia/contemporary doesn’t need a lot of world building since it’s based in reality while fantasy whenever involves magic, folklore and magical creature, needs to have a well crafted scenery to wrap and surround the characters and it needs a credible magic system. And boy does Sophie Lark’s writing achieve that and more. Her imagination and fearlessness is what sustains this book.

[wondereads]

Personal Review (05/29/22)

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Why am I reviewing this book?

This is one of my favorite books in the world, and I was just waiting for a chance to reread and review it. It is very different from the movie, so I suggest everybody read it!

Plot 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Sophie, as the oldest of three sisters, has always known that she would fail miserably if she ever went out to seek her fortune. However, when she offends the Witch of the Waste and is transformed into an elderly woman, she sets off on an adventure of her own, one that includes overdramatic wizards, fire demons, and perhaps a little bit of true love.

Compared to the fast-paced, high-action fantasy novels being published today, Howl's Moving Castle can seem meandering. However, a key factor of Diana Wynne Jones' books is knowing exactly what the problem is from the get-go and then spending the rest of the book avoiding that problem until it gets too big to ignore. While the first read-through may seem a little weird in its pacing, this book has some of the highest reread value ever. Every time you go back, you will notice little hints, little bits of character work that were hidden the first time around. It all comes together to make a story that might veer of course but never gets boring.

Despite there being no hard worldbuilding really, it's very easy to follow the magic rules of Ingary. It's all the rules of fairy tales and fables brought together, the ones we're intimately familiar with from a young age, to make a system that is simultaneously simple for the reader and absolutely chaotic. Speaking of chaos, the climax of Howl's Moving Castle is one of the most chaotic I've ever read with almost every character of importance being literally shoved into a tiny space and forced to deal with each other. It also provides a lot of ways for Howl's curse to be snuck in there and resolve everything.

Characters 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

The characters of Howl's Moving Castle are some of the most unique I've ever read and will always be among my favorites. Starting with Sophie, she starts off very timid and self-deprecating, but becoming an old woman allows her the freedom to speak her mind and do what she wants. While aging sixty years isn't ideal, it's abundantly clear that had Sophie not been cursed she would never have been able to move past the societal structures that were keeping her from living her life. As an old woman, Sophie has no issues with barging into an evil wizard's home to become his housekeeper while she certainly would never have done it while she was young. The way Sophie comes to love herself is one of the most beautiful character arcs I've ever read.

Howl is a whiny, overdramatic, flamboyant wizard at the beginning of the book, and by the end, he's exactly that only a little better. Howl has to learn to be honest and have a bit of bravery every once in a while, but it doesn't permanently alter his personality. He's still the Howl the readers have fallen in love with. Oh, it must be mentioned that he's just a dude from Wales who used to play rugby, which is absolutely hilarious.

As for Howl and Sophie together, something to note is that outside of their romance they are foils to each other at the beginning of the book. Sophie prioritizes everyone else over herself while Howl prioritizes himself over everyone else, and by the end of the book, they have taught each other that neither extreme is good or healthy. Then, of course, they have one of the funniest, sweetest romances ever. Their incessant bickering is reminiscent of an old, married couple, and while they care for each other in very small but important ways. Also, Sophie is very good at pinning Howl down, who, as we all know, is very good at slithering out of things.

The side characters are all wonderful as well. There's Michael, Howl's young, teenaged apprentice who often gets dragged into Sophie's schemes, and Martha and Lettie, Sophie's younger sisters. The sisters have their own story going on where they swap places with a disguise spell, and despite the rules of fairy tales, they love each other and Sophie very much. There's a lot of emphasis placed on family whether it's the blood between Sophie, Lettie, and Martha or the motherly affection Sophie has for Michael.

Writing Style 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Oh, Diana Wynne Jones' writing style. I love it so much that my own writing mimics it. The way she has that wonderful, matter-of-fact, humorous tone while still immersing the reader completely within the whimsical magic of her world—it's more than any reader could hope for. There's a lot of genuine humor in this book; even after rereading it for the umpteenth time, there are always parts that make me snort. Her writing fits her stories and settings very well, which only serves to enhance the experience.

I will admit that, as I said before, the pacing might feel a little off the first go-round. After all, it seems like nothing happens for quite a while after Sophie meets Howl, but things are happening! Pay attention, and enjoy finding the hints in your reread.

Overall 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

What, did you expect something else? I will be promoting this book until the day I die, and then you can expect me to talk off anyone's ears in the afterlife. The story is unique and fun, the characters are lovable and well-developed, and the writing style is perfect for the situation. Howl's Moving Castle means so much to me. I strive for fair reviews, where I can point out the flaws, even in the books I love, but I can't bring myself to say anything bad about this book. If you haven't read it, go read it; you won't regret it.

The Author

Diana Wynne Jones: passed away at 76 in 2011, also wrote The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, The Merlin Conspiracy, and the Dalemark Quartet

The Reviewer

My name is Wonderose; I try to post a review every two weeks, sometimes once a week, usually over vacations. I take recommendations! Check out my about me post for more!

[candyspandemonium]

If this gets out - Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich - 4.5 stars

I honestly did not know what I was expecting when I started reading this book.

Let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised though. I ended up reading it in one go (RIP my sleep schedule, what else is new?)

I didn't think I would like the characters but I did. There were moments when I ended up laughing at loud even though it was late and I was meant to be quiet (oops).

Overwall, it was a quick and enjoyable read.

+ Have the newest bookmark in my collection as well just because I like it (no it has nothing to do with the book itself but oh well it's a *dog*.)

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD Name one favorite and one "ugh, no" trope OR what fictional character would you love to date IRL? ❓ 🦇 What if your favorite TV character appeared in your bed one day and claimed to be your soulmate? When Ivy Winslow wakes up with the house to herself for a week while her parents are away, she doesn't expect to find the very hot fictional character from her favorite show in her bedroom. To figure out why her fanfic brought him to life, Ivy must team up with her current best friend Henry and former best friend/crush Mack. Can Ivy and Mack deal with the fallout of their friendship, or will they realize there was something bigger behind their fight all along?

💜 The strongest aspect of this story was the satire on overused media tropes (both from a television and writing standpoint). Weston starts off all heart-eyed, head-over-heels for Ivy, and it appears sweet and innocent. Once the bigger tropes come into play, readers see how they'd never work in real life. Even the "only one bed" trope we all know and love becomes frustrating (hello, boundaries?). "Touch her and you die" almost became a thing. The fanfic fusion into YA aspect is fun and playful, though I do wish we'd seen a few more parallels between Ivy's writing and Weston's actions. This is definitely a book fanfic writers will adore; a great example of messy wish fulfillment. Beyond that, the writing is effortlessly queer, as queer characters SHOULD be.

💙 Suspension of disbelief, especially when used in an otherwise contemporary setting, is crucial for a story that contains magical realism. For it to work, however, your characters have to act reasonably. Ivy just seems too naive. It takes her WAY too long to realize that Weston wasn't pulled from her favorite TV show, but from her fan fiction writing. Her reactions are a little too silly. Even her word choice makes her seem younger than she is. I understand differentiating Ivy's fanfic writing by adding grammar and spelling errors, but she's a student. It shouldn't have been THAT cringy to read. Usually, Sophie Gonzales writes young adults with a level of maturity and emotional intelligence. Ivy is less mature than expected (and yes, you can have a mature character who struggles with confidence and independence AND anxiety), which makes it difficult to connect with her. One of the benefits of reading YA is universal experiences (as adults, we've been there, we get it, so we can connect to it), but I couldn't connect to Ivy (and I was an anxiety-ridden fanfic writer who obsessed over every fandom, so I SHOULD have!).

💙 Ivy's lack of chemistry (even from a friendship standpoint) with Mack is concerning. There are versions of healthy co-dependency between friends, but these two don't have it. The flashbacks should have given us more of a reason to love these two together than Ivy coming out to Mack and having a crush on her (after that, we immediately see the flaws in their friendship, which completely lacks communication and therefore feels toxic). Perhaps it would have worked better without the romantic aspect; if we'd focused on Ivy and Mack restoring their friendship.

🦇 Recommended to fans of Rainbow Rowell.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🌬️ Bi, AroAce, & Lesbian Rep 🌬️ Sapphic Romance 🌬️ Young Adult Fantasy Fiction 🌬️ Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers 🌬️ Multiple Timelines 🌬️ Magical Realism

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[storytime-reviews]

Never Ever Getting Back Together Book Review

Eighteen-year-old Maya dumped her cheating ex-boyfriend Jordy two years ago. So, when she receives a call to participate in Second Chance Romance - a reality show in which the now-famous Jordy re-dates his ex-girlfriends - she isn't interested . . . until she realizes she can use this opportunity to exact her revenge. If she can make it to the final spot on the show, she can reject Jordy in front of the nation, and publicly break his heart. Maya's fellow contestants include Skye, the beautiful, charismatic girl Jordy cheated on Maya with. But as she spends more time with Jordy and Skye, Maya is torn.  Is there more than friendship between her and Skye? As the season finale approaches, can Maya execute her plan, or will she go off-script?

Rating: ★★★★

I absolutely loved this premise and just had to buy it. It’s exactly the kind of drama I always want to happen when I watch The Bachelor, and a much less intense version of what I love in UnREAL. Most of the way through, Never Ever Getting Back Together is an incredibly engaging read, absolutely full of drama and interesting characters. I also love that it’s full of both rage and humour, and Gonzales navigates the combination perfectly.

This book wouldn’t work if the reader doesn’t feel connected to both of the main characters, Maya and Skye; luckily Gonzales makes it work through the use of different character perspectives. However, as much as I loved Maya immediately, initially I found Skye to be incredibly annoying and frustrating. Perhaps this was due to the fact that Maya’s perspective is more prominent towards the beginning, and Skye has already been manipulated into disbelieving her. But as the storyline continues, I came to like Skye as well...just not as much as Maya. Near the novel’s end, I also found Skye start to become more irritating again based on some of her choices and comments she makes to Maya. But again, maybe it’s because I felt more connected to Maya and her path of revenge and refusal to let anything, or anyone, get in her way.

Jordy is absolutely the perfect villain – you cannot help but hate him and enjoy the ride as his life and the facade he has created begins to fall apart because of the ways in which he has treated these women. He’s completely misogynistic and emotionally abusive, and gaslights all of the women as he tries to influence them. It’s evident from the beginning that he is playing all of them, but when the women start to realise he’s been saying the same things to all of them the story really starts to heat up. I love when a narrative focuses on women uniting together against a man who has treated them all badly and they take him down together, and Never Ever Getting Back Together ticks all those boxes.

Always my favourite aspects of these kinds of books are the friendships that develop between women when they realise they are not each other’s enemies just because a man has been manipulating them to believe that. The cherry on top is of course the relationship that develops between Maya and Skye, particularly due to the two of them being heavily pitted against each other from the beginning.

However, as much as I enjoyed the journey, the ending just didn’t quite hit the right spot for me. I guess I just wanted a bit more drama, and whilst the viral campaign at the very end fixed it a little, I guess it just didn’t quite deliver on my expectations.

Warnings: cheating, emotional abuse, sexism & misogyny

[simonreid]

Bottled Goods

Bottled Goods by Sophie Van Llewyn Alina and Liviu, a young married couple in 70s Communist Romania, are suddenly under suspicion when Liviu’s brother takes a trip to the West and doesn’t return. Are they defectors too? After a blunder at Alina’s work implicates her further, they fall under the harsh glare of the Secret Police and new strictures upon their lives become hard to bear. Their…

[ajsbookreviews]

The Da Vinci Code Book Review

The Da Vinci Code

Author: Dan Brown

Description: Harvard professor Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call while on business in Paris: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered inside the museum. Alongside the body, police have found a series of baffling codes. As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, begin to sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to find a trail that leads to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci - and suggests the answer to a mystery that stretches deep into the vaults of history.

Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Review: There’s nothing quite like being pleasantly surprised by a book and The Da Vinci Code certainly does the trick. After its predecessor Angels & Demons I had mere wisps of hope that this novel was going to appeal to me, even though I find the movies to be incredible. However, what begun as a hesitant start culminated into something great. 

The first quarter was rather dull and too dragged out. Even if there was action and mystery-solving it was all unnecessarily convoluted and lacked the spark one usually finds in Dan Brown novels. 

The story picks up quite nicely once Sir Leigh Teabing is introduced and then slowly but surely it sucks you in. It was refreshing to feel this drawn into a story, wanting to read it at any available moment. With an enthralling plot, likeable characters – both the good and the bad – and a steady pace throughout. 

There’s few things I can truly complain about, but most notably I’d say that some conclusions Dan Brown comes to are too far-fetched to be bought. The whole Disney spiel is something I’d need definitive proof to even consider believing. Additionally, the fact that sometimes Langdon and/or Neveu are ”dumbed down”, not understanding or connecting dots that should be pretty obvious to them considering their fields of work. Apart from this, in my personal opinion, I thought the ”grand reveal” was disrupted and not as satisfying as in the movie adaptation. Some details were mentioned too early, the writing a bit overzealous and it was sloppily pulled off in the end. 

All in all I truly enjoyed this novell and it’s adaptation does it more than justice. Previous instalments are not needed to understand The Da Vinci Code, very few mentions of Langdons connection to the church appear and they are quite superficial, so if you are on the lookout for an entertaining mystery revolving the Catholic Church and a great secret, well… this might be the book for you.