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frozel's reviews
349 reviews
Never Say Goodbye by Felice Stevens
slow-paced
2.0
This "love story" wasn't really believable to me. I'm so over the insta-love trope. I never want to read a story with one again.
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
I do not like Olivie's writing. Like, not at all.
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
reflective
sad
Not Rated.
I remember loving this story when I first read it, but with time and fresh eyes, my take on it with this second read has been more muted. I'm uncertain of how much this response was due to the reading slump I've been in for the last 1 ½ months or the book's content itself. Since this is the case, I've decided to leave this second read, unrated.
I remember loving this story when I first read it, but with time and fresh eyes, my take on it with this second read has been more muted. I'm uncertain of how much this response was due to the reading slump I've been in for the last 1 ½ months or the book's content itself. Since this is the case, I've decided to leave this second read, unrated.
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
dark
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
This was good, interesting even, until it wasn't. I didn't care for Marcos' [MC] character development.
I will say that even though the ending didn't cross my mind while reading, it still wasn't all that surprising [especially with how Marcos develops].
This has been on my TBR for a few years now, so it's sad to say that it didn't meet my expectations.
I will say that even though the ending didn't cross my mind while reading, it still wasn't all that surprising [especially with how Marcos develops].
This has been on my TBR for a few years now, so it's sad to say that it didn't meet my expectations.
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Leila Mottleyâs Nightcrawling follows Kiara, who is orphaned and burdened with the responsibility of caring for her older brother Marcus and their neighbor's child, Trevor. With their rent more than doubled, Kiara desperately seeks work while Marcus clings to his rap dreams. Faced with limited options, Kiara begins nightcrawling, a decision thatâll eventually thrusts her into the dangerous world of sex trafficking.
Mottley masterfully explores two crucial themes: the forced maturity of Black women in a neglectful society and the one-sided dynamics often present in relationships between Black women and men. Kiara is robbed of her childhood, becoming a surrogate parent to Marcus. The weight of supporting everyone falls solely on her shoulders, while Marcus remains emotionally and physically unavailable. Nightcrawling isn't a choice for Kiara; it's a desperate act of survival for herself, Marcus, and especially, Trevor. While Marcus shirks his responsibilities, burying his head in the sand, Kiara bravely confronts their problems head-on.
A seemingly simple solution quickly spirals into darkness as Kiara becomes entangled in a sex trafficking ring. Whatâs even worse is a criminal investigation opens after a connected individualâs suicide and his mention of Kiaraâs alias. Her world spirals into turmoil as she struggles to handle the investigation and soon trial, her relationship with loved ones, taking care of Trevor, and most significantly, surviving. As you can imagine from the almighty U.S. justice system, it fails to deliver true justice for Kiara in the end.
While the story reflects a bleak reality, I do wish that Kiaraâs story couldâve ended with some sort of resolution. Any hope for a more just future wouldâve been welcomed, but again, I understand that this isnât how it is in reality.
Nightcrawling is a powerful and unwavering portrayal of a Black womanâs fight for survival in a world set against her. Itâs a story of resilience in the face of corruption, hardship, disappointment and trauma. This thought-provoking read sheds light on the struggles faced by many, urging us to confront these realities and advocate for change.
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was cute, but I have a one main gripe, Nick and Charlieâs codependency. Itâs such a huge part of their storyline, one could argue itâs a third member in their relationship. I get it that this is part of their character and relationship development, but it still rubs me the wrong way. I will say that codependency is something Iâm not much of a fan of in general. I acknowledge that theyâre still so young and albeit slowly, Nick and Charlie continue to grow together in this volume.
The surrounding cast of characters were a pleasure to observe once again. I would love to get more about Elle and Tao, even if it was just a novella. Iâm really going to miss the âParis Squadâ as this is the Ill-fated penultimate volume in the series. I donât know what I will do when volume six comes, but one thing I do know, is that I will still love Nick and Charlie.
The surrounding cast of characters were a pleasure to observe once again. I would love to get more about Elle and Tao, even if it was just a novella. Iâm really going to miss the âParis Squadâ as this is the Ill-fated penultimate volume in the series. I donât know what I will do when volume six comes, but one thing I do know, is that I will still love Nick and Charlie.
Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
4.0
I still love this story a lot but it's getting a 4 this time around. I'm not sure if it's because of the reading block I've been in or what. ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ