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slaywithsteph's reviews
190 reviews
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Xenophobia, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
Tw: Graphically detailed asphyxiation
Gone to See the River Man by Kristopher Triana
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
5.0
But do you know what I decided a long time ago? I decided I don’t need perfect love and I don’t need a perfect husband and I don’t need perfect kids and a perfect life and all that. I want mine. I want my love, my husband, my kids, my life.
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Now that she’s rich, acquaintances are coming out of the woodwork, seeking Avery’s favor, but there are more sinister things at play. Who’s responsible for leaving her threats? And will they make good on them? And where on earth is Tobias Hawthorne II?
I was very pleasantly surprised that this sequel was a great continuation of the first book. The love interest was a little heavier played, and I do think this will be a trend for future books.
The twists and turns — some predictable, others not so much — were a fun ride, and I immensely enjoyed guessing what would happen next.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sometimes all a girl really needed was a very bad idea.
Now that she’s rich, acquaintances are coming out of the woodwork, seeking Avery’s favor, but there are more sinister things at play. Who’s responsible for leaving her threats? And will they make good on them? And where on earth is Tobias Hawthorne II?
I was very pleasantly surprised that this sequel was a great continuation of the first book. The love interest was a little heavier played, and I do think this will be a trend for future books.
The twists and turns — some predictable, others not so much — were a fun ride, and I immensely enjoyed guessing what would happen next.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery Kylie Grambs is plucked out of nowhere and is listed as one of the heirs to a fortune of a man she’s certain she’s never met before. There’s one problem. To gain her part of the inheritance, Avery must stay at Hawthorne House for a year with said man’s family — the same family who may just want her out of the way. Following the clues and riddles left by a dead man, Avery works with the four very attractive grandsons to find out why on earth she was chosen to take part in these games. Did the mysterious Tobias Hawthorne have reasons for choosing her? Or was she just a very risky gamble?
Sign me up for all of this! Who doesn’t want to imagine being given an inheritance from some multi-billionaire? Who doesn’t want to work with four attractive grandkids who she is most definitely not related to?
This is primarily a mystery, but I have a feeling the sequels may play up the romance a bit more.
The writing is typical of that of a young adult genre. There’s no deep metaphors (that I caught) or poetic lines really. It’s decently written and easy to read.
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Everything’s a game, Avery Grambs. The only thing we get to decide in this life is if we play to win.
Avery Kylie Grambs is plucked out of nowhere and is listed as one of the heirs to a fortune of a man she’s certain she’s never met before. There’s one problem. To gain her part of the inheritance, Avery must stay at Hawthorne House for a year with said man’s family — the same family who may just want her out of the way. Following the clues and riddles left by a dead man, Avery works with the four very attractive grandsons to find out why on earth she was chosen to take part in these games. Did the mysterious Tobias Hawthorne have reasons for choosing her? Or was she just a very risky gamble?
Sign me up for all of this! Who doesn’t want to imagine being given an inheritance from some multi-billionaire? Who doesn’t want to work with four attractive grandkids who she is most definitely not related to?
This is primarily a mystery, but I have a feeling the sequels may play up the romance a bit more.
The writing is typical of that of a young adult genre. There’s no deep metaphors (that I caught) or poetic lines really. It’s decently written and easy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
There’s no such thing as happily ever after. There’s only happy for a short period of time before everything falls apart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Grief, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Stalking
Minor: Drug use
The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong
Yu-Jin, a troubled young adult dreaming of being independent and making his family proud, wakes up next to the dead body of his mother with no memory of what happened. You’ll follow along with Yu-Jin as he pieces together what happened.
The narrator is rather talkative as he reflects on his life and the death of his mom, but otherwise, it was fun albeit fairly predictable.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There are some people you just can’t love. Even when they smile, they make you want to pull on either side of that smile and rip their mouth off.
Yu-Jin, a troubled young adult dreaming of being independent and making his family proud, wakes up next to the dead body of his mother with no memory of what happened. You’ll follow along with Yu-Jin as he pieces together what happened.
The narrator is rather talkative as he reflects on his life and the death of his mom, but otherwise, it was fun albeit fairly predictable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
Some of the short stories are great. Others I didn’t really care for.