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madelinemaesmith's reviews
611 reviews
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.75
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
4.0
What did it just read?? About halfway through I imagined this would be a five star read, but the ending let me down a bit, can’t decide if it’s 3.5 or 4. However, all of the reviews are right, you have to go in blind - also is this a fantasy? Or a psychological thriller? I feel like the marketing for this book was bizarre.
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
4.0
3.5⭐️/5 (rounded up to 4 on goodreads) Ridiculous and great with excellent aesthetics!
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
5.0
It's doneeeeee 5⭐️/5 (can you give a classic of this magnitude any less??) Idk there were certain parts that were less-than-fun to read and there are some HEAVY topics, but it's TOLSTOY. This is the single greatest exploration of relationships and families I've ever read (but idk you might hate it, it's almost 900 pages long!!)
Hot take that absolutely no one has heard of...but this is a MASTERPIECE.
Hot take that absolutely no one has heard of...but this is a MASTERPIECE.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
5.0
5⭐️/5
Atmospheric, suspenseful, psychological, emotional, and haunting with questionable reliability of the narrator. Also a book I should NOT have read after dark
Atmospheric, suspenseful, psychological, emotional, and haunting with questionable reliability of the narrator. Also a book I should NOT have read after dark
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
4.0
4⭐️/5
An enthusiastic 4⭐️ for this incredible debut!
This book is as wise as the writing is precise and exacting. This captivating story encompasses family drama, intertwining fates, intergenerational storytelling, tragedy, the role of culture and food, and forgiveness.
I think every type of reader will appreciate (if not love!) this story. There’s a universal nature to themes like identity, loss, and who we are to ourselves and the people we think know us best. I also love a vignette, and Wilkerson executes her prose as though it’s poetry. This book doesn’t pontificate too much though, the story is direct, compelling, and introduces characters you come to love.
The 4⭐️ rating rather than 5 was due to the stark contrast of the first vs second half. The first half being near perfection, the tension, the intrigue built up from Eleanor’s recording, the flashbacks, but the second half lost its way. It felt as though it was trying too hard to fit everything in, and diverged from the main through line of the story (and its characters). As the book started to lose focus and add more locations, names, and timelines, it began to lose my attention as well.
Read if:
1. You enjoyed books like Dava Shastri’s Last Day, The Vanishing Half, Apples Never Fall, or any other family-driven drama with an element of mystery.
2. You like quick perspective changes, a character-driven story (but with plenty of intrigue to move the plot forward), and dual timelines spanning multiple years
3. You love a motif! Hello English Majors, yes, you will love this one for the connection to Black Cake and the other thematic gems in this book.
An enthusiastic 4⭐️ for this incredible debut!
This book is as wise as the writing is precise and exacting. This captivating story encompasses family drama, intertwining fates, intergenerational storytelling, tragedy, the role of culture and food, and forgiveness.
I think every type of reader will appreciate (if not love!) this story. There’s a universal nature to themes like identity, loss, and who we are to ourselves and the people we think know us best. I also love a vignette, and Wilkerson executes her prose as though it’s poetry. This book doesn’t pontificate too much though, the story is direct, compelling, and introduces characters you come to love.
The 4⭐️ rating rather than 5 was due to the stark contrast of the first vs second half. The first half being near perfection, the tension, the intrigue built up from Eleanor’s recording, the flashbacks, but the second half lost its way. It felt as though it was trying too hard to fit everything in, and diverged from the main through line of the story (and its characters). As the book started to lose focus and add more locations, names, and timelines, it began to lose my attention as well.
Read if:
1. You enjoyed books like Dava Shastri’s Last Day, The Vanishing Half, Apples Never Fall, or any other family-driven drama with an element of mystery.
2. You like quick perspective changes, a character-driven story (but with plenty of intrigue to move the plot forward), and dual timelines spanning multiple years
3. You love a motif! Hello English Majors, yes, you will love this one for the connection to Black Cake and the other thematic gems in this book.