abhess's reviews
22 reviews

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Bunny by Mona Awad

dark mysterious 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

4.0

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

emotional funny 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? Yes

2.75

Needful Things by Stephen King

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

There is a thing as too many metaphors and this book is proof of such. It is confusing, it feels pretentious and it imposes upon itself. I only understood about 15% of what happened. That being said, I really enjoyed that 15% - the historical references and intended plot. The ending was great. 

Although, I would have preferred it if it ended with Red reading Blue’s letter during the end of times.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Rape, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

Minor: Abortion

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

It took me around a year to read this book. The pace is painstakingly slow at times, but there was something that made me keep reading (probably Donna Tartt’s writing). The ending felt a bit anticlimactic, but there were a lot of passages that stuck with me. Overall worth the read, but it takes patience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders

Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad fast-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

4.0

The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro

adventurous funny 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? Yes

4.0