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figsx's reviews
299 reviews
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
5.0
I love thrillers & horror novels more and more every year. I was intrigued by this novel through many random reviews I read and decided to give it a read myself. This was such an easy read and I read it all while I was "working", gotta love the WFH situation on a slow day. It kept me on my toes, as I really went in with no expectations but the sole thought this was going to be a fun horror story. When I think of comedy horror, I think of Scary Movie 2 and this was nothing like it, but it was definitely something new. I loved the fact that Hendrix had my heart beating with what would come next, but wouldn't cause me to put the book down out of fear. In fact, it was the opposite, I couldn't put it down because I was so hungry for what was to come next. I have trouble picturing things at times when they're described, so a big thank you to Hendrix for the illustrations and explanations when he introduces items every chapter. I liked the story overall and I'm not even mad he left us on a semi-cliff hanger at the end. This kept my imagination going and I can see this being made into an awesome film in the right hands.
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
4.0
I read this right after reading Horrorstor, so I came in with expectations of a light horror novel, something that would keep me on my toes, but wouldn't cause me nightmares. That's not exactly what I received from the book, but I enjoyed the theme around friendship and hardships that come with all types of relationships. I honestly picked this novel up because of the cover of it and the dedication page, I mean come on, it was worth continuing the read. I didn't hate the read, overall I love Hendrix's writing because it's so easy to flow with it. I think this can be relatable to some extent to many YA readers who are experiencing shifts in their relationships with friends/family/partners who they may be growing apart from and all. I know the whole plot is based on someone being possessed, but there were some fair points made throughout the book. I did feel emotional and at times angry for Abby, as we all see she was shunned and easily used as a scapegoat for many of those around her. I don't know, I liked the read and definitely an easy one.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
5.0
TW's for the book: SA, Rape, Domestic Abuse
I picked up this book because so many people were raving about Colleen Hoover. I am not the biggest fan of romance books, but I read the reviews and decided to give it a chance because I was in need of change from thrillers. I am so glad I picked it up and read this, even staying up late doing so. Hoover is so amazing with her words, they are so easy to read and I didn't find myself having to go back and re-read because I was lost. I didn't know much about the book besides the fact that the main character may be involved in some type of love triangle. Once you start to understand what the book entails, it becomes hard to have to put the book down. You want to know what comes next, who does what, and you become angry and upset and, if you're like me, you tear up a bit. You even start to scream at Lily because she seems so naive, even though we all know she should know better. The book is just amazing overall because it's so raw, I think many authors will lightly brush on topics of SA and domestic abuse, but Hoover does the opposite. Having been that "The Way I Used to Be" is one of my favorite novels, "It Ends With Us" was just as amazing.
I picked up this book because so many people were raving about Colleen Hoover. I am not the biggest fan of romance books, but I read the reviews and decided to give it a chance because I was in need of change from thrillers. I am so glad I picked it up and read this, even staying up late doing so. Hoover is so amazing with her words, they are so easy to read and I didn't find myself having to go back and re-read because I was lost. I didn't know much about the book besides the fact that the main character may be involved in some type of love triangle. Once you start to understand what the book entails, it becomes hard to have to put the book down. You want to know what comes next, who does what, and you become angry and upset and, if you're like me, you tear up a bit. You even start to scream at Lily because she seems so naive, even though we all know she should know better. The book is just amazing overall because it's so raw, I think many authors will lightly brush on topics of SA and domestic abuse, but Hoover does the opposite. Having been that "The Way I Used to Be" is one of my favorite novels, "It Ends With Us" was just as amazing.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
5.0
Give me anything WLW and I will automatically give it 5 stars. LOL, but in all honesty, this book deserves all 5. I knew it was a WLW book when I bought it, that's actually the main reason I did, but that was all I knew. Warning this might have some spoilers so please don't continue if you get angry at them. When I started to read it, I had the idea that the main character knew she was a lesbian, but as you continue it becomes obvious that she has no idea that she is. I think that's what made me love this novel even more, it hit home for me, having just came out after realizing that I just didn't adore woman, I wanted to be with them. Lili's realization to this part of her sexuality is built up and all you want to do is scream at Lili to make a move on Kath quicker!! The tension is built up perfectly, IMO, as this novel is placed during a time when people were "taught" that anything queer was shunned and not "normal". My heart ached for Lili and Kath who were obviously in environments filled with misogony, homophobia and racism. I hated how we were snatched from a loving ending, but it's the most authentic ending for Lili, who obviously still cared a lot for her family and the way she was presented to society. I hope that in some universe out there, Lili got her happy ending with Kath.
That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger
3.0
I understand why this might be many YA reader's top books, but it just didn't feel as great for me. I enjoyed the novel, nonetheless, as there were many important topics spoken about. It's rare that novel will hit on such a controversial topic of school shootings along with the topic of sexuality. I actually picked this novel up because it was under the LGBTQIA+ section and was surprised when I started to read the book and was hit with the topic of a school shooting. I won't continue with my review, I highly doubt I am the audience this novel targeted, however I will continue with topics my 12 y/o niece found interesting and kept going back to re-read pages of. My niece has been exposed to many topics centered around the book, we do live in times where school shootings became a topic of conversation. She was intrigued at the fact that it was even written about in a book and I think she hasn't read many novels that are considered tragic. She ended up liking it because she stated that such grave topics aren't easy to be spoken about because they cause a lot of controversial debates or are easily shut down by adults who don't know how to handle such a conversation. But I think this novel made such a conversation easier to start and going around the theme and questions of the book was easier than bringing the topic up over dinner. She also asked a lot of questions about the main characters sexuality and what it meant to be asexual. Having such conversations with her was relieving because her parents want her to be someone who doesn't judge anyone based on their sexuality. Again, the topic and theme of the book made this conversation easier and flowable.
Parachutes by Kelly Yang
5.0
I went onto Google and entered "Books like 'The Way I Used to Be'" and "Parachutes" was one of the books recommended. Now, I searched that exact phrase because the year before I had read "The Way I Used to Be" and was so moved and heartbroken by the book that I wanted to have similar feelings again. This novel wasn't as heart breaking, but it definitely made an impact. Rarely do we see such topics of SA and Rape spoken about and touched by people because they can be graphic and harsh. But I am glad when they are because they give people perspectives that they are never told about or even considered. The book was raw-ish in the fact that it touched upon the factors of money and powerful rich families paying their way to silence the victims and even the faculty that somehow are made judges of a case that should not be theirs to judge. I love the courageous ending where everyone walks with the victim to the police station and helps encourage the report and gives the picture of sisterhood and love.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5.0
I started this novel after I was in a reading jam and could not pick up a book to save my life. Idk what it was about the first couple pages of the novel, but I was HOOKED. I had no idea what the book entailed, other than the fact that Ms. Hugo had seven husbands. I liked the idea that this was written in a story-telling way from a different POV and included Monica's life and we were dealing with more than one person. As we went along with Evelyn's life story I became more and more intrigued and then I became upset and angry. I rooted along for Evelyn and Celia to just be together and forget about all the norms of society and just run away. But, the build up to their relationship and the downfalls were just impeccable. I fell in love along with Evelyn and then torn apart by the losses she experienced. I was so caught up in her story that I didn't question why she had chosen Monique as the person she had decided to tell her life story to, but then when the plot twist hits you, it hits you hard and where it hurts the most. The ending, in some sense, felt like poetic justice, but you have no choice but to mourn the losses as well as the hurt that Monique feels when she's told the truth.