halfass_reviewer's reviews
114 reviews

Church Girl by Naima Simone

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challenging emotional funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

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emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

One way ticket to Earth by Daniele Vaccaro

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emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

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Lie with Me by Philippe Besson

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challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a heartbreaking and haunting tale of young, "forbidden" love between two boys in their teens that continues to affect them well into adulthood. What I loved most about this novel was the narrator writing about his own life not finished
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The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was an adorably hilarious book about one man's desire to be left alone so he can play video games and eat Pad Thai, the peanuts are a must, and his neighbors and a frying pan makes that next to impossible. I enjoyed this short read and found myself feeling for some of the characters and the situations they were going through. While also understanding the struggle the main character was facing as his doorbell constantly rung and hijinks ensued. 
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I loved this book. It started off strong. The author did an amazing job of introducing us to Mallory and the kind of person she was while using drugs and the kind of person she became once she got sober. I rooted for Mallory the entire story and wanted nothing more than for her to be happy. The author also did an amazing job of introducing us to the Maxwell's and their dynamic without giving too much away about who they are. It was towards the middle of the book (I'd say around 40-60% of the book) it felt like the story was dragging. I felt like I was reading the same thing constantly and that the author was trying to make sure readers remember certain facts or events within the story that it seemed redundant. Yet, I still pushed through to the end of the book and man am I glad for it. That ending was phenomenal and honestly it made the mundane middle part really worth it.  
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Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

It definitely matters the order you put short stories in and this collection is one of those where I say the author did it right. Had the first two stories "The Head" and "The Embodiment" been last, I would've given the book a lower rating. With those first two stories starting the book it was like you were immediately thrown into the chaos of the book. After finishing "The Embodiment" I was very prepared to continue reading the most gruesome body-ish horror and then was pleasantly surprised at the turn of material with the third story "Cursed Bunny". This collection of stories not finished.
Bone Orchard Mythos: Ten Thousand Black Feathers by Jeff Lemire

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark

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adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was yet another five star read from the wonderful storytelling brain of  P. Djèlí Clark. This book at times had me sitting at the edge of my bed, staying up way past my bed time to finish the chapters, and rooting for assassins. It also made me laugh out loud (especially that last chapter, the characters are very unserious). This book gave me mystery and comedy and suspense and I couldn't have loved it any more than I do.  

Please Look After Mom by Kyung-sook Shin

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challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0