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noraestelle's reviews
43 reviews
The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Lately, I’ve been doing two things differently. I’ve been using a structured rating system to get my star count and I’ve been waiting a handful of days before rating/reviewing the book I’ve read. I feel like doing this helps me figure out if the book really impacted me/stuck with me. I’m able to get my thoughts in order. This book has passed the test. I’ve been thinking about it since I’ve finished it. I think it’s a wonderful look into what women had to go through in the past and how it sadly hasn’t changed much now. If someone ever doesn’t understand WHY women are so terrified daily, this is a perfect read for them. It’s like a coming of age story mixed with mystery with potentially very hard topics. The ending warmed my heart and I don’t know. I can’t put into enough words how special this book is!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Trafficking, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
The First Death by Kendra Elliot
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I think overall it was an okay book, but nothing to rave about. It was good in the sense of well written and keeps you interested, but I felt like at times it was lack luster and fell apart. The main low interests talk and act like they’ve never experienced feelings before, very weird. Besides the really dark child abuse this book gave cozy mystery vibes. Definitely aimed for dog lovers, oddly. And the ending was kind of wrapped up too nicely and speedy for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Murder, Child death, Violence, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book made me feel many things and by the end of it left me feeling numb. I see why Lucinda Berry is talked about so much! I genuinely didn’t like many of the characters, but I still cared to know what happened to them. It’s hard because while I’m a woman I’m not a parent nor do I plan to be one. I can’t even imagine the grief these women went through nor will I know. So it’s hard to judge, but you’re kind of left there wanting to. So many messed up things happen that you’re kind of just like why? You try to pick apart the reasoning. I will say *no offense to anyone* it was giving the energy of over obsessed boy moms at times. Like kind of incestuous, but that might just be my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicide, Bullying, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death, Gaslighting, Child death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
slow-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
3.0
I read this book for a book club I’m in. I don’t think this book is bad by any means, I just don’t really think it was for me. I don’t read fantasy books very often so I don’t know if that was throwing me off or if it was that I liked all of the side characters more than the two main characters. Over all it was very well written and everything just a lot of the time I was thinking I didn’t really care what happened.
Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think overall it’s a really good book and I would be open to reading other things from this author. I will say it wasn’t perfect, I feel like it could have been cut in half. I don’t think this is a spoiler, but you’re following an unreliable narrator that you find out something is off very early on so by the end of the book you’re kind of just feeling like “can someone please just tell me what’s going on?”. While the climax is good, you’ve already been through like 4 other instances that you thought was the climax. I just felt like it was kind of just repetitive and at one point it literally was a whole scene that was repeated.
Like I said it was a really good book, I just want others going into it to know so it’s a better experience for them. Also, I highly suggest getting the audiobook. The voice actress did a phenomenal job! I really felt immersed because of her.
Now this might be a so watch out, but the ending while sweet I don’t know how I felt about the paranormal aspect of it. I’m conflicted on that. Kind of cheesy but 🤷🏻♀️
Like I said it was a really good book, I just want others going into it to know so it’s a better experience for them. Also, I highly suggest getting the audiobook. The voice actress did a phenomenal job! I really felt immersed because of her.
Now this might be a so watch out, but the ending while sweet I don’t know how I felt about the paranormal aspect of it. I’m conflicted on that. Kind of cheesy but 🤷🏻♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Torture, Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Cancer, Child death, and Chronic illness
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
So I wanted to read this book before ever watching the movie. I always heard the movie was a classic, so I figured the book is too. Honestly, it took me way too long to figure out if I was even reading the first/right book or not. My opinion, the aunts are the only like-able characters in the whole book and I find they’re not in it enough. If you came for a cute witchy book, you’ve come to the wrong place. The only time there is any “witchy” elements in the book is when the aunts are around which isn’t often. They had too many side characters that they would insert their thoughts in, but didn’t really build those characters. Over half of the side characters I did not care about. Honestly, I would have much rather listen to Sally and her husbands love story which we barely got any of. To me that was the only love story in the book, the others were all rushed and felt forced. Not to mention literally every sexual scene feeling uncomfortable and on the verge of not consent. I kept reading this book waiting for it to get good and don’t get me wrong there were cute moments. Maybe I just had too high expectations going into it, but I don’t know. I’d say for 75% of the book I was just waiting for it to be over. I will say the narrator I liked. She sounded like Cher and I lowkey loved that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal cruelty, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Sidetracked by S.T. Abby
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
The books in the mindf*ck series are the closest books to a true 5 star rating from me in a very long time!
While I’m eager to finish them I never want them to end.
While I’m eager to finish them I never want them to end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Infertility, Sexual violence, and Rape
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
While the back and forth of the relationship is annoying and the time jumps are kind of crazy, it does help build up the relationship and longing they have for each other. I was not expecting to be tearing up towards the end wanting more. I think the audiobook kind of saved this book for me, the voice actors did incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Cannibalism
The Risk by S.T. Abby
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
I’m not going to say the writing is philosophical, but the storytelling is phenomenal! It has me giggling, kicking my feet, and eating it up. I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Murder
Minor: Blood
Ward D by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
I have read a handful of Freida McFadden’s books before, and I would say this one is by far my favorite! It wasn’t perfect, and the main character had her “meh” moments but over all an amazing book that had me guessing for majority of It.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Blood, Drug abuse, and Murder