kaledarm's reviews
1158 reviews

Sugar Shack: (A Graphic Novel) by Lucy Knisley

emotional lighthearted 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? No

4.0

It's a Love/Skate Relationship by Carli J. Corson

emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

 I love seeing hockey romance stories making their way down to young adult stories! Sports stories in general are great to see for teen readers, and I'm biased in thinking hockey is the best.

It's a Love/Skate Relationship was a cute read, that definitely handled some tough topics that will make it a relevant read for anyone, whether or not they're huge sports fans. 

Every Tom, Dick & Harry by Elinor Lipman, Elinor Lipman

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Couple at the Lake House by James Caine

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The Crash by Freida McFadden

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

dark emotional 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

 We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin takes on an interesting structure to show two sisters coming back to each other.

Austin does an impeccable job at creating characters who are well rounded, to the point I feel I'm reading an autobiography of someone who exceptionally embodies what it means to be a human. The thoughts of the characters feel so grounded, and their actions are so wild, yet mundane, they must have happened in real life.

One quality I love that the author brings into all of her work is how absolutely everything is linked with something else. There are no extraneous remarks that are never resolved. Through We Could Be Rats, we wonder many things, that sure feel like they're mentioned solely to move the plot forward, but actually have a full circle moment. It helps the stories feel grounded in reality.

There are many times I found myself lost in the pages, convinced I was close with Sigrid and knew her as well as I knew myself. I cried with the characters, felt their frustrations, and felt their sense of continuing on.

What a fantastic read. 

The Wilde Trials by Mackenzie Reed

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5