jimothymax's reviews
110 reviews

Birthday by Meredith Russo

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book is so beautiful. I love it with every part of me. The emotions and the journey that both characters, especially Morgan, go through is so real and raw yet hopeful and inspiring at the same time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This book is amazing! The voicing is my favorite part of it. It feels so real and honest. It's science fiction but somehow correlates extremely well with current politics. Loved it! 

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is utterly delightful. Arthur Less is a beautiful disaster and I enjoyed going on a round the world trip with him so much. This book is so funny and beautifully written, a comedy of errors that is so heartwarming that I couldn't help but love it. 

Both Sides Now by Peyton Thomas

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I enjoyed this book so much! The pacing is great, the characters are lovable, the story line is interesting. I have seen some criticism of this book but I honestly don't see it. Even when characters were being racist or otherwise problematic in the story, I didn't get the impression that the author was endorsing those attitudes, just reflecting the reality that people with those attitudes exist. Overall, this is a really quick read and a really fun book. 

Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I went into this book expecting to see more diverse representation. It was there, for sure, but the main character was still a straight, white male and the diversity of the rest of the cast took a major backseat to him. I was also hoping to see more about how this group of non-Christian students survived and processed their thoughts and feelings of going to a very rigid Christian school, but it was more about them trying to shake things up than about their day-to-day reality. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it did not match up to my expectations. 

The Dangerous Art of Blending in by Angelo Surmelis

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

I couldn't put this book down. I was so invested in the characters. Evan, the main character, is so well written and so relatable for someone with a traumatic past. I loved his strength and reliance as much as I hate that some of us have to be that way. 

Camp by L.C. Rosen

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book made me feel a lot of things. Riley's anxiety felt real and tangible as they dealt with navigating a binary system while living outside the binary. I absolutely adore Riley's friends and parents as well. I think my favorite thing about this book is that Riley's agab is completely unknown and completely irrelevant. In the book, Riley talks about wanting to put people in boxes and how it can be difficult not to even as a gender-fluid person. That is so relatable because, as a trans man, I often have the same inclinations. I think that getting to know Riley in that way was an excellent step to breaking out of that dusty, outdated, unneeded habit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child death, Suicide

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

This is a Grease retelling with diverse characters and amazing LGBTQ+ representation. I enjoyed it so much! I couldn't put it down. 

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book is so beautiful! I read it in less than a day because I couldn't put it down. 10/10 would recommend