cielthedeal's reviews
52 reviews

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Sally Rooneys books tend to have no character development, a romanticize depression like its their 2nd full time job.. but i did enjoy this book more than the rest just because of how it dug deeply not only into the romantic relationships, but in the friendship of the two women as well. 

Luster by Raven Leilani

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

The summary of the book is not at all like the actual plot - which in a way I really love. It turns from this seemingly tantalizing hook up story to a 3-gen female story about complex relationships, adoption, and trust. 

Book gets a really low rating from me because while the writing is literary and accessible, and the plot can get interesting, the character herself is hard to get behind because i feel like theres a extra shell that I couldnt seem to permeate. She came off quite cold.  I was a little lost at times. And some sex scenes I feel like were put in just for the shock effect and didnt add much. 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

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? No

3.5

Crazy plot twist at the end. But thats really the strongest part of the book. Otherwise, I find the characters, the writing, and the entire life the character lives to be somewhat surface level and hard to get invested in. 

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

emotional funny hopeful 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

3.5

The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Lust & Wonder by Augusten Burroughs

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

While the prose took me awhile to lean into, i picked it up and enjoyed the flow. 
The story itself is about a sad man who,

like the story he writes,

is not someone to feel sad about. Very hard for me to get behind the protagonist and the plot. 

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

adventurous funny reflective medium-paced

4.0

At first, I really, really disliked Dolly. And she really grew on me. 

This Is Pleasure by Mary Gaitskill

dark reflective tense 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

2.0

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5