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laurenleigh's reviews
636 reviews
“You Just Need to Lose Weight”: And 19 Other Myths About Fat People by Aubrey Gordon
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
I am now a die-hard Maintenance Phase podcast devotee, so I was hungry for more content! While this doesn’t quite have the same magic as Aubrey and Michael in conversation together, the book focuses more deeply on the topics I find extremely important both for my own healing process and for societal progress. I’ve been doing a lot of work on my internal anti-fat bias, and Aubrey’s work has been so instrumental in that journey. I recommend this to literally everyone!
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
dark
tense
slow-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
3.5
I’m getting to the end of the year where I have random reading challenge prompts left, and this was my pick for Nordic Noir. I love a mystery detective novel, but the super dark, explicit, gritty quality to Nordic Noir just turns me off. Maybe I just wasn’t enjoying it, but it also felt like there could have been some editing. They are certain they found the culprit like five times before they actually solve the case.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Did you know this was written by a 15 year-old boy and self published before it was picked up by a major publisher? So cool! (I think his parents technically did the self-publishing but still.) This has extremely strong Tolkien vibes. While this type of episodic, slow paced high fantasy isn’t really my favorite, I am so impressed by Paolini. The audiobook narrator’s voice for the dragon was kind of hilarious and weird, but also it would be weird if a dragon just had a regular human voice, no?
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I sort of started this under coercion (fulfills a reading challenge prompt + wanted to see what all the fuss was about), but I was delightfully surprised by this one! I still wish romance novel characters could just COMMUNICATE, but I get there wouldn’t be a story without tension and drama. I also didn’t love how the main character kept referring to her work by the general term “science,” rather than biology or cancer research or whatever. That felt weird to me. Other than that, I really enjoyed the reading experience. What won me over was the lovable characters, the focus on consent, and chapter 16. IFYKYK!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
5.0
The hype is so real! What an incredible, poignant, hilarious memoir. McCurdy somehow balances humor with unfiltered depictions of her disastrous childhood. Certainly major content warnings for child abuse, narcissistic caregivers, and eating disorders, but it never felt too dark to handle. If anything, her light touch may get her messages across even further. Having opportunities to literally laugh out loud at the absurdity gives a respite from the intensity. Even though fame is rare, the issues she faced are anything but. I hope readers take away that unsolicited comments on someone’s body is never a good idea. Even if you think you’re giving a compliment, you have no idea what that person is going through and you may be congratulating unhealthy and disordered habits. Also A+ audio performance!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don’t need every thread tied up in a bow at the end of a book, but this one left too many loose. I know we’re supposed to question everything these characters say, as the title suggests, but I’m left with too many questions and it feels unsatisfying. I can’t dive into the other things that bugged me here without giving spoilers. But even though the ending wasn’t my favorite, I did really enjoy the reading process! The full cast narration and sinister music actually added to the suspense and didn’t feel too corny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Murder
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Everyone keeps using the word “sharp” to describe this book, and I understand why. I’m so intrigued by how Kuang wrote this first person narrator who is so deeply unlikable. And yet I wanted to keep reading. Partly because I knew her downfall had to be inevitable, but I also think there’s an uncomfortable recognition that any artist might see in this narrator. Everyone wants that big break, their creative work to finally be acknowledged. Of course, her methods are reprehensible. This book is so meta, it’s almost kind of weird that the publishing industry is lauding it so highly. Like when someone laughs along at an insult hurled their way in a deflection attempt. I definitely think the hype is deserved!
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m not a huge fan of apocalyptic fiction, but I always appreciate Octavia Butler’s style. Though there is some action, she didn’t turn this into a fast-paced thriller type story. I actually could have done less with the survival aspects and more with the main character’s religion building. That was much more interesting to me. There are people all over our world trying to start movements, to give us hope and direction in an increasingly dystopic universe. It makes sense that folks are searching for meaning and community, especially as forms of protection from threatening outside forces.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thought I’d actually try a light read for once as a palette cleanser, and everyone seems obsessed with Emily Henry. I appreciated the twist on the fake dating trope in that this couple has secretly broken up and is trying to hide it from their friends. But it just gets less believable as the plot progresses. And lord, if romance novel characters could just sit down and have a real honest discussion about their feelings, everyone would be so much better off!! If you like romance and contemporary settings, then I can see why Henry would be a slam dunk; I think the genre is just not my jam.
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Unclear how I got this far in life never having read, saw, or performed this play, but here we are. My mom said it was a prerequisite read before the new Ann Patchett book. The first two acts were...truly rather boring to read. I can appreciate that the bare bones set and the lack of props would have been avant garde at the time this was written, but it doesn’t have the same impact nowadays. The third act is where the entire message lies. I can imagine that a live performance could make this act much more poignant, but simply reading it wasn’t all that revolutionary to me. I think there’s something in the forced “old timey” quality that distances me. Like It’s a Wonderful Life, where there’s a sort of cheesiness that dilutes the impact for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death