kpitsker's reviews
79 reviews

Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

A WWII/Holocaust thriller with dual timelines, and a journalist character - all wins in my book. An enjoyable read overall that kept me engaged. Ending felt a little rushed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Racism

Moderate: Alcoholism

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

dark mysterious tense slow-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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Trafficking

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Suicide, Abortion, and Alcohol

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

adventurous funny fast-paced

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

3.75

Entertaining plot, funny at times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Cancer and Pregnancy

Space Station Down by Ben Bova, Doug Beason

adventurous challenging tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

The Diplomat's Daughter by Karin Tanabe

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

4.25

Well written and offered a different perspective (or really several perspectives) on WWII. Slow overall, but the final section felt rushed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, and War

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, and Antisemitism

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

3.25

A good starting point for younger readers , but I found myself disappointed by what it didn't address and frustrated by Bruno's character (who seem significantly younger than his stated age) for being so naive. (Having read the Broken Places,I feel similarly about Greta). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Antisemitism, and Deportation

All The Broken Places by John Boyne

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Suicide attempt

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan

4.75