jaylinsoto's reviews
303 reviews

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.75

Galatea by Madeline Miller

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Fragments of Wasted Devotion by Mia Arias Tsang

emotional sad fast-paced

3.75

Thank you to NetGalley and Quilted Press for providing an advanced copy of Fragments of Wasted Devotion by Mia Arias Tsang. I really enjoyed Mia’s writing style—each sentence felt thoughtfully put together, and the flow of the vignettes kept me engaged. Many of the lines stuck with me, and the themes of heartbreak, longing, and the pain of wanting love that always seems to hurt were powerful and moving.

One idea that stood out to me was the emotional distance in some of the relationships described. Several lovers seemed more focused on being written about than on the emotional connection with Mia herself. I found this heartbreaking, and you could really feel the pain behind these moments in the writing. It added a raw, vulnerable layer to the collection.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book, though I did find the illustrations a bit distracting at times. The music references were nice, but since I wasn’t familiar with some of the albums, they didn’t resonate with me as much. Still, I’m grateful to Mia for being so open and sharing such personal experiences with us. Thank you for letting us into your world through these pages.

Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler

dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.5

I have mixed feelings about this memoir. There were certain parts that were poignant and impactful and other parts where I wanted to literally bang my head against any hard surface. The main problem I had with this memoir was the contradiction in Anna’s perspective. She repeatedly expressed her hatred for men, centering them as the root of all her problems, yet her memoir largely revolved around them. She chronicled most of her life through the lens of her relationships with men. I think it’s important to critique misogyny, the patriarchy, and societal structures without resorting to blanket statements like “men are the cause of all my problems.” This just felt over simplistic, disingenuous, and overall left me feeling like this book lacked the depth and introspection I expect from a memoir.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

Foster by Claire Keegan

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

Stoner by John Williams

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

mysterious tense medium-paced

3.25

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I found this book challenging to read (content wise) but really rewarding. I learned a lot & I loved how the narrator finds connection in history and strives to tell the story of a woman forgotten about and glanced over. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War