naturallydeanna's reviews
359 reviews

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

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

4.0

For fans of Sally Rooney and Melissa Broder
Corinne by Rebecca Morrow

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.0

My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin

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dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

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

3.75

This is a dark literary fiction, I feel like it dragged in some areas although I understand it was trying to set up all backgrounds and characters. I felt that it had too much going on. However I liked the premise and the story a lot, which is why I'm rating 3.75
The Angel Maker by Alex North

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

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funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

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

5.0

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wow is all that all I have to say. I was a big fan of Transcendent Kingdom, so I decided to pick this up as it has been on my TBR for a while and OMG. Man, this moved me. You follow generations and two different storylines times from the period of the transatlantic slave trade to now. While this sounds complicated, it was done so beautifully. It really shows how we can feel generational trauma today in unexpected ways. I absolutely loved this.
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.0

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

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funny 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

4.5

I love black fiction that discusses race but does it in a nuanced, storytelling way. Also, a taste of drama too in a hilarious way made me not put this book down. Definitely one of my favorite fiction books I've read in 2023.