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haileylouise's reviews
161 reviews
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Could not put it down. Was it life changing or the best thing I’ve ever read? No. But it did help me get out of a reading slump. Was it okay for a white author to write about a biracial and bisexual main character? Not really. It’s conflicting given the time period and how Evelyn is, does what Evelyn does in the book accurately represent what someone with her identities would do during that time period? Yes? No? Maybe?
Nevertheless, it was interesting enough to get to the end and see why Evelyn married seven times, why she chose Monique to write her biography, and why she chose to do it now. If you’re looking for an easy read and don’t particularly care about accurate representation of biracial, bisexual women starting from the early fifties to present day, read it. It is fiction after all. But if you want accurate representation, go somewhere else.
I feel as if it’s a “diverse” book written by a white author for white people.
Nevertheless, it was interesting enough to get to the end and see why Evelyn married seven times, why she chose Monique to write her biography, and why she chose to do it now. If you’re looking for an easy read and don’t particularly care about accurate representation of biracial, bisexual women starting from the early fifties to present day, read it. It is fiction after all. But if you want accurate representation, go somewhere else.
I feel as if it’s a “diverse” book written by a white author for white people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Sexual assault
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
dark
mysterious
sad
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
For my film and lit class. First fifty pages are slow and Rachel’s POV is not as exciting as Megan’s. When Megan disappears, that’s when things start to pick up. Quite literally a train wreck I couldn’t look away from. I couldn’t stop reading it because of how I needed to know more even if it was somewhat a painful. It’s fine for what it is.
Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.0
I cried
The Forward Line by K.G. Erin
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
An easy, fun, and cliché read to get you out of a slump. I wish there was a bit more character development outside of their relationships to each other. For what it is and what I expected, it was decent.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Thank you for being my childhood
Live your life and be happy now :')
Live your life and be happy now :')
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Death of parent
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Afterlove by Tanya Byrne
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed this book! I loved getting to read about a queer Guyanese MC and seeing how Ash navigates her life after meeting Poppy. It's definitely wholesome to see these two grow closer and grow to love each other throughout the fall and winter. In short, this is a lovely story about grief and love.
I do wish that there was more of a fantasy element regarding the afterlife and the reapers. Ash is sort of just thrown in and does what she's told, mostly accepting the fact that she is a reaper and reaps whenever Deborah assigns someone to her. There is a lot of hush-hush talk about Deborah having some sort of authority and an even higher authority above her that created this reaping system. And it's very much a case of 'just don't do this or else' when Ash questions what would happen if she broke the rules.
I also wish Deborah played a bigger role in this story! She did take on a sort of mother-like figure for the reaper girls but didn't do much beyond assignments and keeping up her guard around Ash.I wish she did find out about Ash and Poppy because it would have caused a lot more tension and revealed a different part of her that we wouldn't have seen before. And it would let us explore more of the afterlife, seeing purgatory, where all of the souls go after traveling with Charon, etc.
Although the story was a bit slower-paced, the pacing really helped with the relationships being developed with Poppy, Dev, and Essen. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a sapphic romance with a lot of love and grief!
I do wish that there was more of a fantasy element regarding the afterlife and the reapers. Ash is sort of just thrown in and does what she's told, mostly accepting the fact that she is a reaper and reaps whenever Deborah assigns someone to her. There is a lot of hush-hush talk about Deborah having some sort of authority and an even higher authority above her that created this reaping system. And it's very much a case of 'just don't do this or else' when Ash questions what would happen if she broke the rules.
I also wish Deborah played a bigger role in this story! She did take on a sort of mother-like figure for the reaper girls but didn't do much beyond assignments and keeping up her guard around Ash.
Although the story was a bit slower-paced, the pacing really helped with the relationships being developed with Poppy, Dev, and Essen. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a sapphic romance with a lot of love and grief!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Homophobia, Religious bigotry