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magsisreadingagain's reviews
1940 reviews
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
3.75
Emily Austin captured my attention with her first book, so requesting Interesting Facts About Space was an easy decision. Austin has the ability to write characters in all their messiness, and make them completely loveable.
To say that Enid is a mess would be an understatement. She's irrationally terrified by bald men. She's trying to figure out the relationship with her half-sisters, amidst her complicated feelings centered around her recently deceased father. And she's got to keep an eye on her mom, who swings between her "no lipstick, stack of dirty dishes" days to days filled with baking and energy. Pile all of this onto her neurodivergent, queer, anxious being, and Enid is the picture of coping with life's stressors in unique and wonderful ways. Ask her about space, and she can tell you ALL of the bizarre facts. And if you want to know about true crime, Enid is your girl.
This book was humorous and charming, and filled with all of the quirks of people living their complete and confusing lives. I think that Austin's strengths are definitely her characters, who are relatable and messy and completely perfect in their own ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for sharing this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
To say that Enid is a mess would be an understatement. She's irrationally terrified by bald men. She's trying to figure out the relationship with her half-sisters, amidst her complicated feelings centered around her recently deceased father. And she's got to keep an eye on her mom, who swings between her "no lipstick, stack of dirty dishes" days to days filled with baking and energy. Pile all of this onto her neurodivergent, queer, anxious being, and Enid is the picture of coping with life's stressors in unique and wonderful ways. Ask her about space, and she can tell you ALL of the bizarre facts. And if you want to know about true crime, Enid is your girl.
This book was humorous and charming, and filled with all of the quirks of people living their complete and confusing lives. I think that Austin's strengths are definitely her characters, who are relatable and messy and completely perfect in their own ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for sharing this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Top Marks for Murder by Robin Stevens
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Granite Harbor: A Novel by Peter Nichols
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Grey Dog by Elliott Gish
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
A beautiful coming-of-age story, exploring the failure of family and the power of found-family
Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5
I was excited to be granted access to Drew Hayden Taylor’s latest offering, promoted as a mystery-horror. I went in hoping for horror and creepiness, but came out slightly disappointed.
Taylor has a knack for creating characters that can portray difficult moments and situations. But the horror elements never quite surfaced for me. The horror elements felt contrived, and strained. I loved the reference to indigenous legends and traditions, although I didn’t connect with the story overall.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Taylor has a knack for creating characters that can portray difficult moments and situations. But the horror elements never quite surfaced for me. The horror elements felt contrived, and strained. I loved the reference to indigenous legends and traditions, although I didn’t connect with the story overall.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Death in the Spotlight by Robin Stevens
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.0
What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25