questionablereads's reviews
618 reviews

Pride by Nikki J. Summers

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Nikki J. Summers has never let me down in the world of dark romance with spicy bits. I loved how Pride weaved conversations about art and its impact on society/elitism while also giving an action packed story and a possessive MMC. Think Banksy with a Dark Romance plot line and you have Pride. While reading I found myself blushing and simultaneously screaming, "wait... what?!" and I enjoyed every moment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Gun violence

Keep Me by Summer O'Toole

dark emotional tense 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? Yes

4.0

I am loving this family. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Blood

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot

informative reflective

5.0

read it and learn somethings, this should really just be required reading at this point 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, and Gaslighting

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

it’s Mary Poppins, but she ain’t right, and it’s VERY bloody 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Murder

Moderate: Blood and Gaslighting

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.75

I get that this is a Classic but I would also like to add for me this is Classic White Feminism, where depression and mania are highlighted in a time where men are dominant in the medical field, adding an unnecessary sense of unease for Esther - who tries to check out early, has zero will to live, but that racism of hers is alive and well. 

I get that this book was written in 1963, and I don’t diminish the vulnerability and power The Bell Jar held (and still does) when speaking on societal pressures of being a young woman, and its correlation to depression. 

In the same way, I can not dismiss that this book has a lot of gross racist moments. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual content

Model Home by Rivers Solomon

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Not at all what I expected, but still a great read. This is horror that explores family dynamics, trauma, flawed but well meaning characters and amazing gender fluid and autism representation, all with a haunted house backdrop.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Child abuse

Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates

dark informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

hard to read, important to know, this book has changed my brain chemistry 

I feel like this should be required reading for all women/femme presenting people who have a presence or are attempting to have a presence within the online space. It'll be easier (and at some moments validating) to recognize the warning signs and protect yourself from a community that so many others in positions of power deem, "harmless trolls in their mom's basement." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

We All Rot Eventually by Mia Ballard

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

2000s girly pop but with a touch of shabby, it's slow to start but leads up to be bloody and fun

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.25

It’s not the Lady Macbeth that I know and love, but this new version is aiiight. If you forget about the OG Macbeth, this is a story about a young woman finding her place among some powerful men who suck.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Violence

Sugar by Mia Ballard

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Aqua Tofana (iykyk)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, and Murder

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Gore and Blood