carrielucas's reviews
240 reviews

Pine by Francine Toon

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

YES! This was good. The right amount of horror, for my taste. 

More Than Words by Jill Santopolo

hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

Yeah! I mean, nice. Simple. Easy. Well-suited for a beach day. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Honestly it was just way too sad for me. Also had, like, every trigger in the book. Is this the new A Little Life?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent

Minor: Drug abuse, Infidelity

The Power by Naomi Alderman

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

2.5

I have no strong feelings about this. An interesting genre, which I will continue to explore. But the writing was truly “meh”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Rape, Medical trauma, Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

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

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

1.0

I literally hated everything about this lol. 

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

This did not do it for me! I’m so disappointed :(

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder

Minor: Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Medical content

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh lord

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.0

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

hopeful lighthearted fast-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

2.75