linlinlin's reviews
275 reviews

Death Valley by Melissa Broder

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adventurous challenging funny lighthearted reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Autofiction seems to be the main thing that publishing houses want to put out by women and that readers want to read and sometimes it's frustrating. I think I love Broder so much not just because I want to be in a group chat with her but because she engages with this context and ideas, about how all novels are based in our lives to begin with, what is autofiction and what is memoir and what is an autobiography. She gets that when you read her work, you're reading her a little bit, and I like that she seems to get off on that. I think this novel does benefit from having read her other work and recognising recurring themes and characters and weirdness. I love that there's a true sincere freak out there in the literary fiction section talking about grief in a really big and messy way. anyway the part where she fcks the cactus ruled. 
Jatta by Jenny Hale

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring slow-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

4.25

Would recommend this as a great book for older kids and girls. It's very classic princesses in towers but with a dark twist that will be really satisfying for a certain kind of young person. I wish I'd had this when I was younger. Notably the main character Jatta isn't shoehorned into romance, and isn't a super competent heroine. 
Nettleblack by Nat Reeve

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adventurous inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Whether Violent or Natural by Natasha Calder

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challenging emotional informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This was a jakke-gai that I don't regret since it was from the library. If only the editor was as good as the cover artist. Great premise, bones, charming dialogue, many instances of wonder and interesting language, let down by very poor editing. This should have either been half the length or twice it. Like many other reviewers, I found myself skimming just to get through it by the end. I will certainly read whatever Calder puts out next and hope that she is not done so dirty by an undisciplined publishing team. 
Dark Heir by C.S. Pacat

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dark hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Green Dot by Madeleine Gray

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Cracking Aussie sad girl novel that doesn't secretly want to be set in New York. Four stars on sense of place  alone. 
The half star comes from this:
Me, texting a mate halfway through: omg this book is so funny can't wait to loan it to you 
Me, after finishing the book, walking outside at 3 AM scrolling through sperm donors: maybe read this book with caution 
(interpret the star in direction of your choice) 
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

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challenging dark informative fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Reverse Cowgirl by McKenzie Wark

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challenging funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns

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challenging hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

4.75

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

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emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? No

4.0

Classic cosy Albertalli. You're here for a good time not a serious time. Tho it is based to name your "villain" (villains not really a thing here) after your nemesis