charlesalexander's reviews
79 reviews

Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

enjoyed this freaky little book ❤️

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

dark medium-paced

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

4.0

neurodivergent representation 😍 
this wasn’t an enjoyable book but it’s not supposed to be. really makes you think 🤔

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

good book!!! hey I enjoyed it. I LOVE horror where people get trapped and lose their sanity like The White Vault or The Descent. (I suck at Alien: Isolation). I enjoyed there being so many frightening possibilities for what was really happening. and there were mommy issues, reflections on grief, all the fun stuff. 
another sad lesbian book BUT it was well-written and I liked it so idc. ❤️

The Grip of It by Jac Jemc

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

1.75

so…nothing really happens. Jemc absolutely knows how to use a thesaurus though. very vague (while at the same time excessively wordy) and unreadable. a whole lot of nothing. probably won’t read another “haunted house” book for a couple months because they’re always so boring. 🥱

What is Not Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi

adventurous challenging mysterious tense slow-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

4.75

this book gave me goosebumps!!! I’ve never read anything like it. it was this nightmarish fever dream that I couldn’t stop reading. there was something sinister about it all. It was great :)
I tried explaining it to my friend but I ended up getting hysterical.
there ARE a lot of names to remember.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

this was a funky book! I had fun :) the audiobook narration is crazy good. found family ftw!!! grouchy protagonist having to raise kids they feel woefully unprepared for is an unmatched trope 👌

The Seep by Chana Porter

reflective fast-paced

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

2.0

an abstract reflective nothing book. vague sci-fi books aren’t poetic, just dull. it’s the one genre where I expect major over-explaining. reminded me of death valley by Melissa Broder with no oversharing (I love you Melissa Broder). scratches the surface level on modern-day topics—think Barbie movie (love you Margot Robbie) or Kamala Harris. 
Porter backs off anytime there’s an interesting concept. girl you’re the author!!
worldbuilding—yeah not really? I guess it’s America on crack. 
character development—eh. nobody I gave an eff about. maybe we’re not supposed to care about the characters, like American Gods where we just follow Trina as she mopes and talks to people? 
I wish she scrolled on her phone more. 

I like the book cover, it’s pretty 🌸 

I did finish this book in one day and felt good about myself 👍

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Alcohol

Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots by Jessica Soffer

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.75

wow. teared up many times reading this. I’m a sucker for found family ❤️

Come Closer by Sara Gran

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.25

nama was kind of slay 😍 men truly deserve nothing so she wasn’t really a villain to me…creepy book 👍

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Death at the Chateau Bremont by M.L. Longworth

lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

I liked this just for the setting, didn’t really care about the mystery. like yes France tell me about eating a baguette and cheese!!! it made me feel cultured to read this 😌🇫🇷