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onmalsshelf's reviews
1335 reviews
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
dark
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
In all, this is a bleak story following a family’s generational trauma and choices and the domino effects.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Trafficking, Grief, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting
Rosarita by Anita Desai
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I was really excited for this one because of the synopsis and the cover. The idea of a novella following a young woman that exploded memory, grief, and the past really caught my attention.
However the second person point of view really left me feeling disconnected from the story. We never learned why the young woman made the decision to go Mexico other than to “learn language”. We also never learned anything about the young woman and the relationship with her mother.
The plot seemed so surface level. I don’t even see where grief was explored in the story. Was the young woman grieving her mom? Was the woman in Mexico grieving not seeing Rosarita again?
What really drove down the rating for this one for me is that the author not only used the g**** slur to describe a character, but she also used “The Trickster” to describe this character as well, which trickster is also something people use in hand with the slur. It felt like to me that the author doubled down on the use of the g**** slur. It’s 2025, everyone involved in the publishing of this book should know better.
However the second person point of view really left me feeling disconnected from the story. We never learned why the young woman made the decision to go Mexico other than to “learn language”. We also never learned anything about the young woman and the relationship with her mother.
The plot seemed so surface level. I don’t even see where grief was explored in the story. Was the young woman grieving her mom? Was the woman in Mexico grieving not seeing Rosarita again?
What really drove down the rating for this one for me is that the author not only used the g**** slur to describe a character, but she also used “The Trickster” to describe this character as well, which trickster is also something people use in hand with the slur. It felt like to me that the author doubled down on the use of the g**** slur. It’s 2025, everyone involved in the publishing of this book should know better.
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder: A Novel by Bellamy Rose
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Unlikeable Female Characters by Anna Bogutskaya
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Thank you to Sourcebooks, which sent me this copy.
Sadly this did not work for me. I made it about 17% in after trying it out on audio as the physical copy wasn’t working for me either.
17% in and it just felt like I was experiencing word salad? It seemed that after the introduction instead of each type of unlikeable female character being introduced and explained with analysis, they were all just thrown at the reader.
By the time I decided to pause the audiobook, I felt overwhelmed by how many actresses names and movies had been thrown at me back to back. It was just one after another
Sadly this did not work for me. I made it about 17% in after trying it out on audio as the physical copy wasn’t working for me either.
17% in and it just felt like I was experiencing word salad? It seemed that after the introduction instead of each type of unlikeable female character being introduced and explained with analysis, they were all just thrown at the reader.
By the time I decided to pause the audiobook, I felt overwhelmed by how many actresses names and movies had been thrown at me back to back. It was just one after another
A Burning by Megha Majumdar
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
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? No
4.25