booksweread's reviews
406 reviews

The Honeyeater by Jessie Tu

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

This is the kind of ‘sad girl novel’ I can enjoy.
I love Jessie’s writing and prose and the way she explores the different relationship dynamics. Mother and daughter. Mentor and mentee. Married cheater and mistress.
Jessie weaves themes of identity, belonging and power in relationships, seamlessly with interesting, flawed characters whose emotions simmer underneath the surface.
I loved chatting to Jessie about the ending of the book and I thought it was the perfect length for this type of story.
Suffice to say, I’ll read anything Jessie writes.

Enlightenment by Sarah Perry

emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

People From My Neighbourhood by Hiromi Kawakami

adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Being my first book from this author, I didn’t really know what to expect. From what I know about Silvia I was expecting great writing from someone who writes across genres. I was not disappointed. A slow burn horror about the occult power of old school film.

A much loved trope in a Mexican setting gives this horror new life.
With well drawn out characters with their own slow burn relationship being a big part of the story. The magic system was complex and a little hard to follow, but when it hits, it’s all out action.

In Bloom by Paul Tremblay

3.0

The Mires by Tina Makereti

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Gentle but powerful storytelling... just like the swamps, rivers and water inlets waiting to runneth over and cleanse the land.

Gosh I love a book right in the midst of my confort zone, and I never want to leave. The Mires is that for me. At its heart it’s a story of identity, family and belonging, laced with social commentary on racism, xenophobia, extremism, social welfare and climate change.

It’s written so well, fiercely beautiful and unapologetic.

Relatable, flawed characters, all struggung with real issues with Wai becoming one of my most favourite angsty teen characters ever, and I loved her connection to water encompassing both strength and gentleness The Swamp POV chapters was a masterful addition. An abundance of Maori language and culture which brought such richness to the story and writing, even if I didn't completely understand it all. I don't need to.

Please read this book.

And please read more Indigenous stories.

Song of the Crocodile by Nardi Simpson

5.0

The Sandman: Act III by Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Inheritance by Nora Roberts

2.0

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

2.0