margoo0o's reviews
30 reviews

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

dark mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

One of the best horrors I have ever read and always come back to! Susan Hill is one of the best Horror writers out there and this story is her best.

I love the idea that the woman in black is driven by vengeance, unlike so many horrors where the antagonist can be swept under the rug in the final chapters and neatly exorcised to become a bad dream.

Before My Actual Heart Breaks by Tish Delaney

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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

4.25

It took me a while to get into this book - it’s hard to read someone who’s so blind to her life passing her by. But even so, it’s a brilliant book about life in Northern Ireland, and the pictures it painted were so vivid and wonderful I couldn’t quite believe it. I will definitely be picking this one up again!

Insatiable by Daisy Buchanan

emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.0

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

The Raptures by Jan Carson

dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

What a brilliant book capturing life during the Troubles in Northern Ireland but from a completely different perspective. The history is part of the plot but it’s Hannah’s life that takes centre stage. Sometimes with books it takes a chapter or two for me to know I’ll love it - with this one I knew after the first few pages that it was going to be brilliant.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

I loved the Song of Achilles and this book is just as beautiful. To see how powerful Circe is and becomes turns all Greek stories to date on their heads and I love it!

The Magician by Colm Tóibín

dark informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

This is such an insightful look into Thomas Mann’s life. It’s a pleasure seeing the world through his experiences, triumphs and failures, against the backdrop of an ever changing political landscape and advancing world.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

emotional funny sad fast-paced

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

5.0

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book so quickly - I picked this up and finished it in 3 days, it was just that good. The characters are written so well, it was hard not to be drawn to them and to see what happened next.

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

emotional funny fast-paced

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

5.0

I would give this a higher rating if I could. Sally Rooney’s books are so honest and the emotions are so raw - while the characters are presented with scenarios so far from my own world, it was so easy to empathise with their struggles and celebrate their joys.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

emotional medium-paced

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

1.25

This just wasn’t for me I think. There was a lot of character development for the first 3/4, but I feel like the progression didn’t happen til page 300+. The pacing just felt off.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse