lyd41's reviews
64 reviews

All of Us with Wings by Michelle Ruiz Keil
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.

ok so update i read some reviews and was shocked to find out this book is about a Lottttt more than the author said it was about ...... thank god i didn't have to read that on my own 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

0.75

 This book is essentially I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver- if it was a dumpster fire. I've never hated a protagonist more. So "not like other girls," pessimisstic, stubborn, overall an ASSHOLE. Literally I feel so bad for her mother and it's not even real omg. Cliche book that ends with a prom scene. Only plus is that it's fat queer rep. This author is so obsessed with Harry Potter it is nauseating. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Outing, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Racism

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

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

3.75

Let's just say this book Drove Me Crazy😝. I was on the edge of my seat in the last half, giggling, dancing, smiling, laughing, rocking back and forth with excitement. this book made me feral. i rarely feel so much for characters like this in cheesy romcoms. i felt like all the characters were my personal best friends. amazing character writing. also, bonus! extremely healthy family representation (they're all ginger). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Minor: Vomit, Bullying, and Car accident

Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Best historical fiction book i have ever read. Worth the lengthy read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Police brutality, Genocide, War, Hate crime, Deportation, Cursing, Violence, Physical abuse, Mass/school shootings, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Death, Blood, Child death, and Cancer

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

dark informative 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

4.0

Very glad I found this book to show me a unique queer experience. Provokes a lot of thought. Definitely read content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Outing, Sexism, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Child abuse, Cancer, Lesbophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Alcohol, Police brutality, Mental illness, Cursing, Grief, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Violence, and Drug abuse

Minor: Infidelity, Trafficking, Deadnaming, and Vomit

Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.

had to return to library. this sequel was so agonizingly slow i could barely pick it up.

The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed. I was apprehensive at first about the whole story supposedly centering around finding the 'Why' to Miwako's suicide. Once I started reading, though, I was relieved. This was nothing like thirteen reasons why, no romanticization. (It didn't even focus that much on finding out why.)  It was more like a character study, a psychological analyzation of how we deal with trauma, and the baggage that we all carry. The story was told in three separate parts, from each protagonist's POV. I enjoyed seeing three different perspectives of relation to Miwako. The characters are what sold me on this book, they're all very well written. The writing is beautiful: relflective prose, with 2/3 parts being in third pov. My critiques are that the three parts attempted to connect an overarching storyline, creating much suspense and build up, but it failed toward the end. The ending rushed and left me wanting more closure and explanation. 

Even though I would have enjoyed a traditional book where the story was told from Miwako's point of view, I think I prefer how this author layed it out, as it created much more curiosity and suspense. 


Notes to keep in mind when looking to read this book: 
This book is set in Japan and includes all traditional aspects of Japanese etiquette and culture. It may be confusing for some who don't know much of the social culture. 
This book is angsty. Very Angsty. Top tier angst. Very possibly triggering things. Check content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Deadnaming, Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer, Rape, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Transphobia

Minor: Outing, Adult/minor relationship, Dysphoria, and Alcohol

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

2.0

Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Gotta love another recovery from traumatic event novel where no one understands the protagonist except that one special person and you kinda can Never tell what's going on because it's written in first person so it's like all over the place obviously bc she's going through a crisis which is what the author intended but I still don't like it. Guys please start writing your trauma recovery books in third person I can't read another first person abstractly described panic attack

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, Stalking, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Vomit, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Blood

Minor: Self harm, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Grief

We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

physically cannot finish this. too millennial cringe