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shiv91's reviews
1019 reviews
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
1.5
I really wanted to like this book, but I honestly did not particularly enjoy reading it. I liked the idea of it not being from the point of view of the victim but instead of the victims brother and the accused sister. Giving a different aspect to how it impacts the lives of both sides.
Unfortunately, I didn't like the main characters, I didn't really like the side characters either. Apart from Ellie's old dog and Mikey's youngest sister, I didn't think they were great people. I realise Karyn is the victim and went through something traumatic, but she honestly annoyed me. Mikey and Ellie were two of the most selfish main characters I've come across. The whole romance between them was weird to me.
The ending of the book was so abrupt that I looked at the book as if I expected more pages to appear. I wouldn't even call it an ending, nothing was really resolved or fixed.
Something else that bothered me throughout the book, we see that Mikey's mother is an alcoholic and, frankly, a bad mother. She has very few moments of being aware that she has children to take care of and then goes off on a bender or hides in her room. Then miraculously, towards the end of the book, she's suddenly acting like a good mother without ever having dealt with her issues.
Ellie's father is a horrible person, and I would be terrified of him in real life. I'm glad the mother eventually stood up to him, but after how he treated Ellie, I don't know how she could stay with him.
There were also errors in the book, which made it even more of a pain to read.
I like that the book makes you wonder how far you would go to protect your family, even if they did something criminally awful. I think that just because someone is your blood doesn't mean they deserve your loyalty. If they've done something bad, they deserve to be punished for it.
The bad in this book outweighed the good, which is a shame because it could have been something really good.
Unfortunately, I didn't like the main characters, I didn't really like the side characters either. Apart from Ellie's old dog and Mikey's youngest sister, I didn't think they were great people. I realise Karyn is the victim and went through something traumatic, but she honestly annoyed me. Mikey and Ellie were two of the most selfish main characters I've come across. The whole romance between them was weird to me.
The ending of the book was so abrupt that I looked at the book as if I expected more pages to appear. I wouldn't even call it an ending, nothing was really resolved or fixed.
Ellie's father is a horrible person, and I would be terrified of him in real life. I'm glad the mother eventually stood up to him, but after how he treated Ellie, I don't know how she could stay with him.
There were also errors in the book, which made it even more of a pain to read.
I like that the book makes you wonder how far you would go to protect your family, even if they did something criminally awful. I think that just because someone is your blood doesn't mean they deserve your loyalty. If they've done something bad, they deserve to be punished for it.
The bad in this book outweighed the good, which is a shame because it could have been something really good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Once I started this book, I could not put it down, and I read it in one sitting.
I found the writing so beautiful that I would re-read different sentences because I couldn't fathom how someone could write fiction that made me feel so much.
I can see myself reading this again at some point.
I found the writing so beautiful that I would re-read different sentences because I couldn't fathom how someone could write fiction that made me feel so much.
I can see myself reading this again at some point.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
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
5.0
Oh, this was tough to read. It's so well written, I was nearly scared to get to each next page because I knew it would be upsetting.
At times, I found myself really not liking Vanessa but then having to remind myself that the way she's thinking and acting are her ways of coping with the traumatic events that happened to her.
Rating books like this, I always feel weird about because it's sickening to read, but it really shows the horrible truth of what can happen. Even in a place where you're supposed to be safe.
At times, I found myself really not liking Vanessa but then having to remind myself that the way she's thinking and acting are her ways of coping with the traumatic events that happened to her.
Rating books like this, I always feel weird about because it's sickening to read, but it really shows the horrible truth of what can happen. Even in a place where you're supposed to be safe.
The First To Die At The End by Adam Silvera
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
2.5 stars.
I enjoyed this slightly more than They Both Die At The End.
I liked that there was more of a background given about Death Cast. I also preferred the characters in this book.
I did not like that, aside from some minute differences, it basically felt as though I was reading the same book again. But longer and, in my opinion, unnecessarily so. I think it dragged on for too long, and the whole "falling in love" in less than a day thing is not something I'm a fan of. I know there are people who like it, and that's great, but it's really something that doesn't make sense in my mind.
I think I would have preferred to read about two people who already know each other well and are very close or even two strangers who meet because one or both "got the call" and just become friends.
To each their own, but unfortunately, I don't think Adam Silvera is the author for me.
I enjoyed this slightly more than They Both Die At The End.
I liked that there was more of a background given about Death Cast. I also preferred the characters in this book.
I think I would have preferred to read about two people who already know each other well and are very close or even two strangers who meet because one or both "got the call" and just become friends.
To each their own, but unfortunately, I don't think Adam Silvera is the author for me.
They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I had high hopes for this as I saw a lot of people rave about how good it was and the emotions it evoked in them.
I was disappointed. I loved the premise, but I felt the execution of it was lacking. There wasn't really much world building. I thought there would be more. The whole Death Cast thing, though a big part of the story, felt more like background info because there was so little explained about it.
I could not connect with the characters, and by the end, I didn't care that "they both die at the end." The ending itself wasn't great, in my opinion.
I think I preferred the side characters to the main ones. The romance, although expected, felt very unnatural, and lets not forget that it is only 24 hours they've known each other. I found it pretty cringey.
I'm going to give the prequel a chance and see if that changes my mind at all.
I was disappointed. I loved the premise, but I felt the execution of it was lacking. There wasn't really much world building. I thought there would be more. The whole Death Cast thing, though a big part of the story, felt more like background info because there was so little explained about it.
I could not connect with the characters, and by the end, I didn't care that "they both die at the end." The ending itself wasn't great, in my opinion.
I think I preferred the side characters to the main ones. The romance, although expected, felt very unnatural, and lets not forget that it is only 24 hours they've known each other. I found it pretty cringey.
I'm going to give the prequel a chance and see if that changes my mind at all.
If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I did like how the story was told of Autumn and Finny, the years in school etc and how their friendship kept changing, but I did not like Autumn. Found her to be annoying, and all the stereotypes of teenagers were a bit much.
The ending as well bothered me. Yes, it was the ending I expected, but the way it was finished felt rushed and kind of awkwardly done.
The ending as well bothered me. Yes, it was the ending I expected, but the way it was finished felt rushed and kind of awkwardly done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It seems that with this series, you either love it or hate it. I personally loved it.
Granted, it is quite weird, but that's what I really liked about it. It's a mismatch of chaotic occurrences that somehow end up making sense.
Granted, it is quite weird, but that's what I really liked about it. It's a mismatch of chaotic occurrences that somehow end up making sense.
A Darker Shade: 17 Swedish Stories of Murder, Mystery and Suspense by John-Henri Holmberg
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
There were a few that I really enjoyed but the majority I found pretty boring and predictable. Maybe they worked better in Swedish but I wasn't overly impressed.
The Great Starvation Experiment: Ancel Keys and the Men Who Starved for Science by Todd Tucker
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A very interesting read. It was well written and I liked that there was background information (on the test subjects, Dr Ancel, etc) that led to the decision to do such an experiment. I appreciate that fact after fact wasn't completely spewed out every sentence. You also got to see the emotional/psychological side to the whole thing. It's amazing and truly terrifying to see the deep impact starvation has on both body and mind.
I didn't give the full 5 stars because I would have liked more information on the actual findings of the experiment.
I didn't give the full 5 stars because I would have liked more information on the actual findings of the experiment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and War
Moderate: Cannibalism
If You Tell by Gregg Olsen
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This was not an easy book to read. It's based on a true story, which makes it all the more disturbing. I'm glad that the 3 sisters got through it together and that there were repercussions for their parents (not enough, in my opinion)
I have absolutely zero sympathy for the father and I think him playing as if he's another victim is gross.
I wasn't a fan of how the book was written. I know the author interviewed various people and had to use these to piece together different points of views for the book, but it felt really awkwardly written. I think this made it annoying to read.
So me not giving 5 stars is not to do with the heartwrenching story but with the actual writing style.
I have absolutely zero sympathy for the father and I think him playing as if he's another victim is gross.
I wasn't a fan of how the book was written. I know the author interviewed various people and had to use these to piece together different points of views for the book, but it felt really awkwardly written. I think this made it annoying to read.
So me not giving 5 stars is not to do with the heartwrenching story but with the actual writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail