editorbrenna's reviews
1106 reviews

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

dark emotional funny hopeful informative sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

The Bound Worlds by Megan E. O'Keefe

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

This Has Always Been a War: The Radicalization of a Working Class Queer by Lori Fox

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-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

I don't usually read literary fiction, but I will read anything by Emily Austin!

We could Be Rats is a character-driven story about childhood, growing up, imagination, and siblinghood. I don’t want to say too much about what actually happens, but the book delves into the lives and relationships of Sigrid and Margit, two now-adult sisters.

As always with Emily Austin, the narrative has a dark, wry sense of humor that had me snorting at times. While Austin addresses a lot of tough topics in this book—drug abuse, suicide, homophobia, sexual assault, and domestic violence to name a few—I never felt totally hopeless, and the book ends on an ultimately hopeful note. The story has a balance of lightheartedness and depression that really resonated with me.

In conclusion, Austin remains a must-read author!

Death's Country by R.M. Romero

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann

adventurous informative medium-paced

5.0

Solitaire by Alice Oseman

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Merry and Bright by Jenn Collignon

funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

4.0