srm's reviews
1087 reviews

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Delightful and charming, and yet incredibly meaningful as well. 

Eastbound by Maylis de Kerangal

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

The Forbidden Notebook by Alba de Céspedes

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Well-written and interesting.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Sacrati by Kate Sherwood

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder

Minor: Death, Slavery, and Colonisation

Love by Maayan Eitan

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This story of a prostitute is told in highly stylized writing that is very well executed, but at the end of the day, it's a book I can admire more than actively like. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Sexual content

Lust, Caution: The Story by Eileen Chang

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

Just wasn't connecting to the MC. 

The Ten Loves of Nishino by Hiromi Kawakami

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.0

Not really my cup of tea. Nishino remains an enigma throughout, which is likely the point, and fine as far as it goes, but I also I never felt any connection to the 10 loves of his life. I just didn't care. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol

A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.25

This series continues to be a bunch of fun. Hope for there to be more!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol

When Race Trumps Merit by Heather Mac Donald

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0