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gxcons's reviews
256 reviews
Out of Love by Hazel Hayes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Everything I Know about Love: A Memoir by Dolly Alderton
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Fruit of the Dead by Rachel Lyon
dark
sad
tense
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
Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is the second book I've read by Carola Lovering, and I think I can say at this point she knows how to write not-so-sympathetic characters within a compelling story. Bye, Baby is a story of a friendship between two women, Billie and Cassie, who have known each other since middle school. In a moment of desperation, a boiling point of frustrations, Billie kidnaps Cassie's baby for appx. 5 hours. It's kind of funny how Billie is the preferable character, especially in the duo-POV format; Cassie is shallow, self-centered, and elitist, traits which only get worse with age/in the present day. I think Lovering does a good job of laying out this codependent relationship, though, like why Billie would persist in maintaining a friendship with Cassie, a toxic allegiance that can overrun all reason.
An absorbing read about female friendships and coming to terms with the fact that there are some relationships we outgrow and have to let go of. Would not recommend if you're looking for a mystery or thriller. And mind your trigger warnings!
An absorbing read about female friendships and coming to terms with the fact that there are some relationships we outgrow and have to let go of. Would not recommend if you're looking for a mystery or thriller. And mind your trigger warnings!
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Used this book as a palate cleanser after a string of romance-centered litfic, and it sure did the job. The book is MC Dorothy's beginnings of a memoir, a tell-all of her crimes after being sentenced to life in prison for murder. Dorothy is an NYC food critic who came to prominence in that industry's big print boom in the 90s. She's also a psychopathic cannibal.
A Certain Hunger takes on a lot of topics: bucking societal norms as a successful, independent woman; the food criticism industry from the 90s to present day; female psychopathy and serial killers. At times, Dorothy's voice felt overdone, especially since this is told in the first person, like "I'm a woman and I love sex and this is how I present as a psychopath and I am society's worst nightmare." A little edgy for edgy's sake, you know? But I found other components of the writing made up for it, the absolute sensuality to describe the places Dorothy's visited and the food she's eaten; being a food critic is, after all, an unshakeable part of her identity.
If you're not put off by cannibalism in general and graphic descriptions having to do with, should be a fun read. A bit reminiscent of NBC's Hannibal in how that titular character has a very particular appreciation for well-made food.
A Certain Hunger takes on a lot of topics: bucking societal norms as a successful, independent woman; the food criticism industry from the 90s to present day; female psychopathy and serial killers. At times, Dorothy's voice felt overdone, especially since this is told in the first person, like "I'm a woman and I love sex and this is how I present as a psychopath and I am society's worst nightmare." A little edgy for edgy's sake, you know? But I found other components of the writing made up for it, the absolute sensuality to describe the places Dorothy's visited and the food she's eaten; being a food critic is, after all, an unshakeable part of her identity.
If you're not put off by cannibalism in general and graphic descriptions having to do with, should be a fun read. A bit reminiscent of NBC's Hannibal in how that titular character has a very particular appreciation for well-made food.
Green Dot by Madeleine Gray
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
A brief possibly autobiographical account of a passionate love affair with a married man.
There are very few details here, on the initial encounter and subsequent meetings or on the man himself. The purpose of the writing is to recount the various feelings the author/narrator felt during this obsession, and I do think obsession is the most accurate word here. The detached way in which the whole thing is written was a fun contrast given the subject matter but also made it hard to connect at times, especially given the lack of other information. The best part for me was the musing on the purpose of this piece and how the process of writing plays into memory and keeping the past in motion.
I thought the translation was well done; there was no point where I thought the wording was clunky or intent was unclear.
While this does bring up interesting topics such as unbalanced relationships, obsession, escape, memory, the purpose of writing, and how an audience interacts with your writing, I don't know that the book really made an impression on me. I would recommend for someone who wants to start reading more from this author (my interest was piqued) or is familiar with or currently in the throes of such an obsessive, possibly one-sided relationship.
3.75 stars rounded up
There are very few details here, on the initial encounter and subsequent meetings or on the man himself. The purpose of the writing is to recount the various feelings the author/narrator felt during this obsession, and I do think obsession is the most accurate word here. The detached way in which the whole thing is written was a fun contrast given the subject matter but also made it hard to connect at times, especially given the lack of other information. The best part for me was the musing on the purpose of this piece and how the process of writing plays into memory and keeping the past in motion.
I thought the translation was well done; there was no point where I thought the wording was clunky or intent was unclear.
While this does bring up interesting topics such as unbalanced relationships, obsession, escape, memory, the purpose of writing, and how an audience interacts with your writing, I don't know that the book really made an impression on me. I would recommend for someone who wants to start reading more from this author (my interest was piqued) or is familiar with or currently in the throes of such an obsessive, possibly one-sided relationship.
3.75 stars rounded up