hotties4literacy's reviews
64 reviews

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Insanely good but went on a little too long for my taste. The length of the book distracted (or at least shifted) from the central theme that initially caught my interest and didn’t add much besides perhaps sympathy for the narrator. 

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Concept was incredibly interesting, but lacked follow through. There is a reason why when this book is marketed, they focus solely on the five crewmembers and their struggles to keep their sanity aboard this “haunted” spaceship. Exploring these peoples interpersonal relationships in this incredibly high stakes environment, where they are trying to hold onto their sanity and avoid hurting each other or themselves is inherently. Interesting. It’s also horrific. So then tell me why that was only a focus of the book for a session, and even then it was not explored to the fullest extent that it could’ve been. It almost felt like this section of the book the author was trying to rush out of so that they could get to the action packed part of the story. But I was not told this was an action book, I was told it was a horror book. I was not scared in the slightest for the majority of this novel. Again, while the conceit of the book is fantastic there is just pour follow through, and I have to give it 2/5 stars. 

The Elite by Kiera Cass

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Let me save everyone from reading this book:

America: I am so upset and mad at you Maxon. 
Maxon: omg why?
America: I can’t talk about it rn
repeat

The Selection by Kiera Cass

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

middle school me had taste

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

gay representation!! (derogatory)

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think I’ll enjoy this even more when I’m 40 and my life is falling apart.

Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Let’s just say I’m mad glad the balloon I released as a 2nd grader probably landed in the ocean and strangled a sea turtle or something.

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

thank you Gillian Flynn 🧎‍♀️

Lakewood by Megan Giddings

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Addicting to read but underwhelming in retrospect. The author does a phenomenal job of placing black trauma and black intergenerational trauma at the center of this work though in a way that is captivating, reflective, and not ever suffocating the plot with it. Would definitely recommend.