natfoster's reviews
82 reviews

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Suicide attempt

The Haunting of Moscow House by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

Just not in the headspace for it, I guess. Hoping to revisit it later

The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton: Lady Whistledown's Official Guide by Julia Quinn

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Almost Adulting: All You Need to Know to Get It Together (Sort Of) by Arden Rose
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

I could almost excuse it being an insufferable book about being an adult written by a 21yo, but then I googled who it was written by and who marries a TERF in the year of our lord 2024?? So, I'm just done. There was casually racist language and quite a bit of ablelism, despite the author talking about her own disabilities. So, yeah. I have too many other tbrs to spend anymore time here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Medical content

Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Cultural appropriation

Divergent by Veronica Roth

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

3.5

I imagine for some people it's quite good and helpful. It was a very light book, which was nice. 

101 Ways to Go Zero Waste by Kathryn Kellogg
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.

Went from helpful tips to weird anti-science wellness culture stuff really quick and just was overwhelmingly annoying. Would have been fine with just a "These are things I do" but to just spout off alarmist wellness cu ture talking points with zero scientific evidence... That's what made it unfinishable. 

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol

This book would be excellent if not for two specific scenes involving CSA (by the "demon") and while some may argue they're needed for the horror, I would argue that there's never a need for an adult male author to imagine a 12yo girl inserting things into her vagina against her will. And it could be argued that it was a different time but by then I'm wondering why you're arguing so hard in favor of graphic CSA scenes. It's sus.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.25

A Zero Waste Life: In Thirty Days by Anita Vandyke

lighthearted slow-paced

2.75