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amyvl93's reviews
902 reviews
Wahala by Nikki May
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Happy Place by Emily Henry
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Mother's Boy by Patrick Gale
emotional
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, and War
Love Marriage by Monica Ali
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
A Flat Place by Noreen Masud
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Homophobia
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Racism
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't think I've read a book that has put me into such a state of anxiety than <i>Soldier Sailor</i> did for a long time. This is a bracing, honest and dark look at both the early months of motherhood, following Kilroy's unnamed narrator who is struggling to adapt to her new role as mother and homemaker, whilst her husband's life continues as normal, and her baby refuses to eat/sleep/insert other baby behaviour here.
For about 2/3s of the novel, Kilroy combines incredibly prescient writing with dark humour to paint a picture of motherhood which made me alarmed to see how many women have described this as relatable. I felt like I knew this woman so well that I wanted to punch her husband in the face, and was overjoyed when she found an ally in parenting who saw her for her rather than simply as a Mum. The final third, then, captures the joys of motherhood - the deep love that ties two people into having a baby, and peels back some of the moments we saw earlier in the novel described as times of immense pain, refreshed as being ultimately okay.
As someone who is decidedly unsure I want children, <i>Solider Sailor</i> definitely confirmed many of my anxieties about motherhood, but I am very grateful to Kilroy for capturing all of these complicated feelings so well within the pages of this novel.
For about 2/3s of the novel, Kilroy combines incredibly prescient writing with dark humour to paint a picture of motherhood which made me alarmed to see how many women have described this as relatable. I felt like I knew this woman so well that I wanted to punch her husband in the face, and was overjoyed when she found an ally in parenting who saw her for her rather than simply as a Mum. The final third, then, captures the joys of motherhood - the deep love that ties two people into having a baby, and peels back some of the moments we saw earlier in the novel described as times of immense pain, refreshed as being ultimately okay.
As someone who is decidedly unsure I want children, <i>Solider Sailor</i> definitely confirmed many of my anxieties about motherhood, but I am very grateful to Kilroy for capturing all of these complicated feelings so well within the pages of this novel.