kharlan3's reviews
182 reviews

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.

I just.... cannot right now 

Gays of Our Lives by Kris Ripper

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Vomit and Pregnancy

Minor: Ableism, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

text includes giving birth, descriptions of a character's experiences with multiple sclerosis, depression, the medical system

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

Top historical romance of 2023

Lead Me Astray by Sondi Warner
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.

The intersex “rep” and then the use of the phrases “manhood” and “taboo frottage” just did not work for me. 

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

In this book, Miss Mitchelmore finds herself under a curse. She teams up with her best friends and an alluring but disgraced noblewoman to beat the curse and survive the aftermath. I was disappointed in this book! It lacked what I like best in Alexis Hall's books, which is a really strong emotional tie to the characters. I think this was because of the unusual choice of having the narrator be a Puck-like sprite, rather than first person or general third. The narrator was just watching the characters for fun and didn't connect deeply with them, so neither did I. I like the idea of having a sprite narrate in theory, but perhaps we just needed one who cared and/or understood the emotions of the characters. The characters were fine, especially our main character's best friend, and the book was amusing, it just didn't give me that emotional punch I hope for in an Alexis Hall book.

Women by Chloe Caldwell

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Addiction and Drug use

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Moderate: Gore, Xenophobia, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Vomit, and Alcohol

female genital mutilation

Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari

5.0

Top nonfiction of 2023

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Addiction, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and War

In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.

the mood just wasn't right for me

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Police brutality, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and War

This is a creepy murder mystery with tons of period accurate homophobia. Also,

rodents, poison, shaming of sex work, and attempts at gay conversion