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slimy's reviews
186 reviews
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
fast-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
3.0
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Fabulous concept. Love every detail. But written painstakingly slow and in simple, short language. It’s hard to really get into it for this reason.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Brutal. This is brutal. Major trigger warnings for eating disorders, family trauma, abuse of about every kind, grief, and death.
Jennette McCurdy was a familiar face to me growing up- I watched iCarly for years and the character she played was always one of my favorites. It’s painful to read this book and know what was happening to her behind the scenes at that time. She writes very plainly, in a straightforward and honest approach to her trauma. She talks about how the overbearing and abusive nature of her mother stunted her development as a child, and lead to her delayed maturation as an adult. It was only after her mother was on death’s door that she started experiencing life with any amount of freedom or autonomy at the age of 18/19. She writes about how the eating disorder her mother taught her from age 11 has shaped who she is as an adult so intrinsically that she struggled to be an adult outside of it. She also talks about the complicated and frustrating nature of grief, especially when the dead person was an abuser.
A really great memoir. Well-written and personable- really makes you see the brutal subject material from the speaker’s perspective at different ages and maturity levels as she grows up.
Jennette McCurdy was a familiar face to me growing up- I watched iCarly for years and the character she played was always one of my favorites. It’s painful to read this book and know what was happening to her behind the scenes at that time. She writes very plainly, in a straightforward and honest approach to her trauma. She talks about how the overbearing and abusive nature of her mother stunted her development as a child, and lead to her delayed maturation as an adult. It was only after her mother was on death’s door that she started experiencing life with any amount of freedom or autonomy at the age of 18/19. She writes about how the eating disorder her mother taught her from age 11 has shaped who she is as an adult so intrinsically that she struggled to be an adult outside of it. She also talks about the complicated and frustrating nature of grief, especially when the dead person was an abuser.
A really great memoir. Well-written and personable- really makes you see the brutal subject material from the speaker’s perspective at different ages and maturity levels as she grows up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
2.0
I struggle to criticize the content in this book because this is a personal narrative of how God has showed up and changed JHP’s life. That is valid, that is real, that is her narrative, her testimony, her story and she’s entitled to share that as a part of her ministry and faith journey. But it does not mean that once you become a Christian you begin a journey of becoming not gay. It does not mean that she can proposition her narrative as the ideal or perfect way of becoming reformed. I feel this book entirely invalidates the faith and personal journeys of the LGBTQ+ community, and further pushes the “pray the gay away” narrative that says God will save you from your gayness if you just believe hard enough. Disappointed for sure, but not totally surprised.
The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
I have never read anything like this. Rachel Yoder really hit the gas and kept pushing. Didn’t let up for a second. Saw your hand fly to the handle, locked the door and said buckle up babe.
This book follows a woman in her early 30’s as she struggles with her sense of identity and purpose while being a stay at home mom to her toddler son. She becomes paranoid that she is turning into a dog and wrestles with her instincts as a mother, as an individual, and as a Woman. She finds amusement and comfort in the support of other women. She finds balance in letting her odd instincts take over. She kills her house cat and starts to eat raw meat. She crate trains her son.
This is a creative and surreal journey into self-identity within and alongside motherhood and womanhood.
This book follows a woman in her early 30’s as she struggles with her sense of identity and purpose while being a stay at home mom to her toddler son.
This is a creative and surreal journey into self-identity within and alongside motherhood and womanhood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Blood, and Gaslighting
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
An amazingly unique and brutally poignant story. The balance between Ojibwe traditions and modern crime tropes is incredible! I’ve never read anything like this.
This is another great example of books that are marketed as YA but have no business being pushed on kids without warnings. This book has many things that in my mind, entirely disqualify it from YA. See my content warning tags.
The pacing is not great. The first 5-7 chapters are very very slow… but you hit chapter 10 and are off running.
This is another great example of books that are marketed as YA but have no business being pushed on kids without warnings. This book has many things that in my mind, entirely disqualify it from YA. See my content warning tags.
The pacing is not great. The first 5-7 chapters are very very slow… but you hit chapter 10 and are off running.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, and Colonisation
Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?: (and How to Fix It) by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
1.0
Repetitive and long winded. If you’ve ever met an incompetent but charismatic man, you already know most of this.
Also- it’s not your job to fix incompetent men. K!
Also- it’s not your job to fix incompetent men. K!