abijoyceshaw's reviews
46 reviews

The Space Between Here and Now by Sarah Suk

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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? Yes

3.25

I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Second Edition: No Guilt. No Excuses. No Bs. Just a 6-Week Program That Works by Ramit Sethi

funny informative inspiring slow-paced

4.5

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens

adventurous dark hopeful sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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? Yes

4.25

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

2.25

I don’t think this story has aged particularly well and it’s difficult not to disdain V, the supposed hero of the story, for the abuse and control he inflicts on Evey. While thematically interesting, there are many more stories exploring similar concepts with much more nuance, diversity and self-awareness today.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, War, and Torture

The Invitation by Lucy Foley

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed the female protagonist’s development and backstory. I thought her trajectory honored her character and was a refreshing take on a character who would typical be treated as a damsel in destress. 

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

The premise of a mystery novel within a mystery novel is interesting on a surface level. I enjoyed watching the secondary narrative unravel. The novel seemed to be building toward two climatic reveals, but I found the culmination of both narratives dissatisfying. The characters were fairly interesting, but they weren’t given enough depth for me to get attached.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Death, and Murder

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.75