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tacoshark's reviews
856 reviews
Better Hate than Never by Chloe Liese
emotional
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
This was fine - very very predictable and that made it feel overlong in some places. I liked the first one of this series better.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
It took me a long time to get into this, and I almost put it down several times - I’m really glad I didn’t, though. This book is utterly unique in my experience. It’s challenging in a lot of ways, including the structure, the use of POV and it’s quite brutal (check content warnings). It’s also one of the most beautifully written, moving, compelling books I’ve ever read. I think I’ll be thinking about it for a long time to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was so predictable and annoying that I don’t know why I bothered finishing it. I knew exactly how it was going to play out - and I was completely right. I’ve read this author before and it was much better than this, so maybe I was just hoping it would improve? I didn’t even like the MCs, especially the female MC who just refused to actually have any kind of meaningful conversation with the guy.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.5
This book made me cry like nothing else! It’s a romance, yes, and a well done one, but really, it’s a book about grief and a rather exceptional one, at that. Lovely and sad and thoughtful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death and Suicide
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Another gem - the first one slightly outshone this, but it’s still a lovely read.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
God what an exquisite book. I was kind of expecting something more esoteric based on everything I’d heard about it (which was somehow a lot and also almost nothing). Just read it, that’s all. A wonderful read for this liminal, end of year, turning over time.
Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I really enjoyed this - it’s just very sweet and heartfelt and charming. Raced right through it.
Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was sweet if a bit disjointed - it starts off very slow burn but then once it got going the pace was very strange and didn’t really make sense to me. That said, I liked both the main characters and the mutual pining, one of my favorite tropes, was well done. The last second insertion of conflict was a bit annoying and seemed kind of unnecessary, like an added note, and it left the end feeling a little off-balance. Overall, pretty good but not great.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
What a strange book - it was not at all what I expected from what I’d heard or from the marketing. There’s a pull quote on the cover calling it an “utter delight” and I genuinely don’t know who would think that. This was one of the most profoundly (and yet implausibly) sad books I’ve ever read. Unrelentingly, almost, though there is a sort of happy, at least hopeful-ish, if again, implausible ending. What it reminded me of, in an unexpected and bizarre way, was A Little Life, though it’s not quite as hideously cruel as that book.
I enjoyed reading this, despite the sadness, but I found it rather unsatisfying as well. What I liked was the propulsion of the narrative and the zingy, constantly moving POV (I especially enjoyed the dog’s POV). But because of that very mechanism, while the book is theoretically mostly about Elizabeth, I felt like she was barely developed and pretty unrelatable as a character - all of this happens to her, but you spend more time with the reactions and feelings of those around her than with her. It left me feeling that she was a bit of an automaton and even when her thoughts and feelings were described, they had very little heft. (I don’t think I’d actually want to spend more time in her head, but it’s a strange choice for your main character.) I liked Calvin better, but it also felt a bit strange that this book that’s theoretically a feminist story about this compelling woman was really so much about a man instead.
I’m not sure if I’ll recommend this but I think I’d check out what this author does next.
I enjoyed reading this, despite the sadness, but I found it rather unsatisfying as well. What I liked was the propulsion of the narrative and the zingy, constantly moving POV (I especially enjoyed the dog’s POV). But because of that very mechanism, while the book is theoretically mostly about Elizabeth, I felt like she was barely developed and pretty unrelatable as a character - all of this happens to her, but you spend more time with the reactions and feelings of those around her than with her. It left me feeling that she was a bit of an automaton and even when her thoughts and feelings were described, they had very little heft. (I don’t think I’d actually want to spend more time in her head, but it’s a strange choice for your main character.) I liked Calvin better, but it also felt a bit strange that this book that’s theoretically a feminist story about this compelling woman was really so much about a man instead.
I’m not sure if I’ll recommend this but I think I’d check out what this author does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
The power was out, so I read a book. This was clever and funny and not a whole lot more, but I enjoyed it. And I learned what a grace and favour home is.