ali1311's reviews
191 reviews

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I  loved the descriptions in this book of the setting and everything else, really. It painted such a visceral picture the whole time. The actual plot and content of the story was interesting enough to keep me reading and wondering where things were going, but I think it was a little watered down almost. Where the descriptions and character studies were so detailed and compelling, the story itself felt a bit bland in comparison. Mostly, I wanted more from the magical realism. But overall, I really felt a connection to the characters and wouldn't have minded even more time in their heads. 
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Really Cute People by Markus Harwood-Jones

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Just wasn't feeling this and after 90 pages of not feeling connected to any characters, I decided it wasn't worth it for me to keep going. 
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

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dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Damn this girl was insufferable--perfect teenage representation. I think this author has a really cool skill in inhabiting a teenager's brain. Like her thought spirals were so reminiscent of the teen years. I think Albertalli does teenage anxiety especially well without necessarily diagnosing it as such. This was cute and more sapphic than anticipated, so that was a fun surprise. The ending was a bit abrupt and I thought there were a handful of loose ends, but I'll live.
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

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adventurous lighthearted sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I didn't like this book when I was thirteen and unfortunately I don't like it now either. It was very slow and I didn't feel like I connected with any of the characters much. The stakes and relationships are definitely interesting, but nothing really kept me invested.
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Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a very sweet and cool book! I loved the two characters and also loved what seemed to be an anti-AI stance coded into the story. Overall, I think this is my favorite Brandon Sanderson book (yes, I've only read three) to date. Could've used a lil more romance for me but I'm a sucker for that stuff and I do think it was all done very well nonetheless. Extra credit for the gorgeous illustrations in the special copy of the book.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

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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

4.5

This book was so great in its content and also voice! I loved Simon and all the side characters. The narration reminded me of The Outsiders, in that unapologetic and not-entirely-sure youthful way. Overall, liked this more than I expected and really appreciated how so many side characters were fleshed out and fun to root for.
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The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

This book is so full and hearty I'm surprised it doesn't weigh more than it does! What I mean by this is that every line in this book felt intentional. It's a book for and about romantics and foodies and artists and queers. I was constantly swooning at the love within the sentences, and I didn't even care if something was overstated or overly metaphorical--it felt so raw and real and every time. The Pairing is a perfect summer read; it's Europe as you imagine Europe when you're fifteen and have never been anywhere. Or, it's Europe when you're all grown up and finally know how to fully appreciate sensory details. Either way, it felt both fantastical and real all at once, which is such a fun type of book to read. If you have an appreciation for the physical (paintings, wine, kissing, pasta, beaches, etc.), this is a perfect read.
And now I want to go on a European vacation.
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Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

wanted to dock a half star for emotional damage but couldn't deny that this is a 5
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Terror, Love and Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems by Alexandra Stein

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challenging dark informative slow-paced

4.0

This was a great book if you want to know more about the psychology of cults, which was what I wanted to know when I picked it up. It didn't necessarily blow me away, but I learned a lot of valuable information. 
The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

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adventurous dark emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was a fun read, but nothing too crazy. I'm definitely partial to Fangirl Down, and I spent much of this book being excited for Sig and Chloe's book tbh. I fear this book wasn't edited enough (saw at least two typos in the text) because it was a bit not fleshed out as much as it should've been and some characters fell the wayside. In particular, Burgess's daughter and the familial part of the story could've used some more fluffing. Overall, a fun and spicy read as always, but I will admit that some of this spice was a bit cringe for me. I'm usually aware that Tessa's spice can be cringey, but generally idc because I'm so invested. This was a reach for me. I also wish we'd gotten more about Tallulah's schooling and passions. Generally, this was a good read but just felt a little underdeveloped to be able to fully sink into it. But I still ate it up in two days, so really, what do I know. 
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