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helendipietro's reviews
243 reviews
Kid Christmas: Of the Claus Brothers Toy Shop by David Litchfield
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Beautiful book!
Dragon Thief by David Owen
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Leila and the Blue Fox by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-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? No
5.0
Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World by Pádraig Ó Tuama
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Why Did You Stay?: A memoir about self-worth by Rebecca Humphries
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
3.0
Loved the writing style but wasn’t deeply invested from switching characters so much! It didn’t read seamlessly but maybe that was the point?
You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
I went into reading this with no clue of what it was about but the cover was gorgeous and the title was a Florence and the Machine quote. 👌 It turned out to be well worth it! I think it’s better going in not knowing what’s coming so I won’t go into too much detail. There are shocks for sure!
Emezi does a spectacular job crafting the world of the main character, Feyi, in a very raw and real way. We are first introduced to Feyi as a 20 something artist in New York who is in the throes of grieving the tragic death of her husband - a car crash she was also in 5 years ago. This book is an unforgettable exploration of death and the grieving process which is very emotional to read in parts. I was captivated by the dialogue throughout and really felt for these characters.
Although some difficult topics are covered, Emezi weaves strong themes of humour, and friendship in with the chaos and messiness of complicated love.
In the book, Feyi has a brilliant friendship with her best friend Joy. She is developed well as we learn more about her own insecurities and vulnerabilities. I wanted more of Joy!
This one is perfect for romance and contemporary fiction fans! The writing is beautiful, reflective and emotional all at once and I will now be heading to read more writing by Emezi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
This is Not a Pity Memoir: The heartbreaking and life-affirming bestseller from the writer of The Split by Abi Morgan
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
A difficult read but truly insightful and powerful!