imstephtacular's reviews
1317 reviews

Doll Bones by Holly Black

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes

emotional hopeful 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

Gosh, I knew I was going to love this as soon as I picked it up and I was right!!! Sweet and joyful and full of love underneath the tough, real, hard topics inside. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, and Deportation

Our Shouts Echo by Jade Adia

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Single Player by Tara Tai

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

What a delightful debut! I loved all the nerdiness and quippy interactions. I do think you need to be at least somewhat familiar with nerd/gaming culture to appreciate this one, but I personally was the right reader!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Transphobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, and Pregnancy

The Beat I Drum by Dusti Bowling

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Bullying and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Baby X by Kira Peikoff
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

Fascinating premise, but I just wasn’t loving it

Just Lizzie by Karen Wilfrid

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Wow I loved this book! I found it refreshing to read a middle grade book that included honest, curious discussion of sexuality while still feeling authentically written for tweens. I personally thought the topics were handled in an age appropriate manner, but this is definitely upper middle grade bordering on young adult 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Such Lovely Skin by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Banger debut. I was gripped by this entirely. Gross and compelling. More like this please

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Mass/school shootings

Roland Rogers Isn't Dead Yet by Samantha Allen

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

Read if you like quirky queer fiction 

Strange, uniquely steamy, tender, charming romp about love, identity, secrets, what it means to truly live

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Sexism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Hide by Kiersten White

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

The plot / premise for me was a 10. But the narrative structure / writing style I struggled with. The 3rd person omniscient didn’t work for me- with almost 20 characters and so much information packed into each paragraph, I found it clunky to read as the plot moved quickly 

Overall I had a great time with this one! I just would have preferred a different narrative choice 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy