melissaslibraryy's reviews
291 reviews

A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Gaslighting, Sexism, Vomit, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Murder, Classism, Medical content, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical trauma, Misogyny, War, Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, and Infidelity

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.75

This book is unlike any other I’ve read (or at least remember reading lol.) The magical realism was well written throughout the story and once I got over the initial confusion I felt, I knew I was hooked. While I’m aware the romance wasn’t a huge part of the story, I would’ve appreciated June and Aemond coming together more other than her relying on her memories for her to love him again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, and Violence

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.75

This is my third Ali Hazelwood novel and she did her lil thing with this one im ngl 😋 I’m obsessed with Nolan and how smitten he was with Mallory after she outsmarted him and won their chess game. Also the fact that she is bi and has a supportive family is just 🥹🫶 bc we rarely get to see rom-coms where the mc’s in a heterosexual relationship have different sexualities other than being straight, so this was refreshing. I do agree with some people opinions that this should’ve been marketed as a new adult instead of YA bc even if it wasn’t incredibly descriptive, the spicy scene in the book was hardly fade to black either. I will definitely continue to read books by this author bc I enjoy her writing and how each book sheds a positive light on feminism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment, Car accident, Dementia, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Sexual content

The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Premise of this book was great, the execution on the other hand was just meh. I predicted what the twist was midway through the book and since the ending was written to start off the sequel, I’m sure the person behind the twist is exactly who I think it is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Medical content, Body horror, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This was such a heartbreaking, gut wrenching read and I feel as though words cannot express how deeply I care for this book. The way Charlie had the opportunity to be better once she got out of the facility she was placed in after her suicide attempt yet chose the path she knew would ruin her and set her back to that terrible mental state. Having to be put through the horrid events she’s experienced from such a young age bc of her environment, was hard to read about bc we know she deserves better yet she doesn’t feel she’s worthy of getting it. 

The beginning of her end was her upbringing with her parents who had many problems of their own and bringing her into their world, just seemed to make it worse. The catalyst of it all was definitely what she was put through by her best friend Elise. Sure she was her only friend but that didn’t necessarily mean she was a good influence in Charlie’s life especially after she started getting mixed up in substances, bad boyfriends and bringing those issues to Charlie.

I’ve teared up and cried and straight up paused the audiobook several times bc of the contents in the book. Whether it was from genuine disbelief in the bad decisions Charlie continued to make, the shit other characters put her through (both in the past and present) or from knowing that the story can only end one of two ways 1. She relapses & cuts herself to death or 2. She finds the strength to get the proper support she needs in order to create the life she wants and deserves for herself bc she’s still a kid with a bright future ahead. I’m happy it ended the way it did, with Charlie getting closure from Riley at the concert and her on the way to achieve her dreams of becoming an artist as she starts a letter to Elise. It was the official end to that era of her life so she can truly gain the happiness she needs after a lifetime of misery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Trafficking, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Minor: Car accident

5 Rounds by Nikki Castle

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-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

4.75

I loved the relationship Remy and Tristan have bc you could tell that the tension between was definitely years in the making & by the time they finally open up and get together, that they were meant to be. The ending was so cute, especially since Remy got to live out her dream of being a published author instead of staying at her boring 9-5 office job as well as Tristan getting to professionally fight in the UFC like he’s always wanted and trained for.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content

Minor: Pregnancy

What Monstrous Gods by Rosamund Hodge

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

soft(?) dnf at 74% bc I’m getting bored of the plot & the fantasy aspect of the book isn’t doing enough to keep me engaged rip. It’s a shame bc I was really looking forward to reading this when I put it on hold on Libby. Since I left off at chapter 28, I’m still counting it as read and leaving it at a 3⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, and Vomit

Foxglove by Adalyn Grace

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I lovedddd this book and thought it was a great sequel to Belladonna and in my personal opinion, even better than the first book 🤭 I enjoyed the murder mystery aspect and how several theories as the story progressed and the ones I got right have me very excited for the next installment of the series bc I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for the characters especially

Blythe and Fate

!! Wisteria is gonna be a new anticipated read this year and August needs to come ASAP! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Blood, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Vomit, Drug use, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Murder, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, and Sexual content

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was a cute and sweet paranormal romance, and the second Ali Hazelwood novel I’ve read. I enjoyed the listening to the audiobook and even though part of me did wish we had more dual pov, getting a brief mention of Lowe’s pov in the beginning of every chapter to get some sort of insight on his thoughts/feelings about Misery was wholesome. While this wasn’t the greatest piece of literature I’ve had the pleasure of reading, it is one I would happily recommend. Plus the ending sliding to a potential sequel with a new fated mates pairing is definitely something I’d stick around for.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Violence

Stars Above: A Lunar Chronicles Collection by Marissa Meyer

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective sad medium-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? Yes

5.0

Love that this official finale to The Lunar Chronicles held a backstory for each beloved character so we could see sides of them we weren’t about to in their books. I’m sad it’s over but I absolutely love the way it ended bc both couples deserve their HEA 🥹🫶

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Bullying, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis