sinvvas's reviews
295 reviews

Emma by Jane Austen

funny 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? Yes

4.25

Listen, I get it—Pride and Prejudice is the most well-known Austen work for a reason, but can we please appreciate its more annoying younger sister? Emma is the book for unhinged girls. Emma is a wealthy woman who has no need nor desire to marry, so she decides to play matchmaker for her friends instead. She is quick-witted, a little mean, and always in other people's business. And I LOVE HER! This has Jane Austen’s signature voice and humor, as well as a begrudging romance. If you like Pride and Prejudice or are just trying to get into classics, give Emma a try.

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

I am on a mission to read every queer Regency romance, and this was my starting point. This book is full of adventure, humor, and heart. Lord Percy hires known highwayman Kit Webb to steal a book. Although Kit is out of commission, having been disabled from a robbery gone wrong. He must teach upscale and a little stuck up Percy to become a scoundrel. This book was a feel-good blast all the way through, with some wonderful disability representation. If you're looking for a good time Cat Sebastian has got you covered.

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.75

Part space opera, part whodunnit mystery, part tooth-achingly sweet romance. All of this leads up to this wonderfully fast-paced and creative book. A young prince prone to scandal and an incredibly stoic book smart count are arranged to be married in order to protect an intergalactic treaty. Shortly after they are married, they are announced as murder suspects for the death of a court official. They must clear their names and find out who or what framed them. This had a breakneck pace and was so fun and unpredictable. Full of diverse characters and gorgeous futuristic worlds. If you're a fan of crazy fun sci-fi, this one is for you. 

Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure: A Graphic Novel by Lewis Hancox

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

5.0

Welcome to St. Hell is an incredible point-blank telling of what it is to be transgender in your teens, but more than that it is an empathetic look on our past and the people who were there with us. Lewis goes back in time to walk us through his teen years and also to help his younger self out. He talks about what mattered to him then compared to him as an adult. He spoke to his family members and friends who were less helpful during his transition, and forgave and accepted them. Most importantly though, he was able to look at his younger self and tell him that he knew how hard it was and that it did get better. A kind, empathetic, and oftentimes messy look at the experience of being transgender and being a teen. I can only hope we get more books like St. Hell in the future. 

Goodnight Punpun, Vol. 1 by Inio Asano

dark emotional tense fast-paced

5.0

This manga took my heart out of my chest, crushed it, and then spit on it. It was one of the best manga I’ve ever read and I fully understand why it’s a cult classic. This is a super poignant coming-of-age story. The main character is drawn as a little bird in comparison to every other character being fully illustrated. The contrast makes the character stick out and makes you truly put yourself in his shoes. The relationships in this manga are deeply personal, funny, and heart-wrenching. If anyone has any doubts about graphic novels, this is a perfect example of how the medium truly upholds the story. I also fully can't describe how DISGUSTING the main character becomes. Please read all of the trigger warnings before reading this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

5.0

Sometimes when you mourn you have to do so loudly and messily. Joan Didion taught me that through her grief. She lost both her only child and her husband of 40 years on the same day. Two people who have been in her life were suddenly gone in the blink of an eye. This book is both a primal cry about how unfair the world can be, and a somber process of grief, acceptance, and ultimately love for both yourself and the ones we leave behind. As a person who has experienced sudden grief, this is one of the most empathetic and cathartic books I have ever read. Joan Didion reminds us that it is okay to feel hurt and ugly emotions, as long as we treat ourselves with grace afterward.

Maurice by E.M. Forster

5.0

Dark academic queer love story that is set in Edwardian England. It was also written during this time and was not published until the 70's. It is a rare queer book with a happy ending where nobody dies. Yet it is a bittersweet story about living authentically and how much you let others' opinions harm you. It is also evident that the story was written by a person who let others' opinions harm him, and that he wrote this knowing that he may never have this type of love but continuing to hope that someone one day would. 

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

4.75

Unfortunately most vampire books live in the shadow of Brom Stoker’s Dracula, however Carmilla is not one of them. Written 25 years before Dracula, Carmilla is a dark and gloomy seductress who can hold her own weight against the king of the vampires. This book is a goth kid's dream. A Victorian woman who spends all of her time alone with her father in a gloomy mansion, has an unexpected visitor show up. This visitor is a beautiful woman who wishes to befriend her and maybe something more, but she harbors a deep bloodsucking secret. For fans of queer stories, dark settings, and sexy vampires this is the book for you. 

The Kiss by Kathryn Harrison

slow-paced

4.0

This is one of the most disturbing, yet important memoirs to read surrounding the MeToo movement. When we talk about the sexual abuse of women it often seems so far away and that strangers are the ones that perpetrate the crime. But it’s not. For most women it is their coworkers, classmates, friends, and, in the case of this book, family. There is no kind way to say the things that happened to the author. Most are cruel and confusing, but she handles it with grace. She speaks about the horrors and joys that come out of instances of sexual abuse, and how to heal from it through anger and hurt.

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

5.0

Aliens are invading! (dun, dun, duh!!!!) But they are not here to hurt humanity, they are here to cure cancer, end wars, and stop hunger. But why? That's the question that carries for the rest of the book. This book borders between hopeful science fiction and existential horror of the unknown. It will keep you on your toes and make you feel awfully small in this big universe. The author also wrote the cult classic 2001: A Space Odyssey and single-handedly inspired the entire science fiction genre.