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alomie's reviews
259 reviews
Bone Meal for Roses by Miranda Sherry
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was emotional, I actually flew through this in a day and found it very easy to read, I'm not sure how much of it will stick with me but overall I enjoyed my time with it.
Poppy is a young child at the beginning of the book in a very abusive situation with a drug addicted Mother Yolande and her chaotic life and neglect leaves poppy uneducated and Fearful.
When Poppy's grand father is contacted by loan sharks to pay off his daughters loans he comes and takes Poppy away, to rescue her from the awful situation she is born into.
Poppy then is slowly brought to life and cared for by her grandparents in a garden oasis and the story is about her struggling with her past, and also with the future and who she is.
Poppy is a young child at the beginning of the book in a very abusive situation with a drug addicted Mother Yolande and her chaotic life and neglect leaves poppy uneducated and Fearful.
When Poppy's grand father is contacted by loan sharks to pay off his daughters loans he comes and takes Poppy away, to rescue her from the awful situation she is born into.
Poppy then is slowly brought to life and cared for by her grandparents in a garden oasis and the story is about her struggling with her past, and also with the future and who she is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, and Death
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a solid book.
The book is in three parts;
1) Julian 2) Edith 3) Edith and Julian
Julian is Ava's not boyfriend, she moves in with him and they have sex but they aren't together. They have a very caustic friendship that seems mostly held together with dry wit and insults, neither of them are able to share their feelings or able to admit that maybe there are feelings at all.
Edith becomes Ava's girlfriend, whom she does not initially tell about her not relationship with Julian as he is away in London, she does not explain the complexity of this with Edith, I think because she struggles to be honest with herself about her relationship. She does love Edith, but she cuts it off when Edith pushes her too soon about leaving Julian and moving out of his flat, even though Edith gives her plenty of space and time.
Overall I really enjoyed this book & thought it was a interesting I would recommend this if you like Sally Rooney.
The book is in three parts;
1) Julian 2) Edith 3) Edith and Julian
Julian is Ava's not boyfriend, she moves in with him and they have sex but they aren't together. They have a very caustic friendship that seems mostly held together with dry wit and insults, neither of them are able to share their feelings or able to admit that maybe there are feelings at all.
Edith becomes Ava's girlfriend, whom she does not initially tell about her not relationship with Julian as he is away in London, she does not explain the complexity of this with Edith, I think because she struggles to be honest with herself about her relationship. She does love Edith, but she cuts it off when Edith pushes her too soon about leaving Julian and moving out of his flat, even though Edith gives her plenty of space and time.
Overall I really enjoyed this book & thought it was a interesting I would recommend this if you like Sally Rooney.
In the Full Light of the Sun by Clare Clark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this book, it's split into 3 parts from the perspective of different players in a story about the sale of some Van Gogh paintings and how much we want to believe something is real especially when large sums of money and professional competency and personal pride is on the line.
This is lightly based on a true story according to the authors acknowledgements, and it was fascinating, I really enjoyed the writing style and honestly I could not put it down.
It was very intriguing, and it was especially interesting to see how all the characters are so strongly linked and how the actions of one man can so badly impact the lives of innocent people.
This is lightly based on a true story according to the authors acknowledgements, and it was fascinating, I really enjoyed the writing style and honestly I could not put it down.
It was very intriguing, and it was especially interesting to see how all the characters are so strongly linked and how the actions of one man can so badly impact the lives of innocent people.
A Vintage Summer by Cathy Bramley
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I just didn't gel with this one at all, as my first DNF of the year I'm not particularly sad about it.
I found the plot predictable and just didn't really enjoy the writing there was a lot more telling than there was showing.
The narcissist boyfriend wasn't a great start, and found that plot line to be pretty awful to read.
Her decision to leave London after what was like a 5 minute chat with a stranger was completely unbelievable and I just overall did not want to finish, or care.
I found the plot predictable and just didn't really enjoy the writing there was a lot more telling than there was showing.
The narcissist boyfriend wasn't a great start, and found that plot line to be pretty awful to read.
Her decision to leave London after what was like a 5 minute chat with a stranger was completely unbelievable and I just overall did not want to finish, or care.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Love by Hanne Ørstavik
dark
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
3.0
This was strange, it felt tense and dark, set over one night, and inside the heads of a mother and a son both out when they think the other is in.
It was close and a bit scary but nothing that I can put my finger on that was explicit but it felt kind of dangerous, filled with strangers and strangeness.
It was close and a bit scary but nothing that I can put my finger on that was explicit but it felt kind of dangerous, filled with strangers and strangeness.
The Overstory by Richard Powers
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
This book was a completley and utterly devestating.
It starts out as short stories that introduce all of the main players in the books but then it changes into a book that shows just how interconnected we all are.
This story is about Trees and one groups mission to save them, another groups mission to educative and another to learn. All with the same startling knowledge that we need to save the trees to save ourselves.
An eco message, that shouts "save the trees". In parts I think it possibly came across a little bit preachy, like we get it, but the way all of this is intertwined is just very clever.
It's a bloody beautiful, hopeful poetic and heartbreaking book and absolutely worth a read, I can easily see this being in my top books of the year if not of all time.
It starts out as short stories that introduce all of the main players in the books but then it changes into a book that shows just how interconnected we all are.
This story is about Trees and one groups mission to save them, another groups mission to educative and another to learn. All with the same startling knowledge that we need to save the trees to save ourselves.
An eco message, that shouts "save the trees". In parts I think it possibly came across a little bit preachy, like we get it, but the way all of this is intertwined is just very clever.
It's a bloody beautiful, hopeful poetic and heartbreaking book and absolutely worth a read, I can easily see this being in my top books of the year if not of all time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don't think I totally understood this book, I read this in basically one sitting and at 200 pages it's definitely worth a go.
I really enjoyed and related to part one which is about the all consuming nature and the addiction of social media and the never ending doom scroll, I found this part really gripping and although it was bloody weird, it's definitely written by someone who grew up online.
Part 2 was much harder to grasp and I'm not sure I really got it! Her Sister's child is born with a illness that means she will not be with them for long and how this bug news changes our protagonist for the better/worse how she can't seem to go back to the doom scroll.
Maybe I should just stop trying to read booker prize winners, someone smarter than me would probably have much better things to say!
I really enjoyed and related to part one which is about the all consuming nature and the addiction of social media and the never ending doom scroll, I found this part really gripping and although it was bloody weird, it's definitely written by someone who grew up online.
Part 2 was much harder to grasp and I'm not sure I really got it! Her Sister's child is born with a illness that means she will not be with them for long and how this bug news changes our protagonist for the better/worse how she can't seem to go back to the doom scroll.
Maybe I should just stop trying to read booker prize winners, someone smarter than me would probably have much better things to say!
Woom: An Extreme Psychological Horror Novel by Duncan Ralston
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don't think I can adequately describe how gross this book was, it's most definitely not safe for human consumption.
No amount of brain bleach will remove the horrors of this book from my mind, truly disgusting and I honestly have no idea what is wrong with Mr Ralston.
A play on room/womb womb is a single room horror story, a man brings a overweight sex worker to a pay by the hour motel room and he starts telling her more and more depraved and disgusting stories, she in turn tells him some horrible stories of her life and clients, culminating in one of the weirdest endings I have ever read.
This book made me question what the heck I just read.
No amount of brain bleach will remove the horrors of this book from my mind, truly disgusting and I honestly have no idea what is wrong with Mr Ralston.
A play on room/womb womb is a single room horror story, a man brings a overweight sex worker to a pay by the hour motel room and he starts telling her more and more depraved and disgusting stories, she in turn tells him some horrible stories of her life and clients, culminating in one of the weirdest endings I have ever read.
This book made me question what the heck I just read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.0
TikTok made me read this one, I was surprised to see it as a 99p kindle deal and thought I would see what all the fuss is about, as everyone and their dog seems to love this book.
I enjoyed this romance, it was sweet, but towards the end I perhaps had lost interest and was just willing it to end, the pacing felt a bit off to me.
It was fine, a gay romance, which was a great change to the format but it was a little bit insta love and I found that a bit odd, also this is an enemies to lovers but they were only enemies for about 5 seconds, as all the build up happens before the book starts and if feels like we are just told about it but not really shown so the tension wasn't really there for me.
I liked the premise, and the characters were sweet but it wasn't that deep. If you're looking for a easy going, but steamy romance, you'll not go far wrong with this.
I enjoyed this romance, it was sweet, but towards the end I perhaps had lost interest and was just willing it to end, the pacing felt a bit off to me.
It was fine, a gay romance, which was a great change to the format but it was a little bit insta love and I found that a bit odd, also this is an enemies to lovers but they were only enemies for about 5 seconds, as all the build up happens before the book starts and if feels like we are just told about it but not really shown so the tension wasn't really there for me.
I liked the premise, and the characters were sweet but it wasn't that deep. If you're looking for a easy going, but steamy romance, you'll not go far wrong with this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault
Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth
dark
funny
fast-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
4.5
Finished up this book in a day, it's a short book granted but it definitely packs a punch.
I don't know that it will hit everyone the same way but it felt as though I could relate to these girls and their partying.
Their longing to keep the party going but their age stopping them and insisting upon them that they should grow up, the resistance, the drugs the drinking the one night stands the relented their lives. No sleep.
It was non-stop and in parts had me howling with laughter and in other parts crying tears of understanding.
Great book, would recommend to any former wild child.
I don't know that it will hit everyone the same way but it felt as though I could relate to these girls and their partying.
Their longing to keep the party going but their age stopping them and insisting upon them that they should grow up, the resistance, the drugs the drinking the one night stands the relented their lives. No sleep.
It was non-stop and in parts had me howling with laughter and in other parts crying tears of understanding.
Great book, would recommend to any former wild child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Vomit