elizalk's reviews
53 reviews

Bluebeard's Castle by Anna Biller

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

3.0

Anna Biller's style is so distinct, I didn't love it at first, but picturing it in my mind in the same style as her movie the love witch helped the book grow on me. desperately sad and accurate depiction of the justifications many women make to stay with (evil) men. the story felt like promising young women if it were written better, still left me a bit unsatisfied

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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

endearing and sentimental love letter to the books that made childhood. cried a few times, loved every second of it. the romance felt a bit ham fisted at times but made me giggle and kick my feet at others. christopher and lucy's relationship is really what made this book special

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

this is the fastest i've read a book in a long time. delightful, heartwarming, lovely book that merges the magical and mundane in perhaps one of the best ways i've read lately

A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca F. Kenney

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

i am a Louisa Hater first and foremost!!! clara and fin almost made up for it though  

Bunny by Mona Awad

challenging dark funny 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

3.0

Very fun read, I think the end went off the rails. A more rewarding, thoughtful ending would've not involved a swan in my opinion. I love when women have hobbies though!

Milkman by Anna Burns
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

Incredible writing, i need more plot though, very little reward for the amount of thinking and reading i had to do

Poor Things by Alasdair Gray

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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 love horny women and men who are down astronomically bad!! and set in victorian era?? absolutely devoured 

The Pharmacist by Rachelle Atalla

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

incredibly well written, just lacking in any emotional insight so it was difficult to connect with any of the characters. no interpersonal communication with any depth. fascinating premise though

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.25

i was SO STRESSED!! ayoola stop stabbing people challenge!!

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

Vengeful Mushroom God is going to haunt me for years. God bless Noemi!!!