lizzyymackay's reviews
70 reviews

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

challenging funny 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

3.75

I literally read this book in a day - was so compelling, and a really bittersweet reflection on relationships in nyc 

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Such a haunting group of short stories… very similar to the bloody chamber or the dangers of smoking in bed, was filled with so many dark premises and moments of horror… you can tell Carmen Maria Machado is a poet first and a novelist second - the way she describes even the simplest action is just fascinating and so engrossing. Would defo recommend!! 

Intimations by Zadie Smith

challenging reflective medium-paced

4.0

Again, everything I love about a person (basically that she is Zadie Smith…) it was fascinating reading how she observes others and herself, and everyone’s response to the pandemic. Beautifully reflective and thought-provoking 

Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir by Dolly Alderton

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

So, so uplifting and inspiring. The ULTIMATE girl's girl of all books ever <3

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Like angela carter but more twisted and set in South America with different folk stories. Such a cool book and I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read it. 

Silas Marner by George Eliot

emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

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

4.25

Just a short but lighthearted book - focusing on a beautiful father-daughter relationship, it really warmed my heart :)

Gender Euphoria by Laura Kate Dale

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Such an uplifting and inspiring book - so many beautiful stories about the joy of life whilst feeling like and being acknowledged as the most authentic version of yourself. 

Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

A typical trashy book, but I still read it so...! 

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

dark funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

I just adore anything that Zadie Smith writes... and this is no exception. Found it difficult to get into at first, but then couldn't put it down - I love how character-driven the plot is, and how hell-bent everyone (including the writer) is on serving Howard justice!

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

so informative on the Cypriot civil war, and deals with grief and family trauma so beautifully through the framework of botany and trees