llwalker17's reviews
28 reviews

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

This book has a promising summary that reminded me of a queer-themed Sleepy Hollow. But then it took a wild turn in the last few chapters, featuring unexpected sm🔞t with fantasy creatures? It felt completely out of left field. Maybe this book needed to be longer? More grounded in reality? I don’t know. Overall, a somewhat decent spooky read, but not sure if I'd recommend it to others.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

Wow….talk about a book that takes your breath away. This dystopian fiction is short and mysterious, and seriously packs a punch. It's about a group of women that have been imprisoned for some time with no memory of how they got there. I found myself turning each page with more questions than answers on what is going on. 

Long story short: this book sticks with you. If you're ready to tackle it, buckle up.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

An absolute must-read for Appalachians. Barbara Kingsolver skillfully brings these characters and their story to life in such a beautiful way. I think I’ll think about this book for as long as I live. It’s easy to see how this book made the #1 spot in The Reader Top 100 on NYT.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

medium-paced

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

4.5

While I'm not exactly a die-hard sci-fi lover, the concept of multi-universes has always interested me. Overall, it's the kind of sweet narrative that makes you pause and appreciate the beautiful chaos of your own life. I’m excited to see how the TV show compares.

We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart

4.0

This book was a quick, light read with plenty of thought-provoking and memorable quotes. Ultimately, the story left me feeling somewhat deflated.

Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir by Dolly Alderton

5.0

Who knew a book could be such good therapy? What started off as something I wasn't too sure of ended up being the read that healed me. It had so many inspiring quotes and lessons, not to mention all these divine recipes tucked in after every chapter. I’m interested to see what the TV show is about.

My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

3.0

Trying to make it through this book felt like being thrown head-first into a horror movie without ever seeing one! I’ll give this author another shot but man, finishing this book sure wasn’t easy.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

5.0

A bromance to end all bromances. This boys club of a book had me hooked from the start. I felt like I was reading The Outsiders on crack. It was thrilling, suspenseful, and goddamn wordy. But I loved every second of it.

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

4.0

This delightful read is like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy mental health conversation. The pages are filled with an unexpected quirkiness that had me hooked from the start. Seriously, this book is beyond odd! The author's writing style had major Fleabag vibes and had me laughing out loud just at how bizarre it all really was.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

3.0

I’ve read Lucy Foley’s works before and can confidently declare that this book is a step up from her previous ones, albeit not by a significant margin. It may have ended on a predictable note, but if you're in the market for a quick mystery fix, this one can probably get the job done.