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tepidgirlsummer's reviews
1077 reviews
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
dark
sad
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? It's complicated
2.0
I forgot how much of a slog it is to get through this one.
I’m in the throes of a Twilight Saga reread. New Moon has always been my least favorite book, but I’d forgotten why. I sort of remembered it being boring, but thought maybe I hadn’t read it with the right perspective the first few times. I have a greater appreciation for emotional nuance than I did in my very early 20s, and several fellow Ratties defended this installment as important to understand the emotional bond between Bella and Jacob in the future books.
But holy moly is this book a snooze fest. It’s probably about 150-200 pages too long. And aging has only made me even more weirded out by how much Stephenie Meyer normalized these extremely codependent and manipulative relationships. Also, there is virtually no plot. I think this one is supposed to be more character-driven, but there’s hardly any character development after the first couple hundred pages.
I liked Twilight more this time around than I did previously. I remember Eclipse being my favorite, so hopefully that reread doesn’t disappoint.
I’m in the throes of a Twilight Saga reread. New Moon has always been my least favorite book, but I’d forgotten why. I sort of remembered it being boring, but thought maybe I hadn’t read it with the right perspective the first few times. I have a greater appreciation for emotional nuance than I did in my very early 20s, and several fellow Ratties defended this installment as important to understand the emotional bond between Bella and Jacob in the future books.
But holy moly is this book a snooze fest. It’s probably about 150-200 pages too long. And aging has only made me even more weirded out by how much Stephenie Meyer normalized these extremely codependent and manipulative relationships. Also, there is virtually no plot. I think this one is supposed to be more character-driven, but there’s hardly any character development after the first couple hundred pages.
I liked Twilight more this time around than I did previously. I remember Eclipse being my favorite, so hopefully that reread doesn’t disappoint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Colonisation and Classism
There Goes Sunday School by Alexander C. Eberhart
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
The Ghost at Dawn's House by Ann M. Martin
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Violence, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Boise Boy by Tal Bauer
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Brody’s POV? Sign me up immediately.
I stayed up way too late reading this after All Your Tomorrows, which I originally read before there was a sequel to it. This story is mostly Brody rediscovering his sex drive after his off-page sexual assault in The Rest of the Story , but it also provides more hope and healing after trauma, which I always love to see.
Brody is an absolute cinnamon roll and sunshine type of character. I would read a full-length novel about him, but if that never happens then this will do nicely.
I stayed up way too late reading this after All Your Tomorrows, which I originally read before there was a sequel to it. This story is mostly Brody rediscovering his sex drive after
Brody is an absolute cinnamon roll and sunshine type of character. I would read a full-length novel about him, but if that never happens then this will do nicely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual assault
All Your Tomorrows by Tal Bauer
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I honestly like this one better than The Rest of the Story. Brody and Lawson were secondary characters in that book, but Brody’s story intrigued me and broke my heart a little bit, so I was so happy to get a short story showing how things turned out for him.
In some ways, it’s more about Lawson’s past and how he sees Brody, but it’s also about Brody’s recovery and their relationship. And it’s hopeful, which is what I really loved about it. The Rest of the Story is heavy with collective trauma, and it’s a relief to see how everyone on the team is healing, and how Brody in particular is learning to open up to the world again.
In some ways, it’s more about Lawson’s past and how he sees Brody, but it’s also about Brody’s recovery and their relationship. And it’s hopeful, which is what I really loved about it. The Rest of the Story is heavy with collective trauma, and it’s a relief to see how everyone on the team is healing, and how Brody in particular is learning to open up to the world again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Spy x Family, Vol. 5 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This series is consistently delightful, and I love that it keeps getting weirder and more complicated as more and more people cross paths with the Forgers, with Anya being the only one who knows about their double lives as spies, assassins, members of the secret police, etc. I love the interactions between telepathic Anya and the prescient dog. The mangaka’s little blurbs at the end of every book are so funny. Like a treat for reading in the first place.
Great moments in this volume include: first years talking about how something is so immature and for kindergartners; the swole chihuahua; the crucial reminder that Frankenstein was the name of the doctor, not the monster.
Great moments in this volume include: first years talking about how something is so immature and for kindergartners; the swole chihuahua; the crucial reminder that Frankenstein was the name of the doctor, not the monster.
All That's Left in the World by Erik J. Brown
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying