I love reading, but I'm pretty picky
924489
I love reading, but I'm pretty picky. The fact that I finished this book means that it's worth at least 3 stars. It was easy to read, but I'm not sure how I felt about the actual story. It's written in a way that it's suspenseful and leading up to some event. However, I was finding myself getting tempted to skip to the end to figure out what the event was. But I didn't. Once I got to the ending I wasn't too impressed though. I still gave it 4 stars because I think that most people who enjoy these types of stories would like it.
789923
This is a well written story that will appeal to the taste of only some readers. Read it through, but find I am not one of those with quite the right preferences. Not a complaint. I like a lot of the author's books, and it is asking too much to always find a fit.
1472374
I am quite the avid book-reader. A bookworm as long as I can remember. Nerd alert! I so wanted to like this book......different strokes for different folks.....I guess.
1037820
Reader thoughts:
These books are so addicting! I do enjoy them a lot, but I have some issues with them, too.

JKR puts too much witchcraft and ghosts into her books, and I can't stand the characters. They lie and cheat and steal, even when it isn't necessary. They're very disobedient and rarely get punished for it. They're also immature under their age some of the time. The children treat the adults like stupid overseers, and most of the adults act that way.

Plus, these fit into the books-that-make-me-moody-when-I'm-reading-them category. I get upset more easily and feel stressed when I'm reading certain books, especially ones that have disobedient characters (or mean characters, or ones that have bad morals). Those books tend to get DNFed.

However, you can clearly see that I like these (read multiple times and 4/5 stars). Why do I like them?

Moving castle! My favorite part of the whole series is the Hogwarts school. I like the sorting, the classes, the tests, the magical creatures, and the strong personalities of not only students but teachers also.

Hermione! She is, by far, my favorite character. She was a lot like I was, actually. I have no doubt that she has influenced countless young girls to like learning. She puts up with rather knuckleheaded friends, but I love that she loves school.

The Dursleys. It's not that I like them, but they do make these books more interesting. I always feel sorry for Harry after reading anything about the Dursleys.

The plot is good, too. Sure, there are lots of stories that have a prophecy and a chosen one, but it's a fun plot all the same. There's so much pressure on Harry, and lots of expectations. Everyone he meets in the wizarding world either hates him or loves him, but they all know him. It's cool.

It's basically a rags-to-riches tale. I love the idea of an orphan boy who suddenly finds out he has magic and there's this great magical community. I love the idea of a dark lord trying to take over and targeting this young boy in particular. I love that a mother's love is given so much power.

Writer thoughts:
I think JKR is an amazing writer. The plotting and descriptions and story and ideas are all superb. I love all the brilliant foreshadowing.

She is also really good at stretching a plot over the course of a year and not making it feel slow. JKR can pass time without the reader realizing it. Suddenly it's autumn. Suddenly is Christmas. And then spring tests. Authors can learn a lot from studying her books.
667314
I want to read it but it was to slow and I'm being selfish and reading things that entertain me.  This to teach me.  I'll read it.  Just not now.
3152042
I love it. I love reading. I can not pack enough books on vacatio
1376694
Quit reading due to content, not typical content that I enjoy reading
2574740
I have mixed feelings about In All Things. Because I admit that I might be the wrong reader for this type of book, I don't want to judge it too harshly. Reviews on Goodreads are all positive, which makes me think that the problem is me. I prefer books with action, clear objectives for the characters, and easily distinguishable themes and elements.

I don't want to discourage anyone from reading In All Things. Therefore, I am going to give this book a B (4 stars), despite being really a 1 or 2 star book in my mind. I didn't like it, but that doesnt mean that someone else wont.

*A more detailed review can be read on my blog Books That Hook
1262904
It's hard to believe that someone so picky like me can find something so healthy to be delicious.
2719251
When it comes down to enjoying a book, characters are the most important element for me. Fitzpatrick's characters and story are interesting, but I wasn't drawn to them, I would cross the street to avoid them if I had known them as a teenager. That's simply a taste issue. The story is thrilling and the love triangle (of which I am also bored with in current literature, no fault of the author) will be a draw for many. To be fair, I was drawn to the intriguing cover and the angel element, but I didn't feel like I was reading anything new to me and I just felt jaded. Patch is not my idea of sexy. Nora is not my idea of strong. Perhaps they will be to you... As for me, I want to rush off to my Sharon Shinn shelf and consort with some angels I adore.
1712908
Will probably read future books after a break.  I like a little variety in books so I read lots of different authors and genre.
3629980
I haven't finished reading the novel yet, but I purchased it as a reference source--not as entertainment--so in that respect, it has been providing me with what I needed. Since the writing style is satisfactory, but has not inspired me to continue reading for any other reason (i.e., because I'm really enjoying the story or characters) I only gave it four stars. My standards are very high however, and generally speaking, I'm a guy who does not especially like reading novels. In my entire life, I have only read a handfull that I really enjoyed: A biography about Sam Houston, Dsire by Annemarie Selinko, The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2452537
I received a copy of this title to listen and review for Wicked Reads

5 stars to the narrator
3 stars on the premise/execution
3.5 stars in total

First, I need to state how I've never truly enjoyed an audio book, as I find it hard to fall into the story. I need to see the words written if I'm listening at the same time. This is due in part to the fact that I have a hearing-impaired person in my household, and I read the TV while watching it. If fact, the CC is turned on for my personal TV, and I have to look at the screen to fully immerse myself into whatever I'm watching- no multitasking for me when it comes to books, movies, or shows.

So I give myself a pat on the back for completing such a long book in audio, even if I didn't fully digest a lot of it- since I couldn't read and listen, I did multitask listening while working using Photoshop and/or playing a game on my cellphone. (I leveled up on FV Tropic Escape many times during the book)

I've read and enjoyed T.J. Klune books in the past, but always found it hit&miss depending on my mood on whether or not I connected with the storyline. If you're new to Klune, know that the books can be way over-the-top. If you're not in the right mindset, it may come off as forced. For me, How to be a Normal Person fell into the forced category because of my current mood over the 11+ hours it took to listen.

I loved Gus. He was self-deprecating, and his inner monologue was hilarious because of it. I did find myself chuckling or snorting out loud while listening. The House Hunters jokes had me splitting a gut. He was quirky and saw the world through a different lens.

Truthfully, my issue, and it may have been exacerbated due to the fact that this was audio, I'm not big on the details. A lot of authors have a ton of unnecessary details to set a scene, and there is a large grouping of readers who not only need that, but love it. I'm just not one of them. As an INTJ personality, I find inane tedious, whereas the rest of the population would find the anecdotes hilarious. (I'm like the lone person at a party, sitting in the corner, getting progressively more annoyed as the people get drunker and start finding themselves hilarious- the more they laugh, the more I want to break our friendships. Like I'm the lone sane person in an asylum). For me, every word was written for the result of a laugh, when I'm a reader who values deeper subject matter, and find unsuitable things funny from time to time. Less is more for Erica, and How to be a Normal Person was definitely the opposite of less.

If I had been reading the novel, my eyes would have skimmed past it, but as I was listening, I had to hear every word- as I said above, being audio exacerbated my issue with this sort of writing style.

The storyline was just okay for me. There wasn't much going on really, just everyday events and quirky commentary and observations by equally quirky characters, and it just stayed in the same gear for the entire novel. A little goes a long way for me, and this was a 'lot'.

What kept me engaged and helped me complete the novel was the audio narrator. He did Gus proud. and I could listen to him for hours (which I did. HA!)

Take my review with a grain of salt, as audio may not be my thing, and it may have contributed to the fact that I couldn't fall into or absorb the story as if I were reading it. But Gus was a gem, and the narrator sparked something in me to give audio another go, because perhaps it was just a case that this book wasn't for me, as other Klune books have been in the past.
4266041
I would've liked this when I was younger but now I suppose I'm much more picky. An editor or proofreader would have done wonders.
1277760
I read two pages from the excerpt and I had to buy it! I am starting it now, but the fact that It only took two pages for me to want to buy it says something. I am having trouble finding new books to read. I have read so many that my past tastes really no longer matter as I am finding that all books have the same theme. I should probably take a break from reading, but instead I am expanding my reading lists.
2960423
The book itself is really not bad at all, but somehow fails to grasp my deep attention which would make me finish it in a day or so. I typically scavenge my sleep when I am really engrossed and even though I kind of like this book, it doesn't appeal enough to me to cut all corners and immerse myself entirely and get the book read in the shortest possible time. In a way this is positive since it gives me time to finish the book and I'm not rushing, now :)
3341974
I HAVE TROUBLED PUTTING DOWN WISH I WAS A SPEED READER