maevekilcarr's reviews
282 reviews

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

I’m just not into relationship-centered books and stream-of-consciousness style, sorry!

Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

The plot unfortunately comes to absolutely nothing in the end. I’m totally fine with ambiguous or open-ended conclusions if there’s enough for the reader to use to interpret the ending in their own way. Not much was left for anything other than “oh…that’s it?”. It seemed like the author didn’t know what to do with her ideas or how to make them flow into a cohesive story

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Such a deep and devastating look at the effects of alcoholism. All you want is for poor Shuggie to get a break! I thought this was really well done, I just wanted a bit more plot. It was a little hard to follow along with the time that was passing in the story. Still recommend if you enjoy character-driven books!

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Each chapter hits a new level of devastation but so well written and compelling. Its seriously impressive how Yaa can write a new character in each chapter and make them feel so real so quickly 

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

A timeless art piece that is as tragic as it is sincere. Thank you Ocean for sharing your gift with us 💞

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

dark mysterious 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

0.5

Flat, uninspired writing with a completely nonsensical twist. What am I missing??

Road of Bones by Christopher Golden

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Thrilling and intense for sure! The problem I have is that the titular “road of bones” is the backdrop and not the central haunting. I wish this focused on the ghostly road

The Descent by Jeff Long

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.5

A whole convoluted mess that dragged on and was taxing to get through 

James by Percival Everett

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense 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? No

4.0

Phenomenal, fantastic, wonderful book

Homecoming by Kate Morton

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.5

The “book within a book” chapters caused the story to drag for me. I found myself not wanting to pick up the book when those chapters were ongoing. Kate’s writing style will always be a win, this one just didn’t have the same ebb and flow as her other books.