purplepenning's reviews
1670 reviews

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Blood

Minor: Cursing and Deadnaming

Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon

hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian

3.75

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

This is a 4-star story of self-discovery but a 3-star romance, so I split the difference. I ended up listening to most of it on audio, which may have also brought my rating down. (The narrator was good, just didn't work particularly well for me.) 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Death, Vomit, and Car accident

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Grief, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol

System Collapse by Martha Wells

4.5

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford

3.75

Hot Boy Summer by Joe Jiménez

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.25

A story of find your crew, living your truth, and facing down the hostilities within and without.

This book is super written for a specific audience, so your enjoyment may depend on your tolerance for high school drama, pop culture references, and excessive AF slang. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation