abbiemreads's reviews
190 reviews

The Turnout by Megan Abbott

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

I usually love Megan Abbott’s books but this one wasn’t for me really. I like the dark, gritty view of the dance world, the plot overall, and the twists. But overall I found it more predictable and too viscerally sexual this time, with uncomfortable comments towards minors and things too explicit for my liking. I’m not saying it’s a bad book, I really love the writing style, but with the more explicit content, I don’t think this one was for me.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Grief, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Blood

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Love That Journey for Me: The Queer Revolution of Schitt's Creek by Emily Garside

informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman

emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-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

My favourite volume so far! 

Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

adventurous lighthearted mysterious 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

3.5

A very fun read, not too dark or deep but great for fans of Jane Austen who want something entertaining and easy but different.

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book was gruesome and entertaining, it had all the elements of a good slasher but the killer reveal didn’t have a good twist, it fell a bit flat for me. The motivation wasn’t as built up as I would have liked either as it’s just kind of explained with a line at the end and not much more? The main characters past was also set up as a huge plot point but didn’t seem to have high-stakes or really help with the killer plot, which is an interesting twist, but the motivation really just needed more time. 
Good characters, written to captivate and overall very fun, but I wanted more explanation around it all. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Alcohol, Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Hex by Jenni Fagan

emotional informative 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Torture, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

A fail on the trope of unreliable narrator, the ending undermines the entire thing and made me frustrated
I liked the tense parts but honestly saw the twists coming and it felt like adding in the other perspectives from Charlie’s was because the author didn’t trust their readers to understand what was happening 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Kidnapping

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Suicide, Mental illness, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship