Scan barcode
bookhoarder93's reviews
21 reviews
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Child death
The Perishing by Natashia Deón
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
I really wanted to stick this one out, but I just couldn’t make it any further. The summary of the story was captivating and seemed right up my alley. However, the story felt very disjointed and unclear. I kept asking myself, “what’s the plot?” And I think the switching back and forth between two timelines did not help with this. It was just boring and confusing.
Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight against the Drug Companies That Delivered the Opioid Epidemic by Eric Eyre
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Death
Normal People by Sally Rooney
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When I read the first page of the book I almost put it down. Why? Because I was really bothered by the stylistic choice to not use quotation marks to indicate dialogue. However, I soon found out the style made me more attentive to what was actually happening, it felt calm and relaxed in a way that felt like easy, informal conversation between friends, and it spoke to who the main characters are. All that aside, I couldn’t get back to the book quick enough. I read it in two days; on my lunch break, after work, in brief moments in between one thing and the next. I have to assume this obsessive reading can be attributed to the main characters. I did not love them. I did, but they also drove me a bit mad. I, of course, kept flipping pages to see how it would end. But there’s something else to the book, that I can’t quite nail down, that possessed me to devour its pages they way I did. With that being said, the ending was so abrupt and felt unresolved. But maybe that’s the point? The type of will-they-won’t-they story this was sort of had me knowing from early on the outcome. Beyond the main characters, we also got a look at some really interesting minor characters; they weren’t just background noise. I wasn’t absolutely blown away by this book, nor did I have some deep emotional response or revelation. But something has to be said for just how obsessively I thought about this book when I wasn’t reading it and how quickly I finished it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, and Death of parent
Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story had a bit of a slow start, but quickly picked up the pace. While it is a typical “who done it” murder mystery, the culprit wasn’t super obvious and the writing kept you turning the pages. You loved to dislike many of the characters. Even with the subject matter being murder, it was a light read that was easy to read at your leisure. This would be a perfect book to take along on a vacation or long weekend trip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Infertility
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The book was Mary Poppins, meets Kingsman, meets romance, meets Gilmore Girls. It was an enjoyable read that was just clever, whimsical fun. The character interactions were, at times, a lot to keep up with; I think that’s why it took me a bit longer to read. Overall, I recommend this title and I’m excited to read the next book in the anthology series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Murder
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A little slow for me, but picked up by the halfway mark. After I eventually got about halfway through, I had a much harder time putting the book down. The writing/subject matter was, at times, cringey and forced. However, I enjoyed the mystery, setting, characters, style of chapters, and how the end played out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
Minor: Rape
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Overall the book was fine. I got enough enjoyment out of it to finish the book. The main characters are what really made the book difficult to get through. I wanted to love them, but there was just something about them that didn’t seem believable or relatable; almost trying too hard to be an archetype? While I didn’t get invested in the characters, I did very much enjoy the way magic is used in this world. I’d love to have learned more about that than we got. The more compelling characters were the supporting characters. It also felt like for a majority of the book (until the end) there wasn’t a real plot or driving storyline. At least, not one that was explored in depth. The way the book ended does have my curiosity peaked about the world, further exploration of magic, and the potential storylines for supporting characters.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It was a wonderful blend of real-world and fantasy. While the overall plot was fairly predictable, that wasn’t the driving, compelling force behind the story. The characters are what the main focus is and what truly brought the pages alive. Reading this made me think a lot about the little moments, simple pleasures, etc. we may miss or neglect in life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0