lana88's reviews
34 reviews

Meat Market by Juno Dawson

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad fast-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

4.0

Wonderland by Juno Dawson

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.25

I though the ending was very dark and perhaps too unrealistic but other than that the plot was fast faced and engaging</ spoiler>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

2.5

Good short sci-fi thriller. 

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

emotional hopeful reflective 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

The Unheard by Nicci French

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

Found the MC to be annoying and irrational, the book was unnecessarily long and the ending was unexciting. Too many coincidences/ tiny details that ‘fall into place’ in an unsatisfying way. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Murder

A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh

dark funny slow-paced

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

3.5

Paradise Block by Alice Ash

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

4.0

A very thought provoking look into human emotion and perception - this book balances a very fine line between ordinary and extraordinary, grotesque and mundane. A deeply interesting read that is hard to summarise. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

emotional hopeful 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

3.0

At times I found this book to be quite unsettling - the claims that it is 'funny' are perhaps true, but it is a humour that feels mocking to the main character and the way she processes things. The ending, however, was a lovely and uplifting message about friendship and recovery and it was nice to slowly see Eleanor's mental transformation. Second half of the book considerably better and more thought provoking for me, but not something that shall stick with me. Overall glad to be finished with the book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol

Loot by Joe Orton

challenging dark funny fast-paced

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

3.5

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

4.5

So very emotional and charming thoughts of a young girl

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping