Mari

Oh my god I love this! I just wanna give Roos a hug. I think I'm gonna need some time to process this beautiful story. But I for sure found myself another comfort book. There's just something about Gothic literature that really attracts me so easily.

And the addition of the Doctor's transcripts lowkey gave me Sucker Punch vibes for some reason.

I also did not expect this to be a love story. It's quite beautiful yet so very tragic.

I would recommend reading this book if you're a fan of the film. They're very different from each other, so reading this was like a whole different experience to watching the film. I like how fleshed out the characters were, and the scenes were very descriptive. There was definitely a lot of detailed descriptions of violent occurrences in story. And the atmosphere was just so creepy. I think King was able to capture that really well.

This book isn't just a book about books. It is more so a book about life and friendships and grief. And love. And loving. And grieving that love.

Most of the characters are in their 50s, and since majority is spent in dialogues among the characters, the book is overall rather slow-paced. During their journey along the river, and in betwern docking to different harbours, or when they finally arrived at their destination, the book explored more the characters' individual point of views about love, grief, their experiences, their ideologies, etc.

The themes in this book makes me want to pick up another book by Nina George. It has that healing effect, which is what she intended for her book. And I believe she's accomplished that here.

This book would probably be a good read for someone who is experiencing high stress, anxiety, and overthinking for the first time. It does still have some great tips and advice to those who don't know where to even begin handling this overwhelming feeling. For me, however, I've read one too many articles, and watched too many videos, and tried so many techniques already. So I'm quite aware of what work what don't for me.

About halfway through, I was hoping to read something life-changing. Something I was never aware of. Something I needed to hear. But I hardly found any of it. Instead, most of what has been written are things someone in the overthinking business is probably already aware of.

I was looking for new tips or tricks, or even just a fresh perspective on my situation. I didn't find much.

I went into reading this book expecting it to be loaded with the stereotypical romantic tropes and clichés. I just wanted a light read, where I could turn my mind off for a few hours. Just harmless stuff. I've heard people talk about Emily Henry's writing (and how somewhat overhyped her books are), so I thought of giving this one a shot since the premise appealed to me more than her other books. But I ended up becoming a lot more invested in the story, far more than I anticipated. I rated this a lot higher than most books I've read that are more my type solely because I really enjoyed reading this book.

Sure, there were some clichés here and there (which the book is so self-aware of, I might add), and it was predictable sometimes. Still, I couldn't put the book down.

The Banter between Nora (the protagonist) and Charlie is adorable and funny. They've already grown on me as a couple, just 3 chapters in. They have a lot of chemistry that isn't also cringey.

But I love Nora and Libby's sisterly bond more, and the book explores that a lot as well, not just the romance. I liked reading the many nuances and flaws each character has; they're not just filler, one-dimensional characters. I could actually empathise with each and root for them.

Some tropes I found in the book are enemies to lovers (pretty lowkey), found family, and it's a book about books.

I loved it! It was adventurous, intense, and emotional. I was very much invested in the characters, and I liked the simple worldbuilding.

Simply put, this is a book about a world with special magical books. They're priceless, valuable artifacts that people want to get their hands on--to be used for various purposes. The protagonist, Cassie, suddenly finds herself smack dab in the middle of this chaos.

I gave this only 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed reading, I felt like it ended too soon, without a satisfying conclusion to everybody’s story. There were some parts here and there in Part 2 of the book that felt very slow-paced. It’s quite understandable since the book focuses more on characters rather than the plot, but even then I feel like the characters still aren’t as fleshed out as I would like. But that isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy reading the book. I truly did enjoy the experience and it was very relaxing. I just felt like it lacked some things still.

I would still give this a reread nonetheless. I have a certain connection to this book that I can't explain. Especially in Part 1.

If you're looking for a relaxing read, with not a lot of things happening plot-wise, then this book is for you. The book centers more on Furukura’s character, and how her life is tied to the convenience store she works at. It's pretty slow-paced, a lot of dialogue, and a bit of commentary on the kind of societal expectations Furukura has to navigate through within the story.

This is the third work I’ve read from Murata Sayaka. And since I started, I found a sort of pattern with the characters she writes. It almost always has this recurring theme: a character, often the protagonist, is someone who is very different from the average person. Someone quite alienated with society. Someone “not quite human”. Not normal, by society’s standards.

The same still applies for this book’s protagonist, Furukura Keiko. She lives her life by the convenience store, relies on the store’s “moral compass” to help her navigate through the kind of society she lives in.

I'd say it's a pity that she lives like that, but, as in real life, other people actually *do* kind of live like that. The difference is, for Keiko, she is meant for it and it's something she wants.

I rated this book very highly because it came at a time when I needed it the most. I was going through the most excruciating pain I've ever had from a breakup (my first breakup, in fact. A committed relationship of 6 years. But turns out it was filled with a lot of gaslighting and manipulation). I was so lost at the time. Unsure of even my own existence and reality.

I don't usually read self-help books. Actually, it's one of the genres I'm least likely to pick up. Because for the most part, books like these hardly help at all. Most of them just reiterate what i already know, without offering anything new.

This book, however, was different. It spoke to me in ways I've never had from any other self-help book or article I've read. It feels like talking to a friend, than just reading a book. There's a lot of empathy and understanding in there. And in so many ways, it spoke to me about things I actually needed to hear (or read).

I was so lost and unsure how to even begin moving on before I picked up this book. It not only talks about moving on from a breakup and letting go of the person who at some point meant the world to you. It also talks about loving yourself more, learning to be by yourself first, letting yourself open up to newer experiences, and so many more things I wish the movies and tv shows would cover when they talk about moving on from a relationship. It's very grounded on reality and, at the same time, does not hesitate to say some very harsh truths.

Sometimes I find myself picking it up every now and again, whenever I feel like I'm relapsing from my trauma. And that's okay. This book makes me feel that it's really okay. For a "self-help" book, this one truly helps me.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. It was very enjoyable. To me, it was a page turner. I found myself staying up all night just to finish it; something I haven’t done in a very long time. I just couldn't put the book down.

The characters are all very lovable. The dynamic between the main character, Stella, and her love interest, Michael, is so adorable. They're very cute together, and many times it had me giggling and kicking my feet at how adorable they are together. And this is coming from someone who isn't really the romantic type, nor do I read romance books. It's one of my least liked genres, but this book might just get me into reading more like this. Sure, it was a bit cheesy at times. But it didn't bother me. I quite liked it actually. It was the right amount. I usually can't tolerate cliché and cheesy stuff like that.

I also liked both main characters as individuals. They're not one-dimensional. In fact, they're both quite nuanced. And I also found out that Stella's autism was based on the author, Helen Hoang's own diagnosis of being on the spectrum. This book does appear to be a reflection of her own life experience as someone with that disorder (Stella was born after Helen Hoang got her diagnosis, it seems). And it inspired me a little -- to be more myself instead of confining myself to societal norms. There were things about Stella I found quite relatable.

Michael, too, is such a lovable character. He's very charming, but not the stereotypical "hot guy from every other romance novel" type. He's complex, and a genuinely interesting character. There's more depth to him beyond his described good looks and charisma.

The writing style isn't overly sophisticated, but also not amateurish. There were a lot of clever and witty lines that added to its lightheartedness. The romance scenes is the right amount of sexy and provocative, yet touching and heartwarming. There were several smutty scenes here and there, but they weren't over-the-top and didn't drag on for way longer than it should. However, the main conflict wasn't really much of a focus until the final few chapters. Which had me completely glued to my screen, needing to know how they end up as quickly as possible. It was kinda cliché, yes, but also endearing in a way.

This book somehow transformed me back into a little girl who just wanted the comfort of her mama. It’s a cute story, that I feel young teenagers might enjoy. Although it can also be quite dark at times.

There’s something about the way the circumstances in which the protagonist, Agnes, finds herself in that made me sympathize with her so much. The fear and loneliness and alienation she must have felt. And despite it all, she still remained a good kid with a good heart. At the end of the day, she just wanted to go home. And I very much felt that kind of longing she had to just be with her parents. It was honestly quite sad and pitiful.

But that isn’t to say this isn’t a nice fantasy story as well. There’s some world-building in it, and I believe it’s based on the actual folklore from the actual place? I am quite unfamiliar.

Overall, this was an adorable read, despite the pity I felt sometimes for Agnes and her people. It’s not really that eventful, and it’s pretty slow-paced. But I didn’t really get bored either. Somehow I still wanted to finish the story.

I became an instant fan of Ava Reid after reading Juniper and Thorn. So when I finally acquired a copy of this book, I immediately read it. And good heavens, I could not put this book down.

This book had the right amount of most of what I’ve been looking for in a good story. The entire plot was very engaging. It had a lot of mystery to it and many times it had me questioning the reality of its universe, much like our sweet protagonist, Effy. I could not help but also root for her the entire story.

Speaking of characters, I love them. Each one has unique strengths and weaknesses and I was able to somehow empathize with each one, despite being very different people. I especially love the relationship Effy has with the characters (though I shall not name them to avoid spoilers).

It was also a nice touch, how the story went around full circle. Suddenly, all the quotes within the story finally made sense. And after all the gripping and intense events, it still left me satisfied, how the story ended. Much like the rollercoaster ride of emotions Effy felt, I felt them too. I felt like I was transported into that world and I was truly invested. And if it were up to me, I’d wish for a continuation. For more adventures with Effy and Preston. I would love to see what their life will become, after such life-changing events.

Murata Sayaka has such a unique way of story-telling. It was almost impossible for me to predict what was going to happen. And even then, the stories were never normal. The stories were very quirky, unusual, and just overall weird. Which I absolutely love.

Some of the other stories were an acquired taste, though.

It made me cry several times, I think owing to the timing of reading this book at that point in my life. Although the pace is quite slow, and there were way too many flashbacks (sometimes felt dragged on too long), there were a lot of moments in the book that really got to me. Especially moments in the present time, where it showed Mia's moments with her relatives and friends. It hit a little close to home.

I still give this 3.5 stars as I think there were a lot of moments where it could be written better. I didn't empathize much with the main character's backstory. But the best parts for me were towards the end.

I'm renewing my subscription to depression premium.

Dazai Osamu’s works, I feel, must be read when you're at a very specific place mentally, unless you want to later find yourself falling into the abyss. It's because he completely understands the depths that human despair can reach, that is the reason why his books are received as “dark, realistic, depressing”. A lot of what was written in this book clearly reflects Dazai sensei’s own feelings towards life and living. There's a lot to be said about the frequency in which death and suicide are mentioned in this book. Which is all the more reason why I think the timing in reading this book matters.