ericgarika's reviews
8 reviews

The Boring Book by Shinsuke Yoshitake

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

This book single-handedly cured my depression and I will be nominating her for a Pulitzer Prize as soon as I can rig the system to also make her win‼️‼️‼️

This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I loved every single page until the last one…like miss mamas BFFR how could you end it like that…rent was due and the eviction notice was stamped and that’s why  you slayed so much but didn’t have enough time to make a boots the house down ending ): 

Woom by Duncan Ralston

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

It’s really hard to review this book because I feel as thought the storylines are largely based on female experiences (which are written by a cis white man). I will say the book does a good job of creating plot twists and tying the stories together. I would not recommend this book to those that do not read about the trigger warning or to those unprepared for a story of extreme horror and pain.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Rape, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Ableism, Abortion, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Please take this as a warning that all of the warning listed are most definitely taken to the extreme.

Unfuck Your Cunnilingus: How to Give and Receive Tongue-Twisting Oral Sex by Faith G. Harper

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Listen I love anyone who tries to spread the knowledge of safe sex and sexual health!! I loved everything about the book and would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn a little more about eating pu$$y. 

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

The way I couldn’t put this down and it wasn’t just because I was stuck on a 9hr layover and 3hr delayed flight <3 I would recommend this book to anyone whose trying horror for the first time since the setting of the book makes it so unserious at times 😭

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

challenging dark funny mysterious slow-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

4.5

I really believed this was like if The Last of Us was set in 1880’s. Though I felt the book was slow paced, it was in all the best ways!! I couldn’t guess what was going on and I loved it. It made me want to binge read the entire thing (which is very possible), but I paced myself and found the last couple chapters finally satiated my wonder. 

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

A sweet love story that transcends time, giving new meaning to the word twin flame. I didn’t know what to expect before and while reading the book which kept it very interesting. I loved the ending and mainly because I didn’t expect it. The changing perspectives makes the book a little challenging to read at times, but definitely gave more content and perspective in the characters.

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

adventurous dark emotional 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

A beautiful piece of literature that blends the Trans-perspective, neurodivergence, and religious trauma in a post-Armageddon society ruled by Evangelicals. I definitely did not see the plot twists, at moments had my eyes glued to the pages, and really loved how the imagery placed me in this new world. The shifting perspectives towards the end was confusing but definitely necessary for the plot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Vomit, Genocide, Murder, Violence, and Religious bigotry

The book definitely has many triggering aspects but does a good job at keeping them to mínimum, while also presenting them purely for plot rather than shock.