santreads's reviews
842 reviews

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Did not finish book.

medium-paced

2.0

sometimes going on is just not worth it.

I was really not liking the first 35% of the book, thought of DNFing atleast 6 times but I kept going on. Then around 40% in, it started getting interesting. Or rather, there was a twist I just wanted to see to fruition.

But here's the thing, I was still not enjoying my time reading it. The characters were all so infuriating, and I like unlikable characters. But they just did so many things that just didn't make sense. So many things happened in this book that were so unbelievable and frankly, stupid.

So I did what every smart person does. Check the reviews and read a little ahead. And I decided, nope. Dont like the way this ended either.

So basically DNF @ 58%. 

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

4.25

wonderful, hilarious and warm as always. but felt like this time there was almost too much happening? and unfortunately, this time I had figured out the whodunnit so there wasn't that much of a suspense. :( 

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

adventurous lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

what a joyous book! love the feminist twist to it and loved how it was twisted into the mystery genre. so much fun. 

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

lighthearted medium-paced

2.0

i really wished I DNFed this one. Also don't slander the name of Alexis Rose by using it to promote your book. Alexis would never!

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

challenging dark tense medium-paced

3.25

This is a book I wish I liked more. I loved the idea of the book, that was absolutely fantastic. It was smart and dark and queer. But the execution unfortunately, felt a little lacking. 

The pacing was all over the place. I found myself regularly wondering where the book is going, what are we doing if not just reveling in the immaculate *vibes* of this book. Overall, I'm disappointed but not upset. 

Welcome to the New World by Jake Halpern

emotional informative medium-paced

4.0

really gives you an understanding of what its like being a refugee - what that's like for the immigrants and the people who help them. :)

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

without a doubt, and quite surprisingly, a new favourite.
a beautiful coming of age with so many lovable, complex characters.
beautiful discourse about addiction and mental health.
loved it!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, and Antisemitism

Displacement by Kiku Hughes

challenging emotional informative sad fast-paced

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

4.5

what an exceptional graphic novel. though I haven't read Kindred by Octavia Butler, this reminds me of that - of a young girl living in this day and age (especially Trump's America) listening to them going on about how 'you aren't american enough' or immigration in general and that bringing up the trauma that Japanese Americans had of internment camps.

i think it did an exceptional job in painting a picture (literally - since it is a graphic novel) on the time, the people and the emotions of then and how the people of now think of it and how they still deal with intergenerational trauma.

"our connection to the past is not lost, even if we don't have all the documents, even if we never learn the details. the memories of community experiences stay with us and continue to affect our lives."

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.25

many many twists that I did not see coming. what a fun, fast paced, enjoyable read this was. 

An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi

medium-paced

1.0

no.
jesus, NO.

the plot? sounded great.
the execution? a pile of stinky poo poo.
the characters? i'm not violent, but i will gladly see them drown.
the logic? none.
the prose? vomit inducing.

I made 96 highlights when I read this on my Kindle. Close to none of them are flattering. However, here are some lines from the book, and you tell me what you think.

Lightning tore the sky in two and I shivered, jerkily, as if electrocuted. (what?!)

I approached the car like a crescent moon, my back curved against the rain, head bowed toward the passenger door. (what do you mean you were like a *crescent moon*??)

kissed me so deeply I cried out, (ma'am, that should not be happening)

stuttering brain
bones shuddering

I swallowed. Swallowed. (so you ... swallowed?)

Finally—without a word—Ali walked away. Disappeared into the dying sunset. I realized, as I cried myself to sleep that night, that I might’ve hurt him less had I simply driven a stake through his heart. (okay, Ekta Kapoor)

There was just so much that I absolutely hated about the book. The only thing that I liked? That it was short and my self inflicted torture was over.

Also, please note that this is for young adults and I am not one. However, young adults, also, save yourself. Just say no.