kkxn's reviews
8 reviews

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

honestly, the twist at the end was certainly something. i had to put my phone down for a second before proceeding. 

giving it a 4.5 because i was  meh about theo’s character and the story until the ending swooped me. definitely a tense and thrilling read, especially when you’re near the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Self harm

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

the twist!!!! the twist at the end. i was trying to predict the story and only had it partially correct. 

very fast and to the point. loved the integration of a letter/diary in between, very similar with Alex’s prev book The Silent Patient  (Also a good read and characters are have a lovely cameo ;) in The Maidens). 

pick this up if you’re in for a quick, easy, and mysterious read.

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

loved it. yes, we are aware of the characters circe encounters and how the ending wraps up. but miller does a fantastic job in reimagining aspects of circe, including her origins and family life, which leads to the reader at the edge of every page and wanting to know what happens next.
i admit, i’m no expert in circe and her story, but her character has a  refreshing spin and growth thanks to miller’s retelling.  

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.

just didn’t enjoy the content. premise seemed intriguing, a sort of reimagining of Satan and his inner circle but: not for me.
the style of writing was also unfamiliar. 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-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

beautiful story - diverse characters in a sense of their personalities and values. each character arc, whether it is minor or major, adds to the story. personally, there isn’t a “filler” character. gives you perspective of korean&japanese relations if you’re interested in history.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i cried — it was a good book.
swift and a steady pace. it was interesting to see what life Nora could lead and how she grows from each experience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt

The Jungle Grows Back: America and Our Imperiled World by Robert Kagan

informative fast-paced

A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide by Samantha Power

challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.0