carolynbruce's reviews
22 reviews

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, and Murder

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

dark funny hopeful 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

4.75

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Gaslighting

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

challenging mysterious tense 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

4.0

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I find the trope of “it was the narrator all along!” a bit unsatisfying in mysteries. I didn’t feel like it was even a little bit hinted at beforehand (unless I missed some very subtle cues). I find it a bit of a cheap trick in mysteries, like the author doesn’t trust themselves to fool the reader without just outright lying to them. I was also really taken out of the story when the narration abruptly changed after the reader reads Alicia’s final diary entry.  Theo just straight up admits everything to the reader and drops all pretense, but his character hasn’t yet learned that he’s been exposed, so his change in tone comes out of nowhere narratively. I found it jarring as a reader, which is a shame, since I had been fully engrossed in the story beforehand!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Stalking

Moderate: Self harm and Murder

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

dark funny tense fast-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Violence and Blood

Minor: Sexual assault and Medical content

It’s implied that, as part of a business deal, a father has promised that his 14 year old daughter will provide sexual favors to another adult man. The girl’s aunt encourages her to comply. The girl’s sister prevents the assault from happening, and the father dies soon after.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, and Racism

Moderate: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Dementia, and Death of parent

Minor: Transphobia and Medical content

The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Grief

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, and Police brutality