baponthecob's reviews
61 reviews

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen

emotional hopeful medium-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

2.5

maybe the editor was the friends we made along the way

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

hopeful fast-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? Yes

4.0

So cute and the pacing was actually good until the last ~10 pages. The ending was WAY too rushed and not satisfying.

Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

fatphobia, not a fan of the writing style

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.5

Story was lovely, but the pacing was awful. It was all over the place and everything could have used more development. The writing style was too simplistic and repetitive; it's middle grade, but I expected more whimsical and beautiful prose.

This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

LOVED the themes of family/friendship, freedom, and self discovery. A little in-your-face due to the writing style; I would've preferred a more reflective, cathartic experience, but it was still done beautifully!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and War

The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares

mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

Narrator is racist towards the girl he is parasocially in love with. Other than that, the themes/plot give food for thought. Honestly wasn't sure if all that was legit or if bro was hallucinating from illness.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Biphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Classism

I'm speechless.

Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

The Châtelet Apprentice: Nicolas Le Floch Investigation #1 by Jean-François Parot, Michael Glencross

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0