samanthaleeshea's reviews
65 reviews

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

adventurous challenging emotional sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Mushrooming: The Joy of the Quiet Hunt - An Illustrated Guide to the Fascinating, the Delicious, the Deadly and the Strange by Diane Borsato

3.0

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Dementia, and Grief

The Lost Tarot by Sarah Henstra

hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I really enjoyed the atmosphere & mystery but wished there was more character development. Just felt like it was missing some depth? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.25

I didn’t hate it, it definitely kept my attention most of the time and I saw it through to see what would happen to the characters.

I think it didn’t need to be an 800 page book, but it was definitely on the nose with a lot of the political atmosphere in the US. 

Some of the gore/ violence was a bit over the top for me - please check the content warnings if you’re sensitive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Pedophilia, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, Car accident, and Abortion

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Murder