gneumann's reviews
250 reviews

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicide

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

i loved this soooo much omfg

When I Was You by Amber Garza

mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

ngl i did not enjoy this as much as i wanted to :/ dramatic in all the wrong ways, neither main character was lovable (which can work, if done correctly), and good god i hate second person pov. my toxic trait is being unable to put down a book, even if it’s terrible, and so here i am. it wasn’t… Terrible. just. not good?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Kidnapping, Stalking, Confinement, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Violence and Grief

Minor: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Death of parent

a tw for chapter 30 - it opens with a fakeout death of an infant. the child does not die and is not hurt; it was in the narrator’s head. it is quite alarming for a second.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

loved this!! would read anything lisa unger wrote. this was slower for me, but i still really enjoyed it. 

i love how they moved to the hollows at the end. i wonder if they’re referenced in any of the books in the hollows series?

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.5

i wish the twist wasn’t revealed in the second person. i didn’t like the second person chapters. it took away from the impact.

 

this was fun! i’ve enjoyed sager’s other books more, though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Murder, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Forced institutionalization

The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

this was a really tough read. i should not have read this

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Confinement, Grief, Child abuse, Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, and Excrement

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

4.0

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

5.0

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

2.0