c_ab_bage's reviews
279 reviews

Mercy by Ian Haramaki

fast-paced

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

3.0

was perhaps the most boring direction to take such a fun concept but that’s okay! it was definitely a very self-indulgent book and i can appreciate that for what it is. i do not use this as an insult, but if you enjoy cheesy fanfiction you will probably enjoy this book! 

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

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

Babel by R.F. Kuang

adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

the most 5 star read i have ever read. as a layman to translation i found the entire thing fascinating and incredibly clever.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

4.5

RAHHHHHH COMMUNITY WILL ONLY TAKE YOU SO FAR, SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO PICK UP THAT GUN ‼️‼️ 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Gore, Sexism, Torture, Vomit, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

slow-paced

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

3.75

a super solid book with characters you could easily connect with. i just found the relationships between the main cast to be rather underwhelming and lacking compared to how deep and rich the characters themselves were. the most interesting and developed dynamic in the book was between daniel and his father, not between any of the main cast. aside from that one complaint though, i found this to be a shockingly realistic and emotional heist book while still containing the classic heist elements. 

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

this is not a detriment, but just as a warning, this book is not a straightforward romance!! there’s a lot more personal growth and plot coming from the characters’ families that i would say is more than usual for a traditional romance book. i’m not complaining, however, because i found it paired wonderfully with the story being told.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent

Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

emily austin has such a talent for writing extremely relatable main characters (i might be biased as an autistic lesbian, but still). they always feel like real people and living inside their brains is a refreshing look at a very raw human being. enid is no exception to this and she’s simultaneously the most interesting and the most average character. i could read an entire book just going through menial days in her mind, but i also entirely believe id pass her walking down the street. the very little plot the book has is secondary to the absolute joy it is to read enid’s wacky and frequently concerning stream of consciousness.  i’m going to miss her but i’m also so so proud of her growth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Outing

Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

The Selection by Kiera Cass

5.0

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

5.0

The Wicked King by Holly Black

5.0