apothecarum's reviews
57 reviews

What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

The pacing felt slow but the content was relatable as a first generation Asian-American. I also really enjoyed the story being set in LA's Koreatown during the 90s LA riots. Not my usual kind of book but otherwise, not too difficult of a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and War

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Kidnapping

Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia

informative reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Classism, and Deportation

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown

hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.5

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

emotional medium-paced

5.0

Pageboy by Elliot Page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Car accident, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria