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modernmatilda's reviews
101 reviews
Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
A sweet, lovely, adorable "swoon" of a book, perfect for fans of The Princess Bride, road trip romances, and second-chance love. Also, at only 131 pages, it's a perfect little read.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
My favorite book of all time! This time I read it as an audiobook and loved it.
Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
"Like a garden in full bloom: vibrant and sweet, whimsical and wondrous." -@allisonhsaft
THIS BOOK 😍😭💐 If I made a list of the top three books that have impacted my life and helped my mental health, FLOWERHEART by @catbake would be there.
I like to dub this book "a cottagecore essential with friends to lovers romance and studio ghibli vibes where the main character's magic is tied to her emotions, which are big and messy (#relatable) and her magic can grow FLOWERS".
Watching Clara, our main character, grow into her magic was absolutely beautiful and healing. The romance was squeal-worthy adorable (the scene in the rain?? 😭😍). And the world Cat built is one I want to live in forever.
If you're looking for a soft fantasy with a fierce bi female protagonist in a queernormative world, PICK THIS ONE UP!
THIS BOOK 😍😭💐 If I made a list of the top three books that have impacted my life and helped my mental health, FLOWERHEART by @catbake would be there.
I like to dub this book "a cottagecore essential with friends to lovers romance and studio ghibli vibes where the main character's magic is tied to her emotions, which are big and messy (#relatable) and her magic can grow FLOWERS".
Watching Clara, our main character, grow into her magic was absolutely beautiful and healing. The romance was squeal-worthy adorable (the scene in the rain?? 😭😍). And the world Cat built is one I want to live in forever.
If you're looking for a soft fantasy with a fierce bi female protagonist in a queernormative world, PICK THIS ONE UP!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Near death of parent
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
adventurous
emotional
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? No
5.0
Wow! I don't read a lot of long fantasy books, but this one blew me away and I'm so glad I read it. The audiobook narrator is amazing, the writing is stunning, the fierce female protagonist is amazing, and there are dragons!!
Definitely one of those emotional damage kinds of books, but in the best way. So glad my book club read this book.
Definitely one of those emotional damage kinds of books, but in the best way. So glad my book club read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
If you're going to read this book, PLEASE do yourself a favor and listen to the author read via audiobook while reading a physical copy. Her performance and delivery should be heard and her word choices should be treasured.
I felt seen and I saw others because of this book. Would DEFINITELY recommend to everyone, especially high schoolers.
I felt seen and I saw others because of this book. Would DEFINITELY recommend to everyone, especially high schoolers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Drug use
PET by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Hmm I have mixed feelings about this.
On one hand, NPR compared it to Wrinkle in Time (my fav) and I very much think it's a readalike. It has biblical undertones, kids having to handle things with the adults help, and this overall feeling of doom.
As another reviewer wrote, "Pet is the gorgeous story of a young black trans woman taking it into her own hands to see the unseen, and to protect the vulnerable, even when it means upsetting the balance of her life.".
I loved the first half; watching Pet come out of the painting, getting to know Jam, seeing them interact with other characters through sign language, it was all fantastic.
But I had no idea this story was explicitly about child abuse. The emotions in this book were heartbreaking and big and messy and raw and HEAVY. I don't know if the message was clear and helpful for a middle grade reader...
I thought the "perfect world can still be impect, need to grow, and have hidden flaws" was another sad part of the book. The story deserves the accolades it has received for its originality, representation, and heart.
But overall, it made me feel hopeless...
On one hand, NPR compared it to Wrinkle in Time (my fav) and I very much think it's a readalike. It has biblical undertones, kids having to handle things with the adults help, and this overall feeling of doom.
As another reviewer wrote, "Pet is the gorgeous story of a young black trans woman taking it into her own hands to see the unseen, and to protect the vulnerable, even when it means upsetting the balance of her life.".
I loved the first half; watching Pet come out of the painting, getting to know Jam, seeing them interact with other characters through sign language, it was all fantastic.
But I had no idea this story was explicitly about child abuse. The emotions in this book were heartbreaking and big and messy and raw and HEAVY. I don't know if the message was clear and helpful for a middle grade reader...
I thought the "perfect world can still be impect, need to grow, and have hidden flaws" was another sad part of the book. The story deserves the accolades it has received for its originality, representation, and heart.
But overall, it made me feel hopeless...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Things I love
-female character who aren't perfect and who's flaws and mistakes are a struggle
-books with covers featuring girls faces with flowers growing out of their mouths
-explorations on topic like what parents owe their children, what older siblings do to project their younger siblings and is it good, first vs second generation kids, cultural identify, belong/not belonging
This book was a wild ride with cottageGORE vibes that I treasure. But more than that, it was this gorgeous exploration of families, parents, multigeneration trauma, colonization, and ghosts. I don't think I understood everything, but I loved everything.
The dream/not dream scenes were wonderful because I did not know which parts were real and which ones weren't. The sleep paralysis creeped me the F out. The bug scenes were fantastically gorey but I think I needed more explanation.
I feel like this would make a fantastic book discussion choice and I'm so thankful to my local bookstore employee for recommending it.
-female character who aren't perfect and who's flaws and mistakes are a struggle
-books with covers featuring girls faces with flowers growing out of their mouths
-explorations on topic like what parents owe their children, what older siblings do to project their younger siblings and is it good, first vs second generation kids, cultural identify, belong/not belonging
This book was a wild ride with cottageGORE vibes that I treasure. But more than that, it was this gorgeous exploration of families, parents, multigeneration trauma, colonization, and ghosts. I don't think I understood everything, but I loved everything.
The dream/not dream scenes were wonderful because I did not know which parts were real and which ones weren't. The sleep paralysis creeped me the F out. The bug scenes were fantastically gorey but I think I needed more explanation.
I feel like this would make a fantastic book discussion choice and I'm so thankful to my local bookstore employee for recommending it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book has my entire heart. On my list of books to recommend to everyone. Our book discussion group had an incredible discussion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual harassment
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Please note the content warning below.
This is a wonderful, fast paced audiobook (4 hours) that I listened to while crocheting. The characters were precious, the hopeful ending made me happy, and it's an easy recommendation for anyone looking to dip into scifi.
This is a wonderful, fast paced audiobook (4 hours) that I listened to while crocheting. The characters were precious, the hopeful ending made me happy, and it's an easy recommendation for anyone looking to dip into scifi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
CHECK YA CONTENT WARNINGS
My sister in law has been trying to convince me to read this book for ages. I finally caved when she invited me to her book club where we'd be reading this book for the first meeting.
I am FLOORED. This book is a fantastic ride that kept me in a chokehold the last three HOURS of the audiobook. It has a FIERCE female protagonist, the most vial and disgusting villains, a thrilling ending, and the kind of nature-body-horror shiz I love.
I wouldn't blanket recommend this to everyone because of the content warnings, but I would recommend this to anyone looking for a gothic thrilling horror with a great edge of your seat reading experience.
My sister in law has been trying to convince me to read this book for ages. I finally caved when she invited me to her book club where we'd be reading this book for the first meeting.
I am FLOORED. This book is a fantastic ride that kept me in a chokehold the last three HOURS of the audiobook. It has a FIERCE female protagonist, the most vial and disgusting villains, a thrilling ending, and the kind of nature-body-horror shiz I love.
I wouldn't blanket recommend this to everyone because of the content warnings, but I would recommend this to anyone looking for a gothic thrilling horror with a great edge of your seat reading experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail