helendipietro's reviews
243 reviews

What Writers Read: 35 Writers on Their Favourite Book by Pandora Sykes

hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

It’s just that… ‘a love letter to reading’.

I really enjoyed dipping in and out of this collection and have added lots of books to my TBR! It made me feel warm inside and inspired to prioritise reading more. 

The Blue-Footed Booby by Rob Biddulph

funny lighthearted

5.0

Clever tale with vibrant illustrations! This is a very satisfying read with repetitive phrases to be read aloud with children 👌

Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson

mysterious reflective 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

3.0

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.0

Love a character driven book and this was pretty great! I enjoyed the writing style and how so many difficult themes were explored. Although your life may be so different from the characters within, you will relate to their feelings and thoughts but that doesn’t mean you’ll like them. The first person parts were clever but they took me out of the flow of Cleo and Frankie story so I didn’t go for 5 stars for t  he at reason. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

Christmas by the Coast by Mandy Baggot

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

Where's My Happy Ending?: Happily ever after and how the heck to get there by Anna Whitehouse

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

4.0

The Boy At the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf

Started for tutoring but didn’t continue! Will definitely read at some point though :)

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

Journalist Natasha Lunn brings forth a stellar array of literary talent, from Candice Carty-Williams to Alain de Botton, to discuss a wide range of themes intimately connected to love. Lunn sets out to understand how relationships work and evolve over a lifetime by asking: How do we find love? How do we sustain it? And how do we survive when we lose it? It is a warm, touching and reflective read.

I absolutely loved this collection. From reading it I was able to explore new writers and revisit much-loved ones too including Dolly Alderton on vulnerability, Emily Nagoski on the science of sex and Lisa Taddeo on the loneliness of loss. It truly is a glorious celebration of what it means to be human – connection and vulnerability.

Margaret's Unicorn by Briony May Smith

hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Feels magical and mysterious to read even as an adult! Gorgeous, transporting illustrations that captivate a child’s love for a lost unicorn.