idk_indigo's reviews
690 reviews

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

Solid book, through im still not sure im sold on fantasy. I enjoyed it but it was long. 

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Minus 1/2 star because of the odd disability representation but holy smokes this book was insaaaaane. I could feel my blood pressure rising as I read. 

I've read domestic thrillers before,  but there is something about the way this is written that left me so unbelievably shocked, scared, and terrified. I was anxious the entire time, and after every failed escape attempt I just about lost hope. Wow!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

Heavy TW for confinement

Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist by Jasmin Graham

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This was really lovely! I enjoyed hearing about Graham's journey into marine biology; how she grew up with a fisherman father and struggling with racism in her hometown, then how that reflected itself in academia. I think she's the coolest person ever, honestly. I also loved the specific info about sharks!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Animal death, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

The Wolf and The Wildflower by Stacy Reid

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

This was a little "no plot, all vibes" but I kinda loved it? I think the premise could have been explained a little better -- a monologue from the father about why having a son was so important to him, for example. But overall, I liked it. The whole raised-by-wolves thing kept me on my toes, as I kept waiting for the werewolf twist

which never came, but that's okay

. I liked that James and Jules fell in love and found solace in each other. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Girls of a Certain Age by Maria Adelmann

dark medium-paced

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

1.75

This was absolutely not my thing and I was so excited for it to end (cue the 2.75x speed). The audiobook was also slightly confusing because the stories all blended together and the only way I could tell if a new story had started was a change in narrator. 

This was trying so hard to be feminist that it became trauma porn-y. Absolutely none of the stories stuck out to me except for The Wayside, and that's only because I was so excited to finish the book that I started to associate it with enjoyment. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Abortion

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abortion, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria

Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

Director's Cut by Carlyn Greenwald

lighthearted 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

3.0

Main character was annoying, rude, and selfish - and not in an enjoyable way. 

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews

hopeful lighthearted 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? No

3.75

This book was a bit slow for me at times; I had to put it down to pick it up a few times (aided by the Storygraph's new paused feature). I also read the 2nd book first, and the friendship circle left me excited to read this 1st one. However, I don't think this one delves as much into their friendship as I would like. In fact, I feel there's more talk of mourning/spiritual matters than there is of the friends. I wish there was more of that, especially since the 2nd book places so much emphasis on how close they are. 

Overall, I did enjoy this. I really liked Ahmad, I thought he was so sweet and doting. And I enjoyed the play on class/race in a historical romance. I feel like there aren't many stories like this one!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Racial slurs and Colonisation

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen

hopeful lighthearted 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? No

4.5

This book was so sweet! I loved the two main characters, and I especially loved that their queerness was never an "issue." It just was a fact that they were queer, which was very refreshing. I loved all of the food descriptions, and it made me crave Vietnamese food! Listening to the audiobook was an extra layer because I got to hear all of the pronunciations, versus on paper I wouldn't have been able to sound those out in my reading. I also appreciated the small bits of history/social issues (eg., French colonization, tourism, etc.) which was incorporated in a nice way while not becoming the main plot. 

Their love story was so sweet and I loved hearing them come to life!!

One small thing, the narrator for Vivi was not my favorite, every time she would come on it was a bit jarring, especially since the narrator for Lan was good. Her narrations of time/place/goings-on made me think of AI voice, but her tones for characters were good... if that makes sense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Chronic illness and Death of parent

Minor: Racism, Colonisation, and War

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

3.0

This book was okay. I think as a series, it's been interesting to read them and delve into all the different characters' love stories. However, I think this might have to be my last one. They are not boring, and they're well-written enough. But they are lowkey a little bland. And I am left feeling kinda "...was that it?" 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Grief

Moderate: Death and Infertility

Minor: Medical content

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.

christmas is OVER!!!!