kt2e56's reviews
116 reviews

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Grating at first (I went to a performing arts college and while I got my BFA in Film, I acted a lot (I even did Shakespeare!) and was very involved with our theater department and can assure all of you that NOBODY, not even pretentious theater kids, actually talks like these characters do) but the plot and chemistry of the characters and secondhand rush of putting on performances, and sinking your teeth into a new role really makes up for some of the cringey dialogue. I find Meredith to be the most interesting character to me and I wish we knew more about Richard

and why he went from pretentious older brother figure to full blown abusive tyrant

but all in all, this was truly great and I plan on reading it again soon.

Shoutout to two truly inspired stagings of Shakespeare: Rio’s visions for Macbeth and King Lear sound phenomenal and I’d happily watch either in real life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence

Moderate: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Homophobia

Minor: Sexual assault

Bunny by Mona Awad

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I have no idea what I just read, but girl I’m living.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Self harm, Slavery, Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional 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

1.75

This was just way too corny for me. The characters all felt bland. The writing was disjointed with shifting viewpoints that I truly didn’t find interesting. The dialogue felt out of place with zero characterization for anyone speaking. This felt like a first attempt at a book and not a celebrated author's latest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Abandonment

Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Sexual harassment

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

I was a bit disappointed with this one. I don’t think the critique of white saviorism  was handled very well and as always,

I’m really sick of reading graphic depictions of sexual assault. Particularly against minors.</spoilers> There were some really chilling set pieces in this but not enough to make me love the book as much as I thought I would.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Made me fall in love with the power of stories again.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5