imstephtacular's reviews
1289 reviews

Make My Wish Come True by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Bullying, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

I'm not sure I even understand what happened, but this was exactly the book I needed post-election. Propulsive and choppy writing, mixed media elements, and a confusing plot that kept me reading was a winning combo. My first Tremblay, but won't be my last!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent

Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia and Homophobia

Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga

hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

Too much telling, not enough showing. Quick but overall forgettable 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Bullying, Xenophobia, Grief, and Abandonment

Don't Let It Break Your Heart by Maggie Horne

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

The Loneliest Place by Lora Senf

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Torture, Blood, Medical content, and Kidnapping

Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Stalking

Not Nothing by Gayle Forman

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Transphobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Torture, Blood, and Vomit

Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Medical content

Moderate: Homophobia, Excrement, and Car accident

Minor: Cursing, Deadnaming, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism