littleredmacks's reviews
491 reviews

There Are Trans People Here by H. Melt

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.5

This collection was well done. I do wish it had been a little longer, but I think the author did a great job overall. 

If You Knew My Name by Lisa Roberts Carter

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire by Ashley Spencer

informative slow-paced

3.0

It was an interesting book, however, I found myself way more invested in the chapters related to shows I knew about or had watched than some of the shows in this book that I hadn't heard of before. I feel like the fact that the author included no backstory of what the show was detracted from my ability to connect with what was going on because I didn't know anyone. 

Plantains and Our Becoming: Poems by Melania Luisa Marte

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

These poems were powerful and raw and beautiful. 

The White Book by Han Kang

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

For She is Wrath by Emily Varga

dark emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

I loved this book. A girl going after revenge is always going to be at the top of my list. 

Out main character is full of feminine rage, however, she doesn't go after her revenge the way I thought she would. I thought there would be blood, and destruction (and there was some of that) but the main way she gets her revenge is through manipulating the systems and men around her. It was perfection. 

That being said, there were a couple pacing issues that could have been addressed fairly easily. For example, the Djinn magic felt like it was there sometimes and not a thought in the mind at other times. If it had been a consistent build, I think the moment of reveal would have hit so much harder than it did. And of course, because it is YA, it is only so dark which means several of the plot points are fairly predictable. 

That being said, I think the author did a great job creating worlds and characters that I would love to see again. 

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

1.0

I wanted to love this as our main character is trying to overcome purity culture and that is something I very much relate to but then we had the miscommunication trope along with a surprise pregnancy trope and an MMC whose personality completely changes in the second half. 

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo

challenging dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

This was a book I didn’t know I needed this year. To anyone with generational trauma I highly recommend this book. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I can honestly say this was a top read for me this year and I’m so glad I picked it up. 

Tears in the Water by Margherita Scialla
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.

This was a bit younger of a feel than what I wanted.