sarah_amy's reviews
52 reviews

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5.0

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

5.0

Falling by T.J. Newman

adventurous challenging dark hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

'WHEN THE SHOE DROPPED INTO her lap, the foot was still in it.'

This is the very first line and it kept me on the edge of my seat from then on! Full of suspense and so much plot-twisty goodness! I've been looking for something like this for ages and hit gold. I would have read it in one go but I needed to take breaks from the tension! Oh and the author has experience in being a flight attendant, so you're completely immersed and believe everything that happens. Deserves so much more hype.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, and Blood

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

Tom Hank's narration scores most of the points in this novel. I love his art of storytelling. However, I found the story itself uninteresting. The characters had plenty of substance; I liked the relationship between the brother and sister in particular, but the plot itself was quite unmoving. 2 siblings unable to move forward from the past until they eventually do.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent

The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

challenging hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Now I know why most people read this book at least once in their lives. Anne's self-awareness, reflection, compassion, ability to self-soothe, and still find gratefulness in her life in one of the most horrific times in history is so humbling. She held onto her own convictions and self-worth with such strength, no matter how hopeless and lonely things became. So many of these qualities I'm only just getting the hang of in my 30s. Again, truly humbling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

No One Rides for Free by Judith Sonnet

dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

Like 'Playground' another book I wish I had never ever read. Hitch-hiker makes family torture each other in horrendous ways with the promise of survival if they do as they're told. Makes me feel sick knowing I read this and wish I could forget it. Do yourself a favour and don't read.
But again, the author achieved what they wanted I guess.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Playground by Aron Beauregard

dark fast-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? It's complicated

I wish I hadn't. This is far beyond my limit & I feel awful having read it, but I know the imagination would have run wild if I didn't find out how it finished and I'd rather 1 ending than my brain making up the possibility of 1000s. Think Saw, mixed with Squid Game...but children are made to play and parents are forced to watch. All the trigger warnings. Oh and it has pictures too with graphic details of the gore. And I haven't even mentioned the ringleader of this & the very graphic descriptions of their depraved s*xual desires & actions (thankfully not involving the children). Don't. I feel guilty having read it as it feels like I chose to be a bystander in a horrific crime. Even though it is fictional. Having said that, it did its job, so technically it is well written. I just wish I hadn't picked it up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

Up there with my favourite thrillers - so much so that after my first listen, I started again immediately. Very cleverly crafted; I did not see the twists coming. It made me feel strong things about the characters and what was going on - a sign of a great read. Be prepared - it's very dark and graphic but will leave your jaw on the floor.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Infertility, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy