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lillythebluepaladin's reviews
80 reviews
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The Scarred Woman by Jussi Adler-Olsen
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
If I hadn’t almost just experienced the worst break up of my life and is currently going through the most confusing situation ever, that have both left me with ZERO confidence in my body, I wouldn’t have rated this book so high.
I FEEL TERRIBLE SAYING THIS, because some of the paragraphs featured in this book genuinely healed something in me as a overweight woman, but those paragraphs aren’t enough to safe how… awkward the rest of the book is.
I LOVE THE REPRESENTATION OF PLUS SIZE WOMEN!!!!!!! THATS AWESOME!!!!! And the side plot with the mom who clearly has an ed was absolutely gut wrenching to read about a few times, so kudos to that. That was genuinely good.
This would have rocked as a fanfic (which is kinda ironic and a little bit funny actually), but the fact that this is a published work featuring characters in their almost fourties' speaking like tumblr teenagers is just… it’s not good. It feels a little bit cringy???
ALSO THE WHOLE THING WITH THE ACTOR OBSESSED WITH PEGGING AND THE OTHER CHARACTER OBSESSED WITH TUNA MADE ME WANT TO SCRATCH MY EYE BALLS OUT. That was actually Wattpad worthy. I did. laugh a few times throughout this book for the right reasons, but THOSE certain plot points? They felt cheap. Like they were made by a 14 year old on Wattpad…
This has officially given me the ick for fanfics. I cannot read another fic in my life ever again.
I FEEL TERRIBLE SAYING THIS, because some of the paragraphs featured in this book genuinely healed something in me as a overweight woman, but those paragraphs aren’t enough to safe how… awkward the rest of the book is.
I LOVE THE REPRESENTATION OF PLUS SIZE WOMEN!!!!!!! THATS AWESOME!!!!! And the side plot with the mom who clearly has an ed was absolutely gut wrenching to read about a few times, so kudos to that. That was genuinely good.
This would have rocked as a fanfic (which is kinda ironic and a little bit funny actually), but the fact that this is a published work featuring characters in their almost fourties' speaking like tumblr teenagers is just… it’s not good. It feels a little bit cringy???
ALSO THE WHOLE THING WITH THE ACTOR OBSESSED WITH PEGGING AND THE OTHER CHARACTER OBSESSED WITH TUNA MADE ME WANT TO SCRATCH MY EYE BALLS OUT. That was actually Wattpad worthy. I did. laugh a few times throughout this book for the right reasons, but THOSE certain plot points? They felt cheap. Like they were made by a 14 year old on Wattpad…
This has officially given me the ick for fanfics. I cannot read another fic in my life ever again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
lighthearted
fast-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
2.25
Maybe I should have followed Anastasias example and put this book out my planner.
SHAME ON YOU BOOKTOK. THIS WAS SO BAD.
The plot is not existent, it’s a book about rich annoying collage students partying and ice skating, the only okay smut was the first instance between the main 2, and it was the shortest with only two pages, the rest felt like it was written by a 15 year old girl on Wattpad (would probably have enjoyed it more if it was on Wattpad to be extremely honest), and the entire cast of characters?! Don’t,,, even,,, get,,, me,,, started…
1 star ⭐️ for the plot surrounding one main character and their friend (‼️TRIGGER WARNING: the plot is about eating disorders, body shaming, body dysmorphia and abusive friendships‼️), it was genuinely the most interesting thing about this book, 1 star ⭐️ for Nate because he didn’t make me want to shoot a college student aaaaallll of the time and 0,25 star ⭐️ for the diversity of the characters. Their personalities are all made from the same clay, but there was an attempt and that is enough for me.
SHAME ON YOU BOOKTOK. THIS WAS SO BAD.
The plot is not existent, it’s a book about rich annoying collage students partying and ice skating, the only okay smut was the first instance between the main 2, and it was the shortest with only two pages, the rest felt like it was written by a 15 year old girl on Wattpad (would probably have enjoyed it more if it was on Wattpad to be extremely honest), and the entire cast of characters?! Don’t,,, even,,, get,,, me,,, started…
1 star ⭐️ for the plot surrounding one main character and their friend (‼️TRIGGER WARNING: the plot is about eating disorders, body shaming, body dysmorphia and abusive friendships‼️), it was genuinely the most interesting thing about this book, 1 star ⭐️ for Nate because he didn’t make me want to shoot a college student aaaaallll of the time and 0,25 star ⭐️ for the diversity of the characters. Their personalities are all made from the same clay, but there was an attempt and that is enough for me.
These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
“I SLEPT AND DREAMT that life was beauty”
For the same reasons I couldn’t give The Four Winds a better review, there was absolutely. no. freaking. reason. to feature the n word in this book. I was really enjoying the story until then. I get that y’all want some “historical accuracy”, but Emma Donoghue, you’re white❤️ Fucking stop it❤️
And also, this book has no “ marks, so I had to read it while listening to the audio book. I could not follow along without it.
Bridie and Julia were great characters, I love their plot twist and the ending, I just wish that they had been in a book where there was no n words in sight❤️ Again, it’s literally not that hard NOT to say it❤️ Stop it❤️
For the same reasons I couldn’t give The Four Winds a better review, there was absolutely. no. freaking. reason. to feature the n word in this book. I was really enjoying the story until then. I get that y’all want some “historical accuracy”, but Emma Donoghue, you’re white❤️ Fucking stop it❤️
And also, this book has no “ marks, so I had to read it while listening to the audio book. I could not follow along without it.
Bridie and Julia were great characters, I love their plot twist and the ending, I just wish that they had been in a book where there was no n words in sight❤️ Again, it’s literally not that hard NOT to say it❤️ Stop it❤️
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“History doesn’t record the intricacies of women’s relationships with one another; they’re not to be uncovered”
I am so happy I started out 2023 with this book! I had a great time reading it, and I will absolutely give it a secure 4⭐️ review.
I really enjoyed all of our 3 main women. They were all really interesting, and I was rooting for all of them throughout the entire plot.
And the touch of having poison and food recipes at the end was really cute! I loved that a lot, especially as a gardener student 🌔
My only con of this book was the ending. Really hate being that type of person, but I think that there should have been a sadder ending for one of the characters, not gonna say who, but I am still really happy about the entire thing.
I am so happy I started out 2023 with this book! I had a great time reading it, and I will absolutely give it a secure 4⭐️ review.
I really enjoyed all of our 3 main women. They were all really interesting, and I was rooting for all of them throughout the entire plot.
And the touch of having poison and food recipes at the end was really cute! I loved that a lot, especially as a gardener student 🌔
My only con of this book was the ending. Really hate being that type of person, but I think that there should have been a sadder ending for one of the characters, not gonna say who, but I am still really happy about the entire thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Misogyny, and Medical content
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexism
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“I don’t straighten my hair because I hate it; I straighten it because everyone else hates it for me”
The first few 100-ish pages made me believe that I was gonna rate this book 3 stars… but that plot twist? When everything first started making sense to us readers?? THAT. FREAKING. REVEAL??? Instant gut drop. No words. I normally don’t rate YA books that high, but this is a MUST READ, and is a really strong 5⭐️ Read.
My only ick about this book is that it at a certain point talks about twitter, which is a thing I usually hate when books does, but it absolutely made sense in this story, so I cannot complain.
Devon and Chiamaka are awesome main characters. It was a joy, and a nail biting anxiety, to follow along and cheer them on as they go through an actual living hell. Again, Jesus Christ, the tension in this book is at Rosemarys Baby’s level. Insane.
As a white person, I have no clue what it must feel like to experience racism, but the inside the book and the Authors note at the end really made me do some self reflection and some thinking. Ace Of Spades is definitely a read my fellow whites should check out.
The first few 100-ish pages made me believe that I was gonna rate this book 3 stars… but that plot twist? When everything first started making sense to us readers?? THAT. FREAKING. REVEAL??? Instant gut drop. No words. I normally don’t rate YA books that high, but this is a MUST READ, and is a really strong 5⭐️ Read.
My only ick about this book is that it at a certain point talks about twitter, which is a thing I usually hate when books does, but it absolutely made sense in this story, so I cannot complain.
Devon and Chiamaka are awesome main characters. It was a joy, and a nail biting anxiety, to follow along and cheer them on as they go through an actual living hell. Again, Jesus Christ, the tension in this book is at Rosemarys Baby’s level. Insane.
As a white person, I have no clue what it must feel like to experience racism, but the inside the book and the Authors note at the end really made me do some self reflection and some thinking. Ace Of Spades is definitely a read my fellow whites should check out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Hate crime, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Blood, Sexism, Murder, Racism, and Racial slurs