celticthistle's reviews
93 reviews

The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

Story moves between characters, & time. Hard to keep up! Language is a problem 

The Family Retreat by Bev Thomas

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

Could have been soo much better. Too .any flawed characters with issues

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Medical content, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Eating disorder

Heatwave by Victor Jestin

dark lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

2.5

Solito by Javier Zamora

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Deportation, Gun violence, Confinement, Excrement, and Panic attacks/disorders

The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

dark emotional funny lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Glorious dark, disgusting yet funny at same time 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Grief

Sun Damage: Claustrophobic and Suspenseful, with an Engaging Narrator and a Satisfying Twist by Sabine Durrant

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Just fabulous . The way the wording flows, just like the singing & the river. Top notch 

All the Beautiful Girls: An uplifting story of freedom, love and identity by Elizabeth J. Church

dark emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Although a good read, I  felt author missed out certain bits, then wasted time expanding on other characters flaws.  Not needed 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Body shaming, Blood, Car accident, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Drug use

Moderate: Cancer and Classism

Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter

slow-paced

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

2.5

Hard work for chick lit !!