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modernmatilda's reviews
101 reviews
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Was the twist worth it? Mostly. Was it a little slow and repetitive? A little. But was it still a solid ride? Yes.
More Mexican Gothic, less House of Hollow. Probably predictable for other readers, but I like being caught up in the ride. Had GORGEOUS lyrical writing and some lines I underlined in pen.
More Mexican Gothic, less House of Hollow. Probably predictable for other readers, but I like being caught up in the ride. Had GORGEOUS lyrical writing and some lines I underlined in pen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Rape
Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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
Wow, this book. I picked it up on a whim after seeing it on Novel Neighbors bookstagram page. Read the first four pages in the store and couldn't leave without it.
It took me a minute to get past the over use of 60s slang, but when I got into the emotional scenes with Web and Johnathan, I wouldn't escape the book's pull. I just wanted Web and Johnathan to be happy!!!
This book made me cry, a lot. I felt big emotions while reading it. There were also scenes that felt just like a David Bowie song.
I really, really loved it.
It took me a minute to get past the over use of 60s slang, but when I got into the emotional scenes with Web and Johnathan, I wouldn't escape the book's pull. I just wanted Web and Johnathan to be happy!!!
This book made me cry, a lot. I felt big emotions while reading it. There were also scenes that felt just like a David Bowie song.
I really, really loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
I am so happy books like these exist in the world; books full of hope and triump and honestly, kids putting rude adults in their place. The nonbinary, queer reb is off the charts and I loved that Callie was flawed too. I would have liked more sword fighting and dragons and less speeches, but I think that is maybe to come in other books. As another reviewer said "be prepared to spend the entire book mad at abusive men"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexism
Nothing Sung and Nothing Spoken by Nita Tyndall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
It is really hard to care about the characters in this book when they are spoiled, unsympathetic German girls who whine about not being able to go clubbing when their childhood best friends and thousands of others are being taken, killed, and tortured via the Holocaust. DNF.
Tracker220 by Jamie Krakover
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is a solid read and I'm excited to chat about it with book club. It's a classic dystopia feel book with a love triangle, chosen-one girl, but adds in some Jewish representation which was nice. The heist ending scenes kept me reading and it was a enjoyable read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury
Death of sibling/child
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
slow-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
Reasons to read this book:
Rapunzel and Flynn Rider romance vibes
Cottagecore vibes for days
Soft fantasy
Audiobook Weston Winters has a Newies-boy accent and my entire heart
An absolutely LOVELY read that I wish I could spent eternity in.
Rapunzel and Flynn Rider romance vibes
Cottagecore vibes for days
Soft fantasy
Audiobook Weston Winters has a Newies-boy accent and my entire heart
An absolutely LOVELY read that I wish I could spent eternity in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was queer, it had emotional damage, and it was a new to me genre that I loved (noir)!
However, there is a giant plot point and a scene at an "asylum". The book is set in the 1930s and there is pushback conversations from the characters on topics of queer people and conversion therapy and wives not needing permission from husbands to do things. BUT it still doesn't sit right with me that it was a plot point at all. I don't know.
Overall, I had fun riding the ride of this book and could recommend it, but I'd like to hear more about the topic above from the author.
However, there is a giant plot point and a scene at an "asylum". The book is set in the 1930s and there is pushback conversations from the characters on topics of queer people and conversion therapy and wives not needing permission from husbands to do things. BUT it still doesn't sit right with me that it was a plot point at all. I don't know.
Overall, I had fun riding the ride of this book and could recommend it, but I'd like to hear more about the topic above from the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
An absolutely incredible, warm, magic romance that will leave you believing in the magic of snow days.
Ellie spent last Christmas falling head over heels for a woman in the bookstore. They spent an incredible day together in the snow. But when morning came, everything fell apart. This Christmas, desperate for money, hope, and an escape, she agrees to be fake engaged to her coffee shop's landlord, Andrew, in order for him to inherit family money (and share a portion of the funds with her). But when she arrives at the cabin to spend Christmas with Andrew's family, she meets his sister... the woman from last Christmas.
Seeing characters in romance novels struggle and grow through their mental health challenges is MY FAVORITE!!!!!!
Ellie spent last Christmas falling head over heels for a woman in the bookstore. They spent an incredible day together in the snow. But when morning came, everything fell apart. This Christmas, desperate for money, hope, and an escape, she agrees to be fake engaged to her coffee shop's landlord, Andrew, in order for him to inherit family money (and share a portion of the funds with her). But when she arrives at the cabin to spend Christmas with Andrew's family, she meets his sister... the woman from last Christmas.
Seeing characters in romance novels struggle and grow through their mental health challenges is MY FAVORITE!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Biphobia
Season of Love by Helena Greer
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Seasons of Love is a LOVELY winter romance that I highly recommend. Miriam Blum's incredibly cool and eccentric aunt Cass has passed away, leaving her Christmas tree farm to Mirum, her cousin Hannah, her childhood friend Levi, and the super hot (but grumpy) butch tree farmer, Noelle. The farm - a center for MANY peoples Christmas traditions, though it is ironically run by a Jewish family - is at risk of going under - Miriam and Noelle have to save their favorite place in the universe and survive each other in the process (and try not falling in love ooooooo).
The dialog of this book was amazing and the GROWTH of all the characters- even the side characters people! - was so good, I cried. I came for the pink cover, stayed for the realistic love story of two people dealing with their baggage (with a super cute ice skating scene).
Honestly, this turned out to be a memorable romance I would definitely reread! Make the Yultide Gay!
The dialog of this book was amazing and the GROWTH of all the characters- even the side characters people! - was so good, I cried. I came for the pink cover, stayed for the realistic love story of two people dealing with their baggage (with a super cute ice skating scene).
Honestly, this turned out to be a memorable romance I would definitely reread! Make the Yultide Gay!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol
Bingo Love by Tee Franklin
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I've been dreaming of reading this forever (an older queer romance centered around bingo?!?!) and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. It's a gorgeous story, but I wanted more; more details, more fleshing out, more explanations. I would have read 300+ more pages of this love story, but I'm just happy this exists. Go gay grandmas!