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alouette's reviews
167 reviews
Other Ever Afters: New Queer Fairy Tales by Melanie Gillman
cute little read. stories were shorter and simpler than i expected, but i loved the color pencil art and sweetness of it.
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
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? Yes
4.5
What truly goes hungry when it is denied girls to devour- is the castle. May we live to see it starve.
cute little read. stories were shorter and simpler than i expected, but i loved the color pencil art and sweetness of it.
Where We'd End Up by Mel Geronazzo
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
slow-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
read for a queer book club! while it was not particularly compelling from an emotional standpoint, since it had that "tell not show" style to the writing, i did enjoy it. it was a pleasant surprise in how much time it spanned and how nice it was to see a healthy relationship centered on identity and discovery. seeing the two main characters grow up and be happy gave me the warm and fuzzies for sure.
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
so many valuable lessons in this book. i think about it a lot, especially when it comes to accepting the guilt inherent in setting personal boundaries. i also feel this connection to all the other people who have picked it up- we are all trying, and i'm proud of us.
Mother Ocean Father Nation by Nishant Batsha
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
i didn't realize when i picked this up that the setting was fictional, so when i reached that conclusion i was fairly disappointed. i think that even then, it had a lot of potential, and i liked some aspects such as the realities of immigration and familial separation. but it fell short with writing that was seemed clinical and a less than impactful ending.
The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
4.0
not a super memorable read, but an enjoyable one. i loved the historical setting and feminist themes.
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
i'll likely have more to say upon rereading, which i will definitely be doing. also, the narrator's deep southern accent was SO PERFECT. this was my first real southern gothic and i'm so glad for it!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i needed months to process how good this book was. the intimacy of every moment made it feel so real that i just needed to breathe after, listen to some of the wonderful playlists the author shared, and thank them for the experience.
the idea of the person you built your life around being gone, rethinking your whole relationship with them, the mystery of their death being so dark and twisted, it was all very well-crafted. one of the first mysteries where i haven't wanted to speed through to find out what happens, because the characters and other plot beats are so gorgeous and fascinating that it would be a mistake to go too fast. the dialogue is also so cleverly funny, even in the most tense moments! i don't even mind that andrew was a basic white boy at first, by the end of things he had my heart for how real and flawed he was, and the way he was just barely learning who he was as his own person. the book too had its flaws, such as the depth of some characters and being a bit overly sensual at times, but i adore it regardless.
the idea of the person you built your life around being gone, rethinking your whole relationship with them, the mystery of their death being so dark and twisted, it was all very well-crafted. one of the first mysteries where i haven't wanted to speed through to find out what happens, because the characters and other plot beats are so gorgeous and fascinating that it would be a mistake to go too fast. the dialogue is also so cleverly funny, even in the most tense moments! i don't even mind that andrew was a basic white boy at first, by the end of things he had my heart for how real and flawed he was, and the way he was just barely learning who he was as his own person. the book too had its flaws, such as the depth of some characters and being a bit overly sensual at times, but i adore it regardless.
He was going to take that 'maybe' to his grave.
i'll likely have more to say upon rereading, which i will definitely be doing. also, the narrator's deep southern accent was SO PERFECT. this was my first real southern gothic and i'm so glad for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, Grief, Blood, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content
A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
for someone who adored Last Night at the Telegraph Club, i was surprised how much i did not like this book. in fact, between the unaddressed cheating and the blandness of the main character, i actively disliked it!
the story is very straightforward, and there is a distinct lack of memorable moments. the characters are set into stereotypes for most of the novel and there's really no exploration of them once they break out of that right at the end. aside from realizing she's queer, Aria didn't develop at all- she doesn't have to face any consequences from the dumb decisions she makes and she doesn't seem to have any interests.
about the cheating, because it was a big thing that completely threw me for a loop and tainted the book for me: i don't mind cheating as a plot point. but the fact that neither character acknowledges it or makes a move for it to become a normal relationship instead of cheating REALLY got on my nerves. lisa is made to be so obviously antagonistic that it feels like a parody instead of the emotional coming of age book it's advertised as being. never have i rolled my eyes at a relationship so hard! in the end it was kind of cute that Aria's first love was just the beginning of so much else in her life, but when it came at the cost of glossing over all her other relationships- especially to her grandmother, who got about 1 meainingful conversation with her- it doesn't really raise the rating.
also this did not have nearly enough of kath and lily for a book advertised as a companion to Last Night at the Telegraph Club! they get one newspaper snippet and one photograph and that's it!
the story is very straightforward, and there is a distinct lack of memorable moments. the characters are set into stereotypes for most of the novel and there's really no exploration of them once they break out of that right at the end. aside from realizing she's queer, Aria didn't develop at all- she doesn't have to face any consequences from the dumb decisions she makes and she doesn't seem to have any interests.
about the cheating, because it was a big thing that completely threw me for a loop and tainted the book for me: i don't mind cheating as a plot point. but the fact that neither character acknowledges it or makes a move for it to become a normal relationship instead of cheating REALLY got on my nerves. lisa is made to be so obviously antagonistic that it feels like a parody instead of the emotional coming of age book it's advertised as being. never have i rolled my eyes at a relationship so hard! in the end it was kind of cute that Aria's first love was just the beginning of so much else in her life, but when it came at the cost of glossing over all her other relationships- especially to her grandmother, who got about 1 meainingful conversation with her- it doesn't really raise the rating.
also this did not have nearly enough of kath and lily for a book advertised as a companion to Last Night at the Telegraph Club! they get one newspaper snippet and one photograph and that's it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Sexual content, Infidelity, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-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
5.0
CHECK CWs
this is a very difficult, very beautiful novel. i don't think i would've been able to make it through if i related any more to the characters (or was less able to numb myself to their pain). they are all such complicated, broken people and the fact that no one could protect Mungo had me in tears. even when he had to do what he did to protect himself, all i felt was sadness. i had to hold on really tight to the comfort of Mungo's relationships with James and with his sister <3
for all the darkness, my favourite part was the chance for us as readers to choose a happy ending in the implications of the very last scene. the world was and is and will be fill of terrible cultures and places and people, but we will find reasons to keep going.
my second favourite part was when Mungo kissed James and thought "maybe if lord of the flies had been more like this he would've paid more attention." same, bud, same
this is a very difficult, very beautiful novel. i don't think i would've been able to make it through if i related any more to the characters (or was less able to numb myself to their pain). they are all such complicated, broken people and the fact that no one could protect Mungo had me in tears. even when he had to do what he did to protect himself, all i felt was sadness. i had to hold on really tight to the comfort of Mungo's relationships with James and with his sister <3
for all the darkness, my favourite part was the chance for us as readers to choose a happy ending in the implications of the very last scene. the world was and is and will be fill of terrible cultures and places and people, but we will find reasons to keep going.
my second favourite part was when Mungo kissed James and thought "maybe if lord of the flies had been more like this he would've paid more attention." same, bud, same
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Animal death, Violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Death, Grief, Blood, Rape, Murder, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Vomit, Xenophobia, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Police brutality
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
Dev and Charlie were so adorable within just the first chapter that i was grinning like a fool for most of the novel. the angst made me want to scream, which was an unexpectedly visceral reaction for me and showed just how invested i had gotten in these characters. the audiobook narrators were notably so amazing! every voice crack and "oh, love" and even the correct pronunciation of Dev's name throughout hit me right in the heart.
overall i'm just so happy that their privilege was acknowledged (including by themselves) but their feelings were never treated like less because of this. choose happy endings, my friends!
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
such a charmingly sappy and also emotionally devastating novel!! it started out with the most lovely romantic comedy vibes and quickly built up into a heartbreakingly honest portrayal of mental illness. it's very clear that love won't solve all the hardships these characters are going through, but the characters (especially Dev and Charlie!) are able to lean on each other for support.
It doesn't need some catastrophic tragedy to turn the chemicals of his brain against him. Tiny tragedies are more than enough.
Dev and Charlie were so adorable within just the first chapter that i was grinning like a fool for most of the novel. the angst made me want to scream, which was an unexpectedly visceral reaction for me and showed just how invested i had gotten in these characters. the audiobook narrators were notably so amazing! every voice crack and "oh, love" and even the correct pronunciation of Dev's name throughout hit me right in the heart.
'Forever is never a guarantee. I don't know if I'm going to love them for the rest of my life, but I know right now, I can't imagine a future where I don't love them. And for me, that's enough.'
overall i'm just so happy that their privilege was acknowledged (including by themselves) but their feelings were never treated like less because of this. choose happy endings, my friends!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Biphobia, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
The Winners by Fredrik Backman
what can i say? even thinking about this book, weeks after reading it, has tears springing to my eyes. the long-winded prose is so honest and heartfelt, the characters and community so real, and each line break left me on the edge of my seat.
the beartown trilogy, the winners especially, is a tapestry of the best and worst of humanity. and even in those worsts, even when you feel the saddest, even when tears are in your eyes, the book still manages to give you hope.
i've read so many books but this is the first one to make me truly believe that we'll find peace after death. that one day, we'll see our loved ones again.
the most insane, beautiful, terribly true part of the ending that shattered my heart is that it doesn't break all the hopeful beginnings of something new that we get with each glimpse into the future. every scene and chapter is in its perfect place to let the reader know that even when things fracture, they won't shatter, and the world will still go on.
in less poetic terms- this book genuinely made me ugly cry for hours and everyone should definitely read it :') all i will ever want is to see amat and maya and benji happy
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-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
5.0
It's so easy for the wind to wreck our illusions that we're the ones making the decisions.
what can i say? even thinking about this book, weeks after reading it, has tears springing to my eyes. the long-winded prose is so honest and heartfelt, the characters and community so real, and each line break left me on the edge of my seat.
Then he sleeps and dreams about time machines. Those are his worst nightmares.
the beartown trilogy, the winners especially, is a tapestry of the best and worst of humanity. and even in those worsts, even when you feel the saddest, even when tears are in your eyes, the book still manages to give you hope.
i've read so many books but this is the first one to make me truly believe that we'll find peace after death. that one day, we'll see our loved ones again.
It's that sort of town, where everything can change and the people can be transformed. Where we find the strength to play even though our lungs are screaming. Possibly because we're used to withstanding the darkness, both inside and outside. Possibly because we live close to wilderness. But perhaps most of all because, just like everyone else in every other place: If we don't have tomorrow, what's the alternative?
the most insane, beautiful, terribly true part of the ending that shattered my heart is that it doesn't break all the hopeful beginnings of something new that we get with each glimpse into the future. every scene and chapter is in its perfect place to let the reader know that even when things fracture, they won't shatter, and the world will still go on.
'He's on the ice somewhere laughing now. He's playing hockey with his best friends. He's lying on his back looking at the stars. He isn't scared. In a hundred years you'll see him again, and tell him about all the things you've done. All about your fantastic life. All your adventures. He'll look forward to that.'
She lets someone play with the number 16 again. For one single game.
Alicia gets up from the bench in the locker room and leads her team out and storms the ice, and Zackell watches her and for for a single moment forgets that it isn't him.
in less poetic terms- this book genuinely made me ugly cry for hours and everyone should definitely read it :') all i will ever want is to see amat and maya and benji happy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Car accident, Grief, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Murder, and Bullying
Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry