paperback_whiplash's reviews
311 reviews

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

medium-paced

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

3.0

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? N/A

4.0

One By One by Ruth Ware

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Mine by Robert R. McCammon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.

Really dated book, hasn't aged well. Couldn't connect with the characters. Very slow book. Got 2/3rds of the way in and not much had happened. Laura's baby was missing for several days and the FBI had nothing to go off. But Laura managed to find people with extremely close connections to the kidnapper over a weekend. The only horror or disturbing parts were when the kidnapper would relive her past or when she was on a bad LSD trip. DNF 

Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

funny 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

4.0

Recursion by Blake Crouch

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt

The Hike by Drew Magary

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Ben goes on a business trip leaving his wife and 3 young children at home. Once arriving, he decides to go on a hike in the wilderness behind the hotel he's staying at. The path is clear, he's mindful of landmarks and forks so he can make it back to the hotel without getting lost. He's witnesses something straight out of nightmare only a few minutes into he hike. Two dog faced men carrying a dead child. They chase after him. Ben runs back the way he came. Running for his life. He goes the same direction but the path is completely different. The landmarks, there's no fork in the road anymore. As long as you stay on the path you cannot die.
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One of the best books I've ever read. Ben pure stubbornness to get back to his family is inspiring. The whimsical (and sometimes terrifying) journey is beautifull  written. Very quick read that will stay with me for a while. Fans of Redshirts by John Scalzi and The Humans by Matt Haig will enjoy The Hike also. Has the same feel good/what is life anyway vibe. 

The White Girl by Tony Birch

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25