alfienumeric's reviews
9 reviews

Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

2.0

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.25

Rouge by Mona Awad

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.5

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"Piglet" is the main character's childhood nickname that has stuck with her well into her adult life. She seems to have everything together- a career in culinary publishing, a wedding to prepare for, a doting fiance and a family emotionally supporting her. 

Days leading up to the wedding, Kit, her fiance has confessed a devastating admittance that soon made Piglet start to question her perfect world. 

"Piglet" is a novel sheds light on how far a person would go to stay quiet with people who have done wrong towards them, just to keep the peace and to hold a façade. This isn't only pertaining to the betrayal Kit has done to Piglet, but how everyone in her family may contribute the million nicks that eventually leads to Piglet wanting to take action in reclaiming her life. 

Even though I enjoyed reading this book and the pacing is fine, this book read slow for me. There are no explosive events that would make the story march faster. Looking back, that uncomfortable feeling on my part may be tied to wanting Piglet to hurry and make drastic decision. Instead, I had to watch in real time as she endures insufferable moments of events that should have given her great joy and happiness. 

What also kept me going is reading to find out exactly what Kit did. Spoiler alert: It is never really said but it is major enough for when Piglet did tell someone what happened, that person couldn't believe she is continuing the wedding. I had to finally let go of needing to know that detail when at the end of the day, that detail did not matter and to rely on how Piglet is emotionally reacting to it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

A comical short story about an introvert's worse nightmare and how things can get out of hand if a person does not know how to create boundaries for oneself.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Wellness by Nathan Hill

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-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? Yes

5.0

Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0