saldre's reviews
96 reviews

Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

WOW! Just Like Mother is a baby fever dream! Are you ready to be swaddled by Mother's madness?

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.5

True Crime by Samantha Kolesnik

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Sexual assault, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder

Waif by Samantha Kolesnik

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Medical trauma, Violence, Death, Dysphoria, and Emotional abuse

Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-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

4.0

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Malibu Rising was an entertaining family drama. It reminded me of an old book I read in the 90s titled "Rich Friends" by Jacqueline Briskin. The ending of Malibu Rising, felt a bit rushed. I didn't like the info dump about all the minor characters. It didn't add to my enjoyment because I couldn't remember their small, side storylines.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol, and Grief

The Stand by Stephen King

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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

5.0