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modernmatilda's reviews
98 reviews
In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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 haven't read a lot of books this year, let alone good books. But thank goodness Jeff Zentner. This gentle, quiet book beautifully weaved grief and love together in a way that made my heart ache and made my emotions feel so seen.
The prose is just exquisite and Cash is a main character you truly could really root for. The audiobook narrator really brought him to life, but I wish I had read the physical book so I could highlight the beautiful lines, including...
"There are secret fires you wall off because you fear what they'll burn if you lose them. Because you choose caution over possibility. But the first crack of the wall, you feel their warmth and decide you'll gladly risk the burning." (Chapter 73)
An exceptional coming-of-age read that I could see being very impactful for teens.
The prose is just exquisite and Cash is a main character you truly could really root for. The audiobook narrator really brought him to life, but I wish I had read the physical book so I could highlight the beautiful lines, including...
"There are secret fires you wall off because you fear what they'll burn if you lose them. Because you choose caution over possibility. But the first crack of the wall, you feel their warmth and decide you'll gladly risk the burning." (Chapter 73)
An exceptional coming-of-age read that I could see being very impactful for teens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, and Death of parent
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
challenging
emotional
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Hmm I'm not sure how I felt about this book (it's been a rough reading year for me in general). While I thought this would be more of a dark mystery (sleepwalking, big ancient boarding school, group of girls called The Unholy), those points were dropped without being mentioned or utilized again. Instead, this was an important discussion about the toxicity of "boys will be boys" and rape culture. The ending was not hopeful, but realistic. The writing missed a lot of marks for me; I wish the author would have taken 200 fewer pages to tell the story and utilized more "show" over "tell." Definitely one to check content warnings on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Do you ever have those books that are probably good books, but don't come to you at the right time or fade into the background of your memory half way through reading them? This book was one of those for me. Just unmemorable. Probably a good book, I just didn't have the time or attention to dedicate to it.
The Prospects by KT Hoffman
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? N/A
5.0
This book was the perfect summer read! I discovered it because of a bookstagram/book club friend who's taste in books is incredible and I picked it up after attending a game at my town's own minor league baseball team. I really loved it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Carrie by Stephen King is one of my favorites; I'm fascinated by all of the differences between the book, the movies, the musical, and so on. Not to mention the gore and utter chokehold that Carrie in her final stage has on me. I was excited to start The Weight of Blood, with a fresh take on the trauma Maddy/"Carrie" endures. I think this book would make an excellent selection for book discussion groups who would be able to discuss race, belonging, guilt, obligations, first love, parental control, and so much more. I loved listening to the cast of multiple narrators. I do wish the scare/gore/haunting factor of the book would have been dialed up; it felt incredibly soft and the climax was borderline boring (where was the fire? the death? the scary factor?). I would recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
This was a sweet romance about the game of chess, how people navigate in circles dominated by the opposite gender, and intimidation theory (which is basically this idea that people perform worse if they are afraid, especially when gender is a factor).
I really love "he fell first" love stories - they are so CUTE - and I loved love loved reading about a protagonist who feels the stress and weight of money, caring for a sick parent, and providing for her siblings. The sister dynamic was wonderful.
This is very random, but I promise it makes sense. If you love The Lizzie McGuire movie, you should read this book.
Also, we love the bi rep!
I really love "he fell first" love stories - they are so CUTE - and I loved love loved reading about a protagonist who feels the stress and weight of money, caring for a sick parent, and providing for her siblings. The sister dynamic was wonderful.
This is very random, but I promise it makes sense. If you love The Lizzie McGuire movie, you should read this book.
Also, we love the bi rep!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity and Car accident
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Stalking
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent and Pandemic/Epidemic
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
WOW. If you thought House of Hollow was a wild ride, buckle up!
The Invocations follows three girls with dark magic who rile against the patriarchy to find a killer who is targeting women and stealing their powers. We meet Jude, the cursed and exiled daughter of a billionaire, Emer the feisty witch, and Zara, who is trying to bring her sister back from the dead.
I am so thankful to have received an advanced readers copy from my favorite indie bookstore and I am looking forward to conversing with Krystal Sutherland at my Library in February!
The Invocations follows three girls with dark magic who rile against the patriarchy to find a killer who is targeting women and stealing their powers. We meet Jude, the cursed and exiled daughter of a billionaire, Emer the feisty witch, and Zara, who is trying to bring her sister back from the dead.
I am so thankful to have received an advanced readers copy from my favorite indie bookstore and I am looking forward to conversing with Krystal Sutherland at my Library in February!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, and Stalking
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent and Pandemic/Epidemic
A Ruin of Roses by K.F. Breene
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I went to the bookstore looking for a spicy fairytale retelling and this one delivered! It had all of the wonderful Beauty and the Beast vibes and I was genuinely wrapped up in the lore of the village. I'm so sad that it is a trilogy because I want to spend more time with the characters and I want to find out what happens, but a three-book commitment is a lot.