literaryjunarin's reviews
455 reviews

Hysteria by Jessica Gross

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Did not finish book.
gross and insufferablep
You Should Pity Us Instead: Stories by Amy Gustine

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Turned boring. The stories start really well and they have the right amount of suspense but the tension dies quickly so it's disappointing. It's like you're riding a roller coaster and it goes slowly up and up and then it ends there. There's no thrill of the downfall.
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

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

4.0

 “Rage can fuel you. But grief gnaws at you slow, a termite nibbling at your soul until you're a whisper of what you used to be.” 

CW: drug and alcohol addiction, mentions of repressed sexual assault, physical abuse, Islamophobia, racism, tense exchange with law enforcement, and death

This is pure gold. The rawness of grief, misery, desperation, love, and rage were all written excellently here. There are parts in the book where I felt real rage so I stopped reading. I panicked, I closed the book. I felt my heart break, I slept instead.

Noor and Sal felt so real. Their anxiety, fear, loneliness, and fleeting moments of happiness, I felt it with them. They make mistakes but you'll root for them.

Rage-inducing but I recommend.
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
cant stand contemporary YA romance anymore
The Companion by E.E. Ottoman

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3.0

A polyamorous relationship between two transwomen and a transman. I think this book will feel like a hug to all our trans friends. Nothing actually happens as the story revolves around how the main character navigates the complicated relationship while pursuing her dream of becoming a writer.

No plot just cottage-core vibes (cooking - writing - walking - eating - sex).
Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca

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dark

3.0

CW: graphic rape scene, violence, homophobia, ableism, gore, murder, ritual sacrifice, Islamophobia

I love how engrossing LaRocca's writing is. It will just suck you in. Although this one has too many similes and metaphors I think. 

This book is marketed as a supernatural horror but the horror was rarely there. I thought the cult was huge but there's only one believer who just hypnotized (?) other villagers and trapped them in. 

I liked the little wraith friend of the main character.

All in all, I think this was okay but the gang rape is very, very, unnecessary for the plot.
Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones

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3.0

Very, very messed up. Disturbing. Not much suspense though.
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

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adventurous dark funny tense slow-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

3.0

Hmm started great but I stopped caring halfway. I loved the quirky voice though.

 And this is tagged as horror but the only creepy scene was the bus scene. 
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death by Caitlin Doughty

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4.0

Okay, now we know that if we die alone at our house and no one finds us quickly, our pets will eat us. 

They won't start with the eyeballs though. They'll start with your nose.