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lizsmartie13's reviews
663 reviews
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
Wow. This was NOTHING like I thought it would be. I’m mad at everyone who billed this to me as a sapphic romance because it’s way more complex and layered than that in the BEST way. This book says “gender who?” in 14th century China, for one thing. It also refuses to abide by the standard morals and structure of this kind of fantasy book, which I adored. Just wow! Excellent!
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
My god, what a book. When I started it I thought it would take forever, but I flew through it; despite its somewhat dense and flowery prose, it’s intensely readable and extremely touching.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
Backman is such a perplexing writer to me. I understand the emotions and they’re there but something about them feels… unearned? His characters feel right on the edge of too shallow; they don’t talk or act like real people so I feel like I’m expected to feel for them just because I’m told to. It’s really hard to explain. I did feel emotional reading parts of this but it felt cheap! Ah! I don’t know!
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
3.5
This book was really not what I expected at ALL. I started to really enjoy it in the second half but I wasn’t getting into at all at first. I wish I could have read this in school because I’m sure there’s a lot I’m missing. It’s a shame I had already seen all the best lines on tumblr.
Release by Patrick Ness
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.25
Patrick Ness is just so GOOD. This is written gorgeously and it goes fast— I read it in basically two sittings. It may have been the speed I read it or how invested I was in Adam, but I never really connected with the Faun storyline and I think the book could have done without it. But man, the rest of this! I got very teary throughout— I am always so impressed with Ness’ ability to create these protagonists who resonate so deeply in my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual harassment
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
Some of this worked REALLY well on me, and the epilogue gave me chills up and down my spine. Unfortunately, it was marred by CONSTANT red herrings that never full un-herring themselves, which is a tough place for a reader to be in. I’d like to read more Riley Sager since I know he has more well-liked books and I think his style and approach are great.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Right on the edge of too sweet, but I am a whole sucker for this kind of love story.
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Tough… tough one. When I started reading this, I was overjoyed. For the first time since <i>Fangirl</i> by Rainbow Rowell, I felt like I was reading a book that really understood fandom and creators. Francesca Zappia manages to capture the lovable cringe that is online fandom in a way that so many other authors utterly fail to do. I also felt like Eliza and Wallace were SO realistic, as teens but specifically introverted teens with anxiety.
I only started to struggle right at the beginning of the third act, after The Reveal. I understand Eliza’s perspective but I think the way she blames her parents for what happens without acknowledging that it probably would have been different if she’d talked to them the hundreds of times they begged her to REALLY irked me. The narrative got close to understanding this a couple times but never fully committed to it and it was very frustrating. Am I just too old for YA? I think if it had addressed the ways Eliza fucked up a little bit more, it could have been truly great.
I only started to struggle right at the beginning of the third act, after The Reveal. I understand Eliza’s perspective but I think the way she blames her parents for what happens without acknowledging that it probably would have been different if she’d talked to them the hundreds of times they begged her to REALLY irked me. The narrative got close to understanding this a couple times but never fully committed to it and it was very frustrating. Am I just too old for YA? I think if it had addressed the ways Eliza fucked up a little bit more, it could have been truly great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Mental illness
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0
Not the biggest fan of how this was written— it felt weirdly middle grade for how resonant and impactful the content was. I also don’t know that I followed the metaphor completely, but some of the parallels are absolutely beautiful and poignant.
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
4.5 rounded up! What a delight! And also really moving! Funny and a gut-punch! All of the emotional beats really work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Stalking
Moderate: Physical abuse