Some glowing mini reviews of books I’ve loved recently

Happy Friday, gals and pals! Today, I’m posting some mini reviews of books I’ve loved lately. My reviews for books I love often up being me saying “I loved this” several times, which is what this post is. I manage to say “I loved [aspect of the book]” 23 times. Apologies that my reviews aren’t more descriptive.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: 5 stars

I loved everything about this book and it has very quickly become an all-time favourite. I loved the writing; it’s so clear and beautiful and descriptive without being flowery or dense. I loved the story and the parallel timelines and all the connections. I loved how hopeful the ending was and just how beautifully it ended. This book made me cry at the end, for very personal reasons. But I’m so happy I read it. I’ve already started rereading it. I just loved everything about it.

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Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin: 5 stars

I have nothing bad to say about this book; it was perfect. I loved all the characters and their relationships. I love the exploration of religion and devotion to religion. I loved the characters’ development and arcs. I loved the exploration of family and expectations, familial, religious or otherwise. I loved the story and the slow burn romance and all the drama. This book was also wildly funny and so well-written. Obviously, I am not an own-voices reviewer, so please also seek out those reviews. But I loved everything about this book and cannot recommend it enough. If you love romcoms, you will love this book.

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim: 5 stars

I loved literally everything about this book so much more than I expected. The story was perfect: Mulan + Project Runway, with magic and adventure? Sign me the fuck up. And it delivered. The plot and story were so interesting and I loved them. I also loved Maia, our narrator, as well as all the side characters. I loved the love interest and romance. It was slow burn and sweet and just the best. The world-building in this book was also perfect for me; it’s not too heavy, but you understand everything. I really appreciated that the magic is limited in this world, but is still really interesting. God, I just loved this book so much. It’s immediately become a favourite of mine.

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Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu: 5 stars

This graphic novel was the cutest, sweetest thing I’ve ever read. I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time I was reading it. I loved all the characters and how supportive they were of each other. I loved that it was about hockey. Ukazu did a really good job portraying hockey bros but in a wholesome way, and I loved it. All the friendships in this book are so cute and sweet. I just loved it a lot. It was exactly what I needed, and I will be rereading it until I die.

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Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins: 4.5 stars

This was also so cute and was exactly what I needed!!! I loved almost everything about this: I loved the characters, and the setting (I mean, it’s a boarding school in Scotland, what’s not to love), and the relationship, and the overall story, and all the little things that happened. I loved watching Millie and Flora’s relationship develop and thought it was so sweet. My only issue with the book was that it happened really quickly. Millie and Flora’s relationship develops from enemies to friends to lovers in four months, and a lot happened in those four months. Everything happened so quickly. I wish it had been a little more spaced out, and that that development happened throughout the entire school year, not just the fall semester. BUT I still loved this and will be rereading it at some point.

So there are some books I’ve loved lately! I would (obviously) highly recommend all these books. They’re also mainly super easy to read, and would be perfect for this time in the world.

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? Do you have any recommendations for similar books? Let me know!

Ally xx

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