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jaylinsoto's reviews
319 reviews
Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book carries a profound sense of melancholy, with a pervasive sadness that seeps into every page. The author did an exceptional job portraying the affair between an older author and a 23 year old assistant at the publishing house, as well as the toxic ripple effects it had on every aspect of her life. Her vulnerabilities, shaped by her past, made her particularly susceptible to this dynamic, and I found myself deeply empathizing with her. At the same time, I felt frustrated watching her self-destructive tendencies.
The story serves as a poignant reminder of how consent becomes dubious in the presence of power dynamics and highlights the restorative power of community and friendships. For me, the strongest moments in the book were those that centered on her friendships and the rare occasions where she could simply exist as a young woman in her 20s.
This book was frustrating, heartbreaking, maddening, and ultimately powerful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting
January by Sara Gallardo
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Rape, Abortion
Andromeda by Therese Bohman
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.0
This book took me by surprise. If you’re a fan of *Yellowface* by RF Kuang, you’ll likely enjoy this one too. The main character is morally grey, making some deeply questionable decisions, and there are strong themes around race and social media. These aspects were particularly engaging, and I loved how they were explored. However, a major subplot involving religious cults and sacrifices felt jarring and disconnected from the rest of the narrative. It seemed out of place alongside the themes of influencer culture, racism, and class, which threw me off a bit. Overall, I was hooked for the first half of the book, but by the second half, I found myself feeling increasingly confused and detached.
I'm a Fool to Want You: Stories by Camila Sosa Villada
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
TW: homophobia, death, domestic violence, gaslighting, emotional abuse.
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski is beautifully written. The protagonist, Emily, is a dynamic and fully realized character, and I found myself deeply invested in her journey. Her experience with emotional abuse and gaslighting in her marriage created a palpable tension throughout the book.
My only complaint is the pacing. There were too many heavy, traumatic events (see: trigger warnings), and it felt like I was being hit with one thing after another without enough space to fully explore each issue.
I did appreciate the flashbacks, Emily’s relationship with Gen, and her friendships, though I wished we saw more of them towards the end. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and first book of 2025 for me!
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski is beautifully written. The protagonist, Emily, is a dynamic and fully realized character, and I found myself deeply invested in her journey. Her experience with emotional abuse and gaslighting in her marriage created a palpable tension throughout the book.
My only complaint is the pacing. There were too many heavy, traumatic events (see: trigger warnings), and it felt like I was being hit with one thing after another without enough space to fully explore each issue.
I did appreciate the flashbacks, Emily’s relationship with Gen, and her friendships, though I wished we saw more of them towards the end. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and first book of 2025 for me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Gaslighting
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.
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.