doogsley's reviews
142 reviews

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

2.25

i mean... it's not good? but any book that advertises itself as 'tiktok made me buy it' ... well. 'don't open, dead dove inside' type beat. but i was craving empty calories, in which i am satisfied.

i didn't *totally* hate it. it was ok at times, i guess. it's just that the core of the story (the romance) was mostly unconvincing and very straight and cursed, cursed insta-love. i'm tired of reading about normies who choke on their coffee whenever something slightly amusing happens (see: not actually That Funny irl). i'll never think about these people or this town ever again, especially when gilmore girls exists and is better in every way.

the two main pros i can think of: cute gay couples every now n again (but we Know they will not be getting their own book) and the declaration of love scene was very cute lol.

The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami

Go to review page

funny reflective relaxing tense slow-paced

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

3.5

The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home by Catherynne M. Valente

Go to review page

adventurous challenging funny inspiring 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

4.75

quick quick thoughts upon finishing fairyland (i'll expand upon these Another Time):

✦ i personally adore the ending (it's giving howl's moving castle) but i can totally see how some people would feel "meh" about it. idk it just makes sense.

✦ blunderbuss the combat wombat is SUCH a good addition to the cast, and i'm sad we only got two books with her.

✦ i'm so sad that september's big adventure is over... sniffle... it feels like a gift made for my soul. such a twee, whimsical, honest, harrowing, and auspicious tale. ahjkdhjka i love it so much. ;_; 💖

The Boy Who Lost Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente

Go to review page

adventurous funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

i love you, fairyland 🥲 this story was made for me and my brain and my soul and my pinky fingers. in a story full of changelings and combat wombats made of yarn and autumnal feasts and dangerous baseballs and forests that rhyme and mischievous winds, i feel like i’ve come back home.

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

North Woods by Daniel Mason

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

soft dnf - just not in the mood for historical fiction atm. i'll be back someday! 🍎

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced