maggie_ackbooks's reviews
164 reviews

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

dark emotional reflective 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

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke

lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.75

Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees #1 by Patrick Horvath

dark mysterious 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

3.0

Art was gorgeous but the story was lost on me. 

The Café at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please

lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

A  cute storybook about making compromises in order to live your dream.

Super Cute illustrations! 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Galatea by Madeline Miller

dark medium-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? No

4.0

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

dark emotional 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

5.0

We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen

adventurous dark reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

The Names by Florence Knapp

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

If you are in active trauma, please don't read this book. 

The Names is a beautiful novel about not only the power of a name, but how domestic violence and trauma affects a family. Over the three different timelines, I bonded with all three iterations of the son. While I cannot speak to the depictions of domestic violence, the depiction of sexual assault closely reflected my own experience and I felt it was handled very well. 

I borrowed an advanced copy from my place of work and cannot wait for its official release so I can read it again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Homophobia, Murder