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shutupiamreading's reviews
1217 reviews
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
dark
tense
slow-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? No
5.0
Sea Change by Gina Chung
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.25
So happy I finally got around to reading this after being on my TBR for years. It’s a beautiful slice of life story against the background of immigration, grief, and sea life.
The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
It started out okay, but my suspension of disbelief was really struggling towards the middle. What do you mean, a pregnant woman who's 38 weeks hasn't thought about which hospital she wants to give birth at? And a character who has given birth 48 hours ago is running around town investigating a death?
There were so many details about pregnancy and giving birth that the author got wrong that really shouldn't have come up in a story that revolves around pregnancy/parenthood so much.
The character was also pretty insufferable in terms of how judgmental she was towards other mothers and characters.
There were so many details about pregnancy and giving birth that the author got wrong that really shouldn't have come up in a story that revolves around pregnancy/parenthood so much.
The character was also pretty insufferable in terms of how judgmental she was towards other mothers and characters.
Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
This was so cute and original! The focus on characters in their forties was so refreshing, and the birding angle was so fun.
Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.25
So glad I stuck with this series! The first book felt very icky to me, but others had told me book 2 and 3 are so much better. I loved these characters so much, and the romance storyline definitely felt a lot less patriarchal and less icky than the previous one.
Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
This book is just stunning. The last page had me in tears - just perfect in every way.
Dear Dolly: On Love, Life and Friendship, Collected wisdom from her Sunday Times Style Column by Dolly Alderton
inspiring
reflective
4.75
Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes
informative
3.5
There were a fair few relatable passages in this, but for someone with no medical background and research experience the author diverged into medical discussion and advice a little too much.
For example, there were certain statements that X causes Y when in reality X occurs more frequently in people with Y, and those 2 are not the same thing. These things frustrate me because they can cause people to make incorrect assumptions and be misinformed when it comes to their own health. There also seemed to be a fair few oversimplified conclusions drawn from very complex medical research that seem very out of scope for an author like this. I also wish the breastfeeding discussion was more inclusive of people who choose not to breastfeed, as this chapter comes across quite alienating for people who decide not to breastfeed for whatever reason.
That being said, I did love reading her experience as a mother and the cultural perception of pregnancy and motherhood, as well as her perspective as a Filipino/American mother. I think I would've enjoyed it more if the book focused more on her personal experiences and less on the oversimplified medical information.
For example, there were certain statements that X causes Y when in reality X occurs more frequently in people with Y, and those 2 are not the same thing. These things frustrate me because they can cause people to make incorrect assumptions and be misinformed when it comes to their own health. There also seemed to be a fair few oversimplified conclusions drawn from very complex medical research that seem very out of scope for an author like this. I also wish the breastfeeding discussion was more inclusive of people who choose not to breastfeed, as this chapter comes across quite alienating for people who decide not to breastfeed for whatever reason.
That being said, I did love reading her experience as a mother and the cultural perception of pregnancy and motherhood, as well as her perspective as a Filipino/American mother. I think I would've enjoyed it more if the book focused more on her personal experiences and less on the oversimplified medical information.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm SO SO SO glad I came back to this book after DNF'ing it after a few pages last year. The audiobook was so entertaining and brought all the funny dialogue to life. What a stunning book with really complex characters and beautiful character development. Loved the writing so much.