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emilywemily6's reviews
259 reviews
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
I really enjoyed this book, but it’s hard to say why it’s not a five star for me. It started really slow because we got to know all the characters, and while I enjoyed that, it felt like the plot on the back cover revealed the plot 50% in to the book so it took a while to learn new things about the plot. I loved all of these characters and the book/blood magic and found it all fascinating. I would love to read more about this magic world and these characters but the book tied things together nicely. The plot and plot devices felt a little YA I think even in this adult book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture, Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Classism
Reckless by Lauren Roberts
adventurous
hopeful
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
This book was a bit of a let down because there is zero plot!!! There were so many more directions I expected this to go and it went in none of them. This book is a ton of back and forth between Paedyn and Kai and it got really old. I also wish we got more of Kai’s perspective because you could tell he had some character growth based on his actions, but we didn’t get to hear any internal thoughts about that change. The tension between the characters was really good at the beginning and just kind of fell apart throughout the book without reason. I guess I saw the ending coming because we got zero hints at anything else during the story, but it still made zero sense to me and kind of made me annoyed. It feels like you could have slipped this book except for a couple of chapters and then start reading the third. I love these characters and the world but this book didn’t add a lot to either of these.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement
The Match by Sarah Adams
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book was a kind of shallow, cutesy romance. I really didn’t like or understand the MMC’s attitude changes throughout the book, especially with how mean he was at the beginning. I also felt like both these characters, while 26 (F) and 33 (M) years old, acted much younger- like college age in their first serious relationship. Both were crushing hard and it felt insta-lovey without any substance. I was also frustrated by the miscommunication they exhibited. Lots of “he loves me? He loves me not?”. They kept defining the relationship and then second guessing what the other person wanted even though they already DTRed. The third act conflict with her psycho family, his lack of faith, and her mistrust felt kind of out of character after all the hmmming and haaaing the rest of the book. The same conflict basically played out over and over again. I really liked the disability rep and the service dog rep, and I felt like those aspects were accurate to reality. But this story was a lot of telling and not showing, plus the timeline of the first half of the book was so quick that it didn’t build up the romance enough. I still enjoyed reading it as a shallow, alright romance, but definitely not my favorite by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, and Stalking
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was underwhelming and I think this author just might not be a great fit for me. This writing style is intriguing and kept me interested for more, but it felt like nothing happened (very character focused yet with little character growth; plus no big reveals). I knew from early on in the book what was going on and I never learned anything more than what was easily extrapolated. It took zero imagination and I was disappointed that even with so many subtle promises of a reveal, I was never rewarded. Sci-fi? Who is she? I would call this more of a speculative, coming-of-age fiction. I wanted WAY more world-building and answers to what was happening, why the world got that way, and how they even accomplished it. This book was melancholic and languid and I think it will stay in my mind for a while, but since we didn’t get any world building and few perspectives from the wider world, the subtle thoughts on humanity lacked substance. Many people have found meaning in the minutia of Kathy’s memories but it lacked the oomph I want in a story like this. Lots of Kathy’s internal musings without any real growth or change in understanding throughout the whole book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia and Infertility
Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Is this a six star romance?? 🥹 this book was incredible. I adored these characters and found their banter/humor hilarious. The chemistry was so good, even from the beginning! I loved seeing their relationship grow from co-parents with chemistry trying to be friends to loving and admiring each other so deeply. These characters were real, imperfect, but both such good people. I love everything about this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Ableism and Medical content
Network Effect by Martha Wells
challenging
funny
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? No
4.5
I love Murderbot and I really enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationships with both new and old characters. Lots of
funny moments between Murderbot and a certain bot pilot. I did find that the pacing of this story wasn’t my favorite compared to the novellas (a little slow for the first half) and some of the information about what was really going on a talking about killware and TargetControlSystem was hard to understand. I had to reread a few parts just to know enough of what was happening to skip over the details, so this read wasn’t quite as enjoyable as others. And even though I’ve finished, I still am not quite sure what all we learned about what really happened. I think the novellas experience this a little bit (and of course, Murderbot is a bigger brain than me) but it was much more pronounced in this full-length novel. I’m still really looking forward to the next installment because of adore these characters and how SecUnit is growing as a person.
funny moments between Murderbot and a certain bot pilot. I did find that the pacing of this story wasn’t my favorite compared to the novellas (a little slow for the first half) and some of the information about what was really going on a talking about killware and TargetControlSystem was hard to understand. I had to reread a few parts just to know enough of what was happening to skip over the details, so this read wasn’t quite as enjoyable as others. And even though I’ve finished, I still am not quite sure what all we learned about what really happened. I think the novellas experience this a little bit (and of course, Murderbot is a bigger brain than me) but it was much more pronounced in this full-length novel. I’m still really looking forward to the next installment because of adore these characters and how SecUnit is growing as a person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Slavery, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This series has me in a chokehold. I took a little longer than I thought I should listening to this because I wasn’t ready for all the emotions involved with it. I care deeply for these characters and hurt for them. I have no idea what’s happening next in the final installment of this series but I’m nervous 😰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Slavery, Police brutality, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I didn’t like this one as much as Butcher & Blackbird, but I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn’t convinced of the marriage of convenience or the quick about face from hating each other to tolerating each other as basically roommates. However, as they got to know each other their relationship blossomed and it was really sweet to see them grow together and choose love. The morbid/serial killer aspect of this book was less pronounced than the first in the series, and definitely lost its shock factor compared to the first. I liked that the third act conflict was not found in the relationship itself, but it still felt a little formulaic. I really enjoy the author’s writing style, and even though the spicy scenes are too spicy for me, I really like how these characters were written. I just wish we got a little more depth to Lachlan’s character to balance out with Lark’s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, and Alcohol
The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
I was surprised by how much I liked this book! It started off a little iffy because the friends immediately tried to get Derek married as though that was necessary for happiness, which bothered me, and Derek was actually really mean and annoying to Nora when they first started working together. But once Derek acknowledged he was being a jerk and acted normal again I loved this book. I loved how Nora pursued her dreams and stayed true to herself- her voice and motives are strong in this book. I also enjoyed seeing the progression of their relationship, how they recognized their love previous faults and also were more mature in the present day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, and Vomit
Minor: Medical content and Pregnancy
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was really cute but definitely written for a YA audience. I wish there was more depth to the experiences and side characters Lina encounters. The romance felt a little forced and insta-lovey (this whole book takes place over like a week??)- the pacing could have been a lot more believable. I loved the backdrop of Italy and while the mystery of Lina’s parentage and her mother’s experiences were predictable, it felt realistic and also fulfilling to come to a conclusion in the end. Lina was a bit stubborn to not treat Howard like a father figure at first which was a little frustrating to read. Overall, one of the best YA romances I have read but lacked some depth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol