Scan barcode
kaileehaong's reviews
423 reviews
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very strange novel, but entertaining. Greta is a transcriptionist for a therapist who falls for one of the therapist’s clients who she recognizes by voice in her small town. Their tryst is dramatic, emotional, and high speed, and allows both parties to look deeply within themselves at all their flaws. Interesting character study, and while I found the characters mostly unlikeable, I found them well written.
When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà
2.5
While the writing was undefinable beautiful, poetic, and elegant, I could not stay interested or follow the storylines of each character by any means. It was too artistic for my liking. The concept is interesting—storylines from a mountain town (of people, animals, ghosts…), but I found myself lost.
Anyone's Ghost by August Thompson
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A great read for those who suffer from extreme nostalgia and longing for a life and time they once had and can’t get back. Characters are written well and develop well throughout the book.
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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
This book absolutely knocked me off my feet. I’m a firm believer that poets by trade should all write fiction, and Kaveh Akbar exemplifies this. We follow the journey of Cyrus, a young Iranian man, on a journey of self-discovery/working through his addiction/learning about himself/reflecting on his relationships, etc. that’s all I’ll say for now—it’s fantastic.
Couplets: A Love Story by Maggie Millner
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.0
Low rating because the form did not work for me. I liked the chapters that were more prose poem, as they still felt inherently poetic but were easy to read and well written, but the rhyming couplets got boring quickly despite the fact that they are the majority of the novel.
Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed the ending of this novel, but it took me a very long time to get into and I nearly DNF’d. I’d say for me it picked up in the last quarter (or third). Chapters flop back and forth from the POV of Greta and her brother Valdin. They’re both going through things, and both experiencing various stressors. What I felt fell short was a clear distinction between the siblings, and occasionally if not paying enough attention, their personalities and lives bled together a bit too much and made them indistinguishable. I did enjoy a queer happy ending, which doesn’t happen often, so I’ll take it.
Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
adventurous
hopeful
fast-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
4.5
Wow, this read was so much fun, I hardly put it down. I never imagined I could buy into an “aliens coming to earth” scenario, but this really worked. Combined with a tale of an “evil” violin teacher and an unsuspecting yet trusting untrained student, I appreciated how well all of these characters’ stories intertwined and sung together. And for once, a happy ending for lesbians! Let’s hear it! Was it a little cheesy? Maybe, but for me it worked.
Ghostroots by ‘Pemi Aguda
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Strange and unique collection of short stories. My favorite stories of this collection were "Imagine Me Carrying You," "24, Alhaji Williams Street," "Girlie," and "Masquerade Season." All stories set in Lagos, we get to delve into the imaginative/magical realism realm that 'Pemi Aguda has expertly crafted here.