crispynugget's reviews
37 reviews

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

5.0

Love and I will never not love. Rose is my favorite character period. Next question.

Firebird by Sunmi

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Looking for a cozy read w a few more stakes than legends and lattes (romance not included)? But it’s in space, and it’s sci-fi, and it’s from the perspective of a robot. Psalm for the wild built meets legends and lattes maybe? I’m not sure, but it’s along those lines to me w some murders mixed in.

Loved the first book. I’m planning on using the rest of the series to get me out of my quarterly reading slumps.

Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata

challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Sayaka keeps getting weirder and I’m here for it. If you’re looking for a book that will sit w you, but not in a gentle way, more like it’s sitting in a dark corner of the room staring at you in an unblinking way, and you’ll love it and think of it fondly, maybe even reread it to keep it there. That’s this book.

Thank you specifically to the person that granted me access to the digital arc. I picked this up and finished it within 24 hours of downloading it - this may be normal for some, but not me. I can’t wait for what she’s got next, although, I do need some time to digest this one.

Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Thank you to my local library for recommending this book and thank you to Fundie Fridays for helping me understand why this book and perspective and very important. Read this book if you want to take a look into Christian fundamentalism through the lens of a young girl raised in the middle of bill gothard and the “institute” (which is all real btw!!!)

The Baby Dragon Café by A.T. Qureshi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

Let me make it clear that I am not trying to discourage anyone from picking up this book - it just was not for me. My hopes were very high as I went in here hoping for Legends & Lattes or the Spellshop vibes, but that’s not what I got. I do not expect that level all of the time, but I personally do not enjoy romance books that happen to have a fantasy setting. That’s just not my yum. This book was giving more Pumpkin Spice Cafe but make it fantasy. Plz note that I also DNFed PSC but within the first chapter. Like I said, just not my yum. Additionally, I feel that this book could go through some major editing for flow.

Genuinely, I do not want to discourage anyone from picking this book up. It’s definitely cozy, baby dragons is a very cute concept, and the romance seems like it will be a large part of this book. If those are things that you love give this book a try!

A Song For You And I by K. O'Neill

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

O’Neill is at it again. A Song For You and I will always have a special place on my shelf. I am already planning on gifting this to book to numerous loved ones in my life. This time, we explore gender identity and pursuing your interests and being yourself even when you are scared or worried about what others may think. Another gentle & cozy read which is always appreciated in my book. 

Thank you so much RH Graphics for the ARC.

Eurotrash by Christian Kracht
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.

I had hope for this book solely based on the title. You can see the results 

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

The only thing I’m mad about is that I was too tired to finish this book in one sitting. When I wasn’t reading this I was thinking about reading it. How can she keep creating characters that sound so similar, but are so compelling it doesn’t matter?

As stated above, our character perspectives feel identical to their predecessors, and I could not have been happier. I always feel seen by the neurospicy narrators. Although, Emily does introduce us to a new character voice and darker themes.  for the third time in a row, I related to this book on a scary level. Please get out of my head Emily Austin. The older sisters arc is one I am deeply familiar with, but both sisters keep me up past my bedtime. I was left frustrated on back to back nights when I was too tired to continue. I was at social events and with family thinking I’d rather be reading this. I laughed, cried, and quoted countless passages from the novel to my partner. I am so, so grateful to have gotten my hands on an arc. 

Please read the content warnings if you are interested in picking this up. Your mental health and well being come first (and she’s got two other phenomenal books you could take a look at too!) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Car accident

Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.

Once again sci-fi has looked me in the eyes and said “girly, we’re not meant to be why don’t you understand that?” And this time I listened. I’ll forget again in a few months and the cycle will continue.