melc's reviews
1235 reviews

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

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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.

The Haunted Wood by Sam Leith

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.5

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful reflective slow-paced