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madmadmaddymad's reviews
195 reviews
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
INCREDIBLE. This is exactly the kind of book I love to read.
Realistic fantasy with a touch of modern elements. Julian is super loveable! Yadriel has my whole heart! And I like the way it depicts family dynamics of growing up trans in a latinx household and the extra struggle of dealing with gendered language.
Besides that, the story itself is a truly compelling page turner. It’s 5 stars and it deserves more, to be honest!
Realistic fantasy with a touch of modern elements. Julian is super loveable! Yadriel has my whole heart! And I like the way it depicts family dynamics of growing up trans in a latinx household and the extra struggle of dealing with gendered language.
Besides that, the story itself is a truly compelling page turner. It’s 5 stars and it deserves more, to be honest!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Transphobia and Violence
Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-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? Yes
4.0
It takes a while to set up. I’m not sure if I needed as much exposition as the author gave - especially considering this is lighter on the worldbuilding when it comes to magical witchy stories - but it’s certainly a good time!
Good bisexual representation, a strong WLW rom-com style relationship, and a pretty satisfying takedown of a toxic hyper-masculinity entitled man child of an ex boyfriend.
It’s worth checking out but probably won’t be something I’ll ever be re-reading.
Good bisexual representation, a strong WLW rom-com style relationship, and a pretty satisfying takedown of a toxic hyper-masculinity entitled man child of an ex boyfriend.
It’s worth checking out but probably won’t be something I’ll ever be re-reading.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed it. It’s definitely the sort of book that can remind you how intense emotions are when you are 17.
I started crying when Park’s dad let him go, and I didn’t stop until the last page.
I started crying when Park’s dad let him go, and I didn’t stop until the last page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Alcohol
Ravensong by TJ Klune
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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 have no words.
The Bennett pack! MY HEART. My heart is being squeezed with feelings. Gordo… Gordo, Gordo, Gordo. The story of Gordo and Mark was so heartbreakingly beautiful. This book is all angst. But it has a happy ending! (An exciting, action packed, edge-of-my-seat, upsetting, and still somehow so-totally-satisfying ending.)
It’s official. I’m a dedicated TJ Klune fan. I’ll read anything this author puts out. It’s simply incredible how many different varieties of emotion this author can wring out of me!
The Bennett pack! MY HEART. My heart is being squeezed with feelings. Gordo… Gordo, Gordo, Gordo. The story of Gordo and Mark was so heartbreakingly beautiful. This book is all angst. But it has a happy ending! (An exciting, action packed, edge-of-my-seat, upsetting, and still somehow so-totally-satisfying ending.)
It’s official. I’m a dedicated TJ Klune fan. I’ll read anything this author puts out. It’s simply incredible how many different varieties of emotion this author can wring out of me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I can’t believe tiktok made me suffer through 1600 pages of aggravating Sarah J Maas make-your-brain-bleed nonsense for what amounts to a 12 pg marvel-style after credits scene.
The worst part is, I want to tell you not to read this, I want to stick up for myself and say that it’s not worth it. GUYS. It’s worth it. I love how SJM writes romance and I love how she writes action sequences. For me, this book really has a good amount of both. The plot? I can’t stand the plot, it makes my eyes glaze over, it’s so boring. But just when I think I can’t go on, there will be a romantic moment and I’ll be pulled right back in.
Our boy Hunt really proves himself to be a worthwhile book boyfriend in this one! He’s a good boy, and I fell for him utterly and entirely - head over heels. Our boy Ruhn claws his way up the ranks, a strong contender as well. But the one who stole my heart is our boy Ithan ❤️ Oh gosh, I love an angsty werewolf. I confess I was already reading fanfiction halfway thru this book. Wolf and Mer. He and Tharion have such strong chemistry.
Ummmm that ending was not worth my time, lol. Even tho it’s what I came for - I don’t reccomend this book for stupidly hyperfixated ACOTAR fans. If you are going to read this book, read it for it’s own merits. It’s a pretty exciting adventure/mystery all on its own, but it’s a struggle to read if you want to know about the details of Feyre and her adventures. If that’s why you’re here, please, take it from me, just look up the wiki or something lol
The worst part is, I want to tell you not to read this, I want to stick up for myself and say that it’s not worth it. GUYS. It’s worth it. I love how SJM writes romance and I love how she writes action sequences. For me, this book really has a good amount of both. The plot? I can’t stand the plot, it makes my eyes glaze over, it’s so boring. But just when I think I can’t go on, there will be a romantic moment and I’ll be pulled right back in.
Our boy Hunt really proves himself to be a worthwhile book boyfriend in this one! He’s a good boy, and I fell for him utterly and entirely - head over heels. Our boy Ruhn claws his way up the ranks, a strong contender as well. But the one who stole my heart is our boy Ithan ❤️ Oh gosh, I love an angsty werewolf. I confess I was already reading fanfiction halfway thru this book. Wolf and Mer. He and Tharion have such strong chemistry.
Ummmm that ending was not worth my time, lol. Even tho it’s what I came for - I don’t reccomend this book for stupidly hyperfixated ACOTAR fans. If you are going to read this book, read it for it’s own merits. It’s a pretty exciting adventure/mystery all on its own, but it’s a struggle to read if you want to know about the details of Feyre and her adventures. If that’s why you’re here, please, take it from me, just look up the wiki or something lol
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-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
5.0
Pack, pack, pack!
A story about family and friendship and above all, choice. It’s very reminiscent of Twilight, but with a bisexual protagonist who chooses the wolf boy. Ox is so endearing and easy to love - and this adventure is filled to the brim with moments of sorrow and joy and heart-pounding action. The romance was sweet and captivating, and developed at a natural pace despite the supernatural “mating bond” aspect. I loved everything about this book!
TJ Klune is now my new favorite author. His writing is emotional, engaging, heartwarming, funny, and full of feelings. I laughed, I cried, I stayed up late to finish reading… I want to start the sequel right now. I want to immediately reread this book. I want to stay in this world forever. I want to be a wolf!
5 stars. This one will definitely stay with me.
A story about family and friendship and above all, choice. It’s very reminiscent of Twilight, but with a bisexual protagonist who chooses the wolf boy. Ox is so endearing and easy to love - and this adventure is filled to the brim with moments of sorrow and joy and heart-pounding action. The romance was sweet and captivating, and developed at a natural pace despite the supernatural “mating bond” aspect. I loved everything about this book!
TJ Klune is now my new favorite author. His writing is emotional, engaging, heartwarming, funny, and full of feelings. I laughed, I cried, I stayed up late to finish reading… I want to start the sequel right now. I want to immediately reread this book. I want to stay in this world forever. I want to be a wolf!
5 stars. This one will definitely stay with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Domestic abuse
Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones by Ngozi Ukazu
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
AAAAHHH IT’S SO CUTE OMG
THREE CHEERS FOR ERIC BITTLE! The First! Openly gay! NCAA D-1 Men’s Hockey Champion!
This is where the story really picks up for me! I loved how this comic dealt with the issue of coming out, and how it’s not just a one-time event. Even when I was reading it I expected Bitty to be out to his parents and was so surprised that they had to find out from watching television. It was hard to watch the family dynamics, especially with his father… and how he kept referring to his boyfriend as “your friend Jack” it was incredible how the author depicted it, how it made my stomach clench with the art and the pacing of the comic. I think it’s really meaningful and I wasn’t expecting this silly little sports-and-falling-in-love comic to have a scene like that.
THREE CHEERS FOR ERIC BITTLE! The First! Openly gay! NCAA D-1 Men’s Hockey Champion!
This is where the story really picks up for me! I loved how this comic dealt with the issue of coming out, and how it’s not just a one-time event. Even when I was reading it I expected Bitty to be out to his parents and was so surprised that they had to find out from watching television. It was hard to watch the family dynamics, especially with his father… and how he kept referring to his boyfriend as “your friend Jack” it was incredible how the author depicted it, how it made my stomach clench with the art and the pacing of the comic. I think it’s really meaningful and I wasn’t expecting this silly little sports-and-falling-in-love comic to have a scene like that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? No
5.0
I learned a lot about hockey!
A variety of manly men who truly love each other. The whole cast is very sweet. But Bitty has my whole heart. I’m definitely proceeding immediately to the next issue!
A variety of manly men who truly love each other. The whole cast is very sweet. But Bitty has my whole heart. I’m definitely proceeding immediately to the next issue!
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I’ll be honest I just imagined the love interest as the dude from ACOTAR the whole time I was reading this. It was cute! He’s very Rhys-ey. If you like Rhys you should read this. It’s very light hearted and sweet - the essence of watching a hallmark movie about Halloween, in book form.
And if you’re faerie trash like me - it’s always good to get a little more Rhys in your life. This might be the story of him with one of his former lovers, before he met Feyre. An AU fanfiction in a modern setting. And a good time! But fanfiction is considerably more fun to read, because it usually has more sex. This is not anywhere close to the spice level found in ACOTAR, but it has some smut (eventually) and if you‘re thirsty it’ll probably quench you.
And if you’re faerie trash like me - it’s always good to get a little more Rhys in your life. This might be the story of him with one of his former lovers, before he met Feyre. An AU fanfiction in a modern setting. And a good time! But fanfiction is considerably more fun to read, because it usually has more sex. This is not anywhere close to the spice level found in ACOTAR, but it has some smut (eventually) and if you‘re thirsty it’ll probably quench you.
Blood Like Fate by Liselle Sambury
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
4.0
Have you seen Disney’s Encanto? This book is similar to that movie, with the witchcraft and the themes of family. They even live together in a house bound by generations of magic. I highly enjoyed that aspect of it! Every member of the family has their own struggles, and each character is given their own time to shine. I especially loved Alex, and the story of her estranged father being welcomed back into the family.
I really liked Eli, and was NOT expecting that twist. This book was a thrill to read. The entire ending sequence was off-the-rails, and I loved it.
When I finished Blood Like Magic, I praised the ending, excited that Voya found a way to solve the task of her Calling without killing Luc. But this book makes me feel so BAD for Keis! It’s actually a lot worse than I thought, because the poor girl can’t even use her phone or the internet. I’m glad that at the end, Luc helps her out with that “loophole”. Get yourself a robotic body! Excellent, Keis.
I really liked Eli, and was NOT expecting that twist. This book was a thrill to read. The entire ending sequence was off-the-rails, and I loved it.