mariball's reviews
65 reviews

Old Enough by Haley Jakobson

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was a very quick, engaging, and addicting read. The author’s handling of Savannah’s emotions surrounding her trauma she experienced at sixteen was sensitively handled. There were also funny, relatable moments of Sav’s bisexual awakening, and her journey trying to find herself and embracing the friends who help her is definitely the stronger aspects of the book. However, the book suffers from many one dimensional characters that could have been integrated more seamlessly into the story instead of serving plot points for Sav’s arc. I feel this especially towards Wesley, who I wanted to know more about, or at least feel more like a character instead of “here, let’s give Sav a love interest that’s not toxic!” Additionally, the YA speak got a little grating at times- nearly, like, half the characters, like, talk, like this. 
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Carrie by Stephen King

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

5.0

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

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

4.25

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

La Syrena: Visions of a Syrian Mermaid from Space by Banah el-Ghadbanah

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

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adventurous emotional informative tense fast-paced

4.0

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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challenging dark emotional funny tense fast-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

5.0

This is perhaps the most unlikable narrator I’ve read in some time but how R. F. Kuang writes her as someone we couldn’t help but follow after multiple disastrous and morally bankrupt  decisions is addicting and oddly funny.  A very thrilling read. 
Mythical Creatures by Lauren Bucca

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informative lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.0

Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

5.0