melc's reviews
1233 reviews

Old Soul by Susan Barker

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

This is a brilliantly written super-creepy literary horror with real depth. Unusually the only consistent character in this novel is the antagonist and she is excellently evil and scary. The way Barker writes this through interconnected short stories allows the supreme talent of her writing to shine with excellent gothic descriptions and well-fleshed out characters. This novel is smart because, although it is really readable and a very enjoyable horror, there are deep underlying themes about humanity, the evil aspects of humanity from which it feels like there can be no escape contrasting with enduring beauty through art and creation. 
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Let's Be Honest by Jess Phillips

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell

dark emotional informative sad tense slow-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

4.0

This was an excellent book about a pregnant woman, Ciara and her desperate attempts to leave her controlling and abusive husband. It examines the difficulty Ciara and her two small daughters have in trying to get emergency housing. This felt so real to me and I felt stressed and tense while reading it as Ciara tries to be mother to her young children whilst living in a hotel room. The novel highlights how under-resourced the provision is for women and children who are no longer safe in their homes and how, insanely, it is often easier to return to their abusive husbands. This novel is written from the heart and will stay with me.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

dark funny informative sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Tenth of December by George Saunders
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.

The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi

dark mysterious slow-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

2.0

Confessions by Catherine Airey

emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

This is a well-written family saga which was a good page-turner. Airey uses different narrative techniques effectively to tell the different parts of this story. I felt invested in all of the characters and they were all distinct from each other.

I think what this novel ultimately lacked was in doing anything different. In a way this is an Irish novel we've read many times before.

Still, a robust debut and an author to look out for in the future.

This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Ghosted by Jenn Ashworth

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This was brilliant! Full of nuance about everyday intimacy of a long marriage and what happens when trauma breaks that apart. How we can never be enough for those close to us. How we fail to understand others all the time. But at its heart this is a tender love story full of hope.

Sweat by Emma Healey

dark informative mysterious tense 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

3.0

This was fine. A revenge thriller about coersive control which was an extended metaphor for the power and danger of extreme fitness trends. I found it pretty far-fetched though and it wasn't pacey enough for a thriller for me. To be honest from the author of Elizabeth is Missing I was kind of hoping for more. But there are interesting discussions in this novel all the same. Lots of trigger warnings though not only surrounding domestic abuse, but also dieting and exercise addiction.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.