burnoutbooks's reviews
137 reviews

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

really gripping and odd - absolutely a dark character study of Christianity, family, and suffering 

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

atmospheric and philosophical 
inscrutable and mysterious
introspective bildungsroman 
conjures a delicate treatment of the allegory of the cave

The Mermaid of Black Conch: A Love Story by Monique Roffey

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

this was such a perfect romantic and fantastical novella - dark in atmosphere, engaging writing (phonetic Caribbean English requires a bit more focus) - sweet and tragic plot that kept pace and had a great side story

Paradais by Fernanda Melchor

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

excited about the premise but the pacing fell flat for me - the wait for the story's climax was long and didn't end up being particularly satisfying or conclusive.

i enjoyed that the narration focused on Polo, but found the confusion of the fluid timeline to detract from the story

Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

too slow for me, lots of character exposition that was redundant and didn't move the plot forward. the plot itself I felt has a lot more potential, but I was waiting most of the short book to arrive at its destination. 

Animals Eat Each Other by Elle Nash

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

engaging and finished in one sitting - firm grasp on shame and attention and its impacts on the sexual development of teenage girls and young women

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

The Employees by Olga Ravn

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.5

this book is a masterpiece of form and was so well written

a little slow at first as you get your bearings but then it picks up beautifully 

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

dark tense medium-paced

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

i get why people love this franchise so much - immersive plot masterfully executed

i am simultaneously proud to be sicilian and deterred by the vicious racism and misogyny

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Misogyny, and Murder

Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder

dark mysterious 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? No

4.0

disgusting, gripping, weird! perspectives from three intertwined women narrators of the end of the world

Catholicism, eldritch gods, body horror

Self Care by Leigh Stein

funny fast-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

4.5

this is so on-the-nose it’s incredible

my only qualm is that i wanted a little more character development to develop that final scene

maren needed to be fired and khadijah DESERVES that promotion, but i feel like we needed one more scene to build credibility in devin

leigh has such a firm grasp on coming of age online and it was such a fun read!!