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quasinaut's reviews
193 reviews
Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Oh, how my heart breaks for Charlie and Nick! I love how this book shows that loving someone can't fix their problems, and sometimes all you can do is be there and help them get the help they need. And, support also comes from friends and family and professionals, not just whoever you're in a relationship with.
And despite all the serious stuff, these kids still have fun at the beach and go to school and celebrate holidays. It's so real and perfectly imperfect.
And despite all the serious stuff, these kids still have fun at the beach and go to school and celebrate holidays. It's so real and perfectly imperfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Self harm
Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
This volume was sweet and fun, but also a bit more tough and real as Nick and Charlie learn more about themselves, each other, and their friendships. I'm rooting for these boys. Also, there are silly school trip adventures in Paris!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, and Eating disorder
Minor: Self harm, Vomit, and Alcohol
Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
4.5
Well, this series continues to be so dang cute. There's such a tenderness for these characters as they navigate love and friendship and coming out, even when it's tough and terrifying. Here's hoping Nick's friends get on board or go away. Bonus: this volume in particular brought back core memories of high school crushes and late-night texting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
Minor: Violence
Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Well, that was adorable! Not much happened, really, but it was a delight to get to know Charlie and Nick. The floofy friendly dog might be the best part, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia
The Lady and the Tiger by Sam Starbuck
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A delightful return to the Shivadhverse with a dash of international political/royal intrigue alongside a rapid but satisfying friends-to-lovers.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, and Death of parent
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Sometimes heart wrenching, often funny, occasionally profound with such quotes as "He is too young to like so little" and "In the end, we are collected works."
It mostly worked for me that most of the time it was A.J.'s POV, but sometimes we saw from Ismay or Lambiase or Amelia - but honestly, these moments with other characters just made me want more from them (and perhaps less from A.J. especially when he was at his prickliest). And yet the book also underscored that even the prickliest amongst us needs to find their people, their friends and chosen family.
I briefly started this book a few years ago and bounced off of it, but I'm glad to have read and finished it now.
It mostly worked for me that most of the time it was A.J.'s POV, but sometimes we saw from Ismay or Lambiase or Amelia - but honestly, these moments with other characters just made me want more from them (and perhaps less from A.J. especially when he was at his prickliest). And yet the book also underscored that even the prickliest amongst us needs to find their people, their friends and chosen family.
I briefly started this book a few years ago and bounced off of it, but I'm glad to have read and finished it now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
funny
hopeful
slow-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
3.75
My first Jane Austen! I enjoyed reading about these characters that I'd only known about through media and cultural osmosis. Austen's ability to lovingly draw out her characters' faults and idiosyncrasies was quite fun. There were parts that felt too glossed over - like why some actions were forgiven or age differences allowed - but all in all, a solid introduction to her writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
funny
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? Yes
3.75
I have such mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I liked Ari and Russell's interactions but hated the central concept that they're trying to reunite their divorced bosses. There was such a lack of personal boundaries, and I strongly disliked that Ari and Russell would spend any of their time and money on their bosses' lives instead of finding better jobs and/or going on dates with each other (none of the weird double dates count).
Seth and Torrance, the bosses, had their own odd dynamic. They would have moments of self-reflection, even times when they would call out their toxic behavior, but then they would undercut any progress by a) continuing to make the workplace terrible, b) sharing too many personal details, or c) interfering in their employees' personal lives.
I don't know. I think even the sweet moments and positive representation were overshadowed for me by not being on board with the Set It Up/Parent Trap storyline.
Seth and Torrance, the bosses, had their own odd dynamic. They would have moments of self-reflection, even times when they would call out their toxic behavior, but then they would undercut any progress by a) continuing to make the workplace terrible, b) sharing too many personal details, or c) interfering in their employees' personal lives.
I don't know. I think even the sweet moments and positive representation were overshadowed for me by not being on board with the Set It Up/Parent Trap storyline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Cute, cute, cute. I adore how Kate Clayborn builds the world and writes her characters, with main characters and side characters alike having their own dynamics and interactions and lives.
At times, things felt too unrealistic, with moments written just so, with things falling into place to seamlessly help the plot or explain a character quirk. Like, why would the high school music teacher remember her students over a decade later - and why would Georgie care so much about her opinion?
And another thing, slightly spoiler-y:
Why wouldn't Georgie just tell Levi that Evan is in the notebook? Clearly, by not mentioning it, that's going to become the big point of contention - though truly I'm grateful that it was resolved by them both figuring out how to navigate their hurt in a way that didn't feel overblown and dramatic.
An enjoyable read, though I'm curious how memorable I'll find it in a few months to be honest!
At times, things felt too unrealistic, with moments written just so, with things falling into place to seamlessly help the plot or explain a character quirk. Like, why would the high school music teacher remember her students over a decade later - and why would Georgie care so much about her opinion?
And another thing, slightly spoiler-y:
An enjoyable read, though I'm curious how memorable I'll find it in a few months to be honest!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book had its moments but overall I found the characters (particularly Josh and his sister, Briar) to be unlikable. It was actually really lovely to see Josh and Ari become friends while they were at their worst, when they needed someone they could be sad with. Other than that, a lot of their dynamic was frustrating and weirdly antagonistic, especially when that antagonism came from brief interactions with large time jumps in between.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Grief and Death of parent