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crystalleighwrites's reviews
352 reviews
Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Car accident
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Medea by Eilish Quin
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Violence, Infidelity, and Gore
Minor: Pedophilia
Pedophilia - one character implies he prefers girl underaged.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.75
Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Drags a bit in some places but a wonderful and feminist update to a classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Pandemic = plague
Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotugno
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Neon Gods by Katee Robert
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Death of parent
Because of Her by Devon May
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Devon May's debut novel BECAUSE OF HER is a capably written debut from the Australian bookstagrammer turned writer. It follows the story of Cassidy and Callum, teenage friends who are reconnected after over a decade apart (and substantial life changes). While the spark returns between them quickly, they each have their own reasons to hesitate jumping back in so quickly.
Positives: May's writing gives clear pictures of the settings, backgrounds, and personalities of the characters. She handles the writing of Cassidy's lingering trauma around her struggles with fertility with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. It's quite unflinching and if you have experienced similar, I advise you to venture in carefully and with a self-care plan in place. The characters are charming, though some secondary characters could have been provided with a little more characterization. In particular, I really hope a novel featuring Cassidy's roommate Amira is in the plans for the future. The spicy scenes deliver, and while it's somewhat of a slow burn, just enough false starts are including to keep the reader from itching to get to the good stuff.
My main criticism of the book is that the complications that prevented Cassidy and Callum from coming together felt repetitive, which resulted in those sections of the book dragging some. I understood why, narratively, but it was frustrating as a reader.
You may like BECAUSE OF HER if you like:
- Carly Fortune, Colleen Hoover (but with less trauma)
- Dual first person POVs
- Second chance romance
- Friends to lovers
- Stories infused with real life problems and challenges
- Hunky single dads
- Forced-ish proximity
This review is of a pre-release ARC and may reference details that changed before publication. Thanks to Devon May for the ARC.
Positives: May's writing gives clear pictures of the settings, backgrounds, and personalities of the characters. She handles the writing of Cassidy's lingering trauma around her struggles with fertility with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. It's quite unflinching and if you have experienced similar, I advise you to venture in carefully and with a self-care plan in place. The characters are charming, though some secondary characters could have been provided with a little more characterization. In particular, I really hope a novel featuring Cassidy's roommate Amira is in the plans for the future. The spicy scenes deliver, and while it's somewhat of a slow burn, just enough false starts are including to keep the reader from itching to get to the good stuff.
My main criticism of the book is that the complications that prevented Cassidy and Callum from coming together felt repetitive, which resulted in those sections of the book dragging some. I understood why, narratively, but it was frustrating as a reader.
You may like BECAUSE OF HER if you like:
- Carly Fortune, Colleen Hoover (but with less trauma)
- Dual first person POVs
- Second chance romance
- Friends to lovers
- Stories infused with real life problems and challenges
- Hunky single dads
- Forced-ish proximity
This review is of a pre-release ARC and may reference details that changed before publication. Thanks to Devon May for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, Medical content, and Miscarriage
Implied miscarriages during discussion of infertility.