rnbhargava's reviews
404 reviews

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The characters make some pretty annoying choices that don’t make sense given they’re aged 30. Regression to a younger state of mind is understandable a bit but mostly annoying. If they were upfront about things then the whole conflict could have resolved much sooner. That said, I mostly liked the writing and characterizations. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

One character is regularly threatening because of his trauma due to his storyline. Characters keep things from each other that could at least lessen conflict and it’s all the more questionable they do that given they’re adults. The main character doesn’t make the right choices quick enough though Reid has her think to herself about the right choice before she lapses in various ways. It’s annoying

Recursion by Blake Crouch

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This novel is a trip. It puts you through an emotional gamut while reading. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

The world gets destabilized at points in this book. There’s the question of what types of unpleasant events should be intervened on if that’s a possibility. There’s a prominent element to the plot of this book which involves self harm. Personal tragedies are also quite focused on in this plot. The things that happen across life like declining health of yourself and family members is prominent as well. The question of what would you do for your loved ones is intermingled throughout the twisty plot. I loved this book throughout. It’s one of my favorite things read in 2024.

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed how this instalment goes into the difference between being revolutionaries pushing for freedom and then the act of actually governing people. The various potential alternatives to Elend all have different pros and cons plus their own schemes. Tindwyl was quite the character cast addition. A taskmaster that’s actually quite understanding. She just acts stern because that’s how she inspires those she mentors. Elend evolves so much through the plot. It’s quite engaging. Straff is such an indulgent villain. Zane is such a wildcard character. His role is potent and absolutely necessary. OreSur possibly was my favorite through this instalment. Dockson was captivating too with his entanglement of someone from an enemy group. Sazed evolved quite a bit. I loved this second instalment but I think I understand why some dislike this sequel. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation

There’s various layers of racism and religious intolerance suggested by different characters throughout this book about different groups in the narrative. Nothing is pro intolerant people but be aware. There are characters that use stalking techniques and ones that use misogyny to their own advantage too. There is a major antagonist that is suggested to be mentally unwell. If that’s something that you would be sensitive about, be aware

Sea Change by Gina Chung

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

The protagonist is going through a rough patch in life. The triggers relate to her and also others throughout her history. It’s ultimately an upbeat plot but yes, she goes through a lot.

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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? Yes

4.25

This book isn’t perfect but the characters are so well executed and it’s all a very plausible life depiction of the title character and the characters around him that are his nearest and dearest. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Please note the alcoholism, suicide, miscarriage and car accident and the accompanying grief that could be caused by these are recurring themes in this book.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

It’s brief, there’s messiness between the characters, once it really gets going it’s swift and horrific.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

It’s a horror book with messy histories between its characters. They go and mess with stuff they probably shouldn’t have messed with because they love going to haunted or supposedly haunted places. There is gruesome material as it plays out.

Disney Mirrorverse: Belle by Alex Singer

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

It’s a fun twist on Disney’s version of Beauty and the Beast. It’s also very clearly a video game tie-in

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This book is as informative as it is engaging and heartbreaking. I’m mostly leaving it at 4.5 rather than a 5 because there’s always another side or opinion to any highly accurate fictional depiction of a certain time period

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism

The whole narrative of this novel is about ways that women in South Korea aren’t valued, even abused in their professional and personal lives by various males in their lives. From fathers, brothers, partners, husbands, coworkers even if they’re subordinates to them or generally younger (age is a big thing in Korea in interpersonal relationships) This book is fantastic, especially given its brief length. Jiyoung could be any woman you know and she just wants to be valued and acknowledged as a person but she isn’t just because she’s a woman, a hard worker, a mother, among any number of things she could also be. Fantastic novel.

Dragon Ball, Vol. 1 (Vizbig Edition) by Akira Toriyama

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is such a nostalgic manga for me. I love it.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

The sexism via lecherous old master is kind of a trope of manga of the time. Same thing with Bulma and other women presuming all guys are interested in seeing them naked or semi-undressed. There’s also a tragic backstory but the protagonist is so happy go lucky he hasn’t figured out the implications of what he does know. I love this series. It’s nostalgic for me. It’s mostly just a fun action adventure.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I quite liked this entire book. However, the reveal of the victim and the perpetrator could have been handled more effectively. The author’s habit of jumping around the day’s timeline was mostly effective but it also released some tension of the reveal of the victim and who did it. Overall, really good mystery.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

This book involves a character that preys upon late teens/early 20 somethings aged females that are just barely not minors anymore, SA and suicidal ideation resulting from this character’s actions so be aware of that.