potsandpans22's reviews
11 reviews

Daddy on Demand by A.W. Scott

emotional funny informative relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

You & Me by Tal Bauer

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

5.0

This book is probably one of the first MM romance books I've read and it was SUCH A GREAT ONE to start with 
It's a bi-awakening, friends to lovers, single dads romance, with each of the characters working thorugh their own issues, facing their own challenges all interlinking. 
I loved it so much and for so much of it I had a smile plastered on my face. 

Saving Rain by Kelsey Kingsley

emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This book put me through the WORKS emotionally. I'm talking flowing tears, mental breakdowns, crazy stuff. 
I went into this book completely blind (didn't even read the blurb) and oh my god I went on a rollercoaster ride. This book is a romance but the romance doesn't even start until like 50% of the way through the book (but for the best reasons, like it doesn't sound right, but you understand why if you read the book). 
I sobbed throughout this book, but oh my god was it a great book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child death

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Murder, Death of parent, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape

Maidens of Krizovia by Ethan A. Jaeda

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Truthfully, Yours by Caden Armstrong

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? N/A

5.0

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

4.75

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny 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? N/A

4.25

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

My goodness where do I even start with this book. The journey I went through when reading this is definitely a reflective one. It ripped me to shreds, grinded me to a pulp, stomped me into the ground, covered me with dirt, watered me, let flowers grow from where the remnants of myself were buried in an unmarked grave and then let a blissful life come from all of that. 

It is a very heavy anthology but I highly recommend it. Just check the content warnings first, as it covers some very heavy, triggering topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, and Suicide

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Terminal illness, Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Self harm, Sexism, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Cancer, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

Having read the book after watching the movie (I know, heathenous, but I only found out about the book after) I do see the similarities. The book does have several more unnecessary slurs such as the n-word and r-word but it fits the context of 1953 (I believe) when the book is set. 
Other than that the plot is very well-written, all the plot twists and turns are executed brilliantly and the character development is great too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Cursing, Mental illness, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs