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steff_fox's reviews
49 reviews
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-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
5.0
The Set Up by Falguni Kothari
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Okay, so this wasn’t terrible, but I also didn’t love it. It’s a rather quick, rather grating story whose characters are all kind of rude in one way or another (with a few small exceptions) and, specifically for the main characters, never really get the time to grow past the rudeness they start off with. I guess that’s just a hazard of these short audiobooks.
I’m also not to fond of the way Vikas Adam (the male narrator) portrayed Aditi in the dialogue of the main characters’ first date.
In general, though, I have to admit I’m deeply bothered by this idea of families setting their kids up on “dates” thing that keeps occurring in modern Indian stories. It just seems ridiculous to me to posit this idea that parents and grandparents “know better” than the younger generation and therefore are the best people to choose their children and grandchildren’s spouse.
It implies a level of knowledge of a person that I just don’t truly feel anyone other than that person is capable of. I’d I let MY parents set me up with people and choose my future spouse, I would’ve been horrendously miserable.
Now, to be fair, my feelings on this new trope are likely heavily impacted by this truth about my family. And as this is not my culture, I cannot discredit this (and other) story entirely for it. It’s just hard for me to read these sort of stories because they bring about an instant feeling of “ick.” Maybe this is a sign I should steer clear of these books or perhaps it presents a learning opportunity. I’m not entirely sure yet.
All of this said, I do think this new trope is a great move away from all the arranged marriage stuff within the culture. While I’m sure many of these worked for many people, I fully support the push to allow people to choose whether they engage with that tradition or not.
I’m also not to fond of the way Vikas Adam (the male narrator) portrayed Aditi in the dialogue of the main characters’ first date.
In general, though, I have to admit I’m deeply bothered by this idea of families setting their kids up on “dates” thing that keeps occurring in modern Indian stories. It just seems ridiculous to me to posit this idea that parents and grandparents “know better” than the younger generation and therefore are the best people to choose their children and grandchildren’s spouse.
It implies a level of knowledge of a person that I just don’t truly feel anyone other than that person is capable of. I’d I let MY parents set me up with people and choose my future spouse, I would’ve been horrendously miserable.
Now, to be fair, my feelings on this new trope are likely heavily impacted by this truth about my family. And as this is not my culture, I cannot discredit this (and other) story entirely for it. It’s just hard for me to read these sort of stories because they bring about an instant feeling of “ick.” Maybe this is a sign I should steer clear of these books or perhaps it presents a learning opportunity. I’m not entirely sure yet.
All of this said, I do think this new trope is a great move away from all the arranged marriage stuff within the culture. While I’m sure many of these worked for many people, I fully support the push to allow people to choose whether they engage with that tradition or not.
Spare by Prince Harry
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
With a book so full of someone’s whole self, it’s unsurprising that I find myself leaving this book with a multitude of thoughts and feelings on the many subjects Prince Harry touches on in his memoir.
What I ultimately land on, however, is that I hope they find the peace and security the Press and, unfortunately, his family will could not bring themselves to allow him and, most importantly, the little family he and Meghan built together.
What I ultimately land on, however, is that I hope they find the peace and security the Press and, unfortunately, his family will could not bring themselves to allow him and, most importantly, the little family he and Meghan built together.
Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Goodness, I’m sorry. I just found this entire book so painfully boring. It took far more effort than it should have to finish the last 40% of the book.
Pixels of You by Yuko Ota, Ananth Hirsh
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Heart of Stone by Eliza Luce
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
2.0
Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston
adventurous
dark
slow-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
2.0
It was a bit of a slog to get through this book, I’m not gonna lie. And what’s most depressing about this is the fact that it genuinely had some really great potential. But somewhere after coming up with the mother’s backstory and the building of the world, all of the interesting pieces of this story got lost in the painfully slow writing, poorly executed plot twists, and the exceptionally dull characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Glow by Raven Kennedy
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
TW: Abuse; if you need the receipts, I’ve shared notes & highlights (on Goodreads). As someone who was once in an abusive relationship, this book was actually traumatizing to read at times and therefore so are the notes.
So, a tiny criticism I had from the last book—legitimately trauma-inducing, possessive af sex scene, anyone?—blew up into a huge problem in this one.
For a book series that is so heavily anti-abuse, Kennedy does an absolutely terrible job in her attempts to portray Slade as non problematic in how he treats Auren.
I’m sorry, but you can’t write three books about a woman finding her way out of an abusive relationship and expect the absolute lack of trauma response to her new partner having some very abusive tendencies and shades to stand. The book is missing realism at best and romanticizing abuse at worst.
Slade’s disturbing level of possessiveness and need to sneak and lie in order control her situation is not sexy. And it’s especially not sexy after everything Auren went through. I don’t care what his motivation is; Slade is actively being harmful and repeating an abusive behavior she’s already been through.
You’d think after all his rah rah-ing about how horrible Midas was he wouldn’t be too keen on following in the man’s footsteps…and YET!
I just…give the girl a goddamn break from these controlling freaks in her life. Let her <I>heal</I>. Auren has been through enough.
Honestly, I’m super disappointed. And I don’t think I’ll be reading the next one.
So, a tiny criticism I had from the last book—legitimately trauma-inducing, possessive af sex scene, anyone?—blew up into a huge problem in this one.
For a book series that is so heavily anti-abuse, Kennedy does an absolutely terrible job in her attempts to portray Slade as non problematic in how he treats Auren.
I’m sorry, but you can’t write three books about a woman finding her way out of an abusive relationship and expect the absolute lack of trauma response to her new partner having some very abusive tendencies and shades to stand. The book is missing realism at best and romanticizing abuse at worst.
Slade’s disturbing level of possessiveness and need to sneak and lie in order control her situation is not sexy. And it’s especially not sexy after everything Auren went through. I don’t care what his motivation is; Slade is actively being harmful and repeating an abusive behavior she’s already been through.
You’d think after all his rah rah-ing about how horrible Midas was he wouldn’t be too keen on following in the man’s footsteps…and YET!
I just…give the girl a goddamn break from these controlling freaks in her life. Let her <I>heal</I>. Auren has been through enough.
Honestly, I’m super disappointed. And I don’t think I’ll be reading the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse