melanieripple's reviews
84 reviews

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

adventurous mysterious

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent

Minor: Child death, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

emotional reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Abortion

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Grief, War

Minor: Transphobia

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

adventurous funny

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Confinement, War

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

dark emotional hopeful inspiring

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Classism

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Grief

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee

reflective

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Murder

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny lighthearted sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death, Suicide attempt

Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, Car accident

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

emotional funny

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief

Moderate: Addiction

Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft

hopeful informative inspiring

5.0

This book is so important. Perfect for survivors (past or present) as well as allies. You don’t even need to read the whole thing - just skip around to whatever applies to your situation. It also has a whole section of resources in the back.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I had such high hopes, but this was SUCH a letdown. I spent the whole book saying “a therapist would never do that” or “that’s NOT what would happen”. I liked the short chapters, but the first 80% of the book was boring and slow. And, there’s really not that much depth in the characters or side plots.

ALSO: dangerous misinformation. “…it is impossible for someone who was not abused to become an abuser.” Simply and objectively FALSE. Such a problematic line, and so dangerous to believe or claim.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Death of parent