onceandfuturereads's reviews
278 reviews

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

dark reflective sad 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

5.0

We Came to Welcome You by Vincent Tirado

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I really loved this book. It’s been awhile since I’ve read something that was actually scary and made my skin crawl. It’s fast-paced but also a smart thriller
that comments on the consequences of assimilation. What more could you want? I do agree with some reviews here that the audiobook narrator was awful. I had to listen on over 2x speed so she didn’t sound like a robot. Will def be reading more from this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, and Racism

Everywhere I Look by Ona Gritz

dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.0

I liked that the focus was on the author's grief and not so much the "true crime." There are some very hard-hitting lines. This is what I wished "Stay True" had been.

The Between by Tananarive Due

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

After reading some reviews, I think I get the gist. Not for me. 

The Lover by Marguerite Duras

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a book more about the mother than the lover. Much like the memoir “The Kiss,” one of my favorites. I loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse

The Witch Elm by Tana French

reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Homophobia and Rape

Minor: Medical trauma

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

hopeful fast-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? It's complicated

2.0

I think maybe romance just isn't my genre, but this was particularly trite, due in no small part to its implausibility. I mean, do you really believe

a man who you did it with a couple times is gonna call you while you're out of the country to wish you well????

And on that note, this book, short though it was, could have started on Chapter 6 and it would have made no difference. That tells me that I found the story repetitive and shallow. I will say though, it was definitely sensual, so that bumped it up a star.

Notes on a Silencing: A Memoir by Lacy Crawford

dark informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Wow.

Circe by Madeline Miller
Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.

I tried really hard, but I realized I would not be giving another book this much grace. It was too slow and I felt bored and uninspired to pick it up.