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maggies's reviews
639 reviews
The Stand-In by Lily Chu
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3.0
Passable, but not particularly engaging. The middle section dragged on far too long, and Gracie just had a lot going on—between her mom, her job and predatory boss, learning how to be Wei Fangli, building a task management platform, and dealing with Sam, I was overwhelmed. Predictable throughout.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment
You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane
funny
informative
fast-paced
4.0
An easy to understand primer on AI, focusing on the weird things that AI gets up to. A great place to start for anyone looking to grasp the uses and limitations of AI.
Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement by Peter Singer
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Certainly a very difficult read, but crucially important. 50 years since it was originally published, Animal Liberation still holds up as an argument against the human-caused suffering of animals. Singer's approach is rightfully harsh but equally measured, calling for sensible changes on an individual, national, and global level.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Desserts for Stressed People by Letizia Lorini
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book is a walking, talking miscommunication trope, so reader beware. It was entertaining enough at the beginning, with a good setup, but as the story continued the plot holes gaped ever wider. Some of the banter was good, but at other times it felt stilted, and I was unimpressed by Shane 99% of the time. I'm also not super convinced by the portrayal of Heaven's OCD, but I'll have to think about that some more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
This is what I wanted Divine Rivals to be, and it was absolutely wonderful. Slower paced than I normally enjoy, but beautifully written and read. The hunt for the hala doesn't actually start until the last quarter of the book, but considering the hunt only lasts a day and the preparations take weeks, I'll forgive it. Allusions to real-world xenophobia and antisemitism were well done, and descriptions of the alchemy and religious myths were magical. The development of Margaret and Wes's relationship felt natural and lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Blood
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
*Read as part of my challenge to (attempt to) read all 100 of NYT's best books of the 21st century*
What a moving, raw account of loss, grief, memory, and mourning. Didion fabulously walks the line of informative and reflective, accounting for the medical and emotional realities of illness and death as she experienced them.
What a moving, raw account of loss, grief, memory, and mourning. Didion fabulously walks the line of informative and reflective, accounting for the medical and emotional realities of illness and death as she experienced them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
The Treasured One by Hannah Levin
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
3.0
The Treasured One is a readable and entertaining new adult fantasy romance, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The world building was not too overwhelming, as it takes place partially on Earth and partially in a fae world. The romance was well-paced, although I didn't love either Avery or Riel. There were quite a lot of telling-rather-than-showing moments throughout, and some plot holes appeared at the end. I am looking forward to the continuation of the series and further development of the world.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and Abandonment
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
challenging
reflective
slow-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? Yes
3.0
For the first third of this book, I was too preoccupied with trying to figure out the line between fact and fiction to really enjoy it. For the middle third, I had given up my constant questioning and just succumbed to the story. For the last third, I was fatigued by the sadness and negativity and mostly just wanted it to end. It may be realistic, but it's not what I typically go to fiction for. The book was incredibly well-written and thoughtful, so the rating is more a reflection of me than the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Suitably entertaining thriller with good twists and turns. The mystery unfolded in such a way to keep me guessing, and there weren't too many plot holes. Lower rating because I didn't really find the characterizations for Ella, Keller, or Jessie very believable (possibly suffered from men-writing-women syndrome).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide
She's a Keeper by Ali K. Mulford
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Pros:
- Really let me live out my fantasy of working in zoo/with animals (and convinced me the fantasy would be better than the reality for me)
- The cast of characters were so fun and left a lot of room for future installments in the series
Cons:
- Way too many references to poop. Yeah, I know, everyone poops. But this was beyond gratuitous
- Referring to sexual organs by a gender. So weird to me
- I didn't really feel that Lark grew/changed throughout the course of the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail