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thebooktest's reviews
37 reviews
I Choose Myself by Deepti Vempati
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
I highly recommend this! I don't particularly like memoirs, but the vibe of this one was incredible. It balanced honestly recounting the past and looking back with a new mindset and pointing out areas that needed growth. It details her childhood in India, immigrating and growing up
in America, her college years, throug the Love Is Blind experiment, and after shooting wrapped up. Deepti is very open and vocal about her struggles with eating disorders, so if that is a trigger for you, be forewarned. As an added bonus, part of the proceeds are donated to a charity that helps domestic abuse survivors.
.
I read in this book in about 2 and a half days, so it's a quick read if that's what you're looking for! 4.5/5
in America, her college years, throug the Love Is Blind experiment, and after shooting wrapped up. Deepti is very open and vocal about her struggles with eating disorders, so if that is a trigger for you, be forewarned. As an added bonus, part of the proceeds are donated to a charity that helps domestic abuse survivors.
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I read in this book in about 2 and a half days, so it's a quick read if that's what you're looking for! 4.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Misogyny, Vomit, and Xenophobia
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm not quite sure what I expected with this book. I definitely thought it would be more rom-com rather than straight romance. While it did have some of the lightness and tropes of rom-coms, ultimately it was a story about the regrets of our past selves and if love really could be enough to cover a multitude of mistakes.
I enjoyed the story, and the characters seemed well rounded. 4/5
I enjoyed the story, and the characters seemed well rounded. 4/5
Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow. This book speaks to some internal truths in all of us: Our desire to be loved, our desire to find a place to belong. Our desire for someone to the worst of us and still choose to come back.
Some things of note: This book jumps around on the timeline a bit. The first couple of times it happened I didn't notice and got confused. There are a lot of characters to keep track of.
CW: There are instances of coerced sex and underage sex.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was thought-provoking and well put together. 4/5.
Some things of note: This book jumps around on the timeline a bit. The first couple of times it happened I didn't notice and got confused. There are a lot of characters to keep track of.
CW: There are instances of coerced sex and underage sex.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was thought-provoking and well put together. 4/5.
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was ready to love this book. I love silly little romcoms, I love cooking competitions, and I love queer and trans stories. I was honestly disappointed with this book. It might be that I have read too many romances recently and that they are getting boring. It might be that I hold queer stories and authors to a higher standard. Or it might be because I am exhausted of stories surrounding queer trauma and the trauma of coming out. There is an underlying plot of transphobia and homophobia, which is seemingly easily dismissed during the story by the "oh well, love conquers all" trope.
Writing wise, I appreciated how the book focused on the characters and their story instead of getting lost in the specifics of the cooking competition. The show is more used as a plot device instead of the plot. That being said, I would have loved to learn more about the other contestants and characters. They are integral to the main characters' stories and yet their existence seems to be an after thought.
As judges on cooking competitions say - great idea, less than great execution: 3/5
Writing wise, I appreciated how the book focused on the characters and their story instead of getting lost in the specifics of the cooking competition. The show is more used as a plot device instead of the plot. That being said, I would have loved to learn more about the other contestants and characters. They are integral to the main characters' stories and yet their existence seems to be an after thought.
As judges on cooking competitions say - great idea, less than great execution: 3/5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
fast-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? No
2.5
I enjoyed how self-aware this book was. Olive and I share a love of bad, cliche rom-coms and she addresses some of the tropes in dialogue and in thought. This book has its place, for sure. Unfortunately, I do not think that will be with me. It uses sexual harassment as both a comedic device and a plot point, and also has two and a half chapters of the most cishet normative, oddly described sex I've seen in a hot minute.
This book started as a Reylo fanfic, and perhaps it should have stayed that way. 2.5/5
This book started as a Reylo fanfic, and perhaps it should have stayed that way. 2.5/5
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
reflective
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
I found that this was a compelling story. It does feature queer characters, but unfortunately it felt more like a story about queer people written for straight people rather than a queer novel. The style of writing lends itself well to the format, and the transitions between Evelyn telling her story and the modern day narration from Monique Grant's point of view were nearly seamless. It manages to touch on issues of the time (namely domestic violence) that was deemed okay at the time, but without romanticizing it. The story asks questions about how to know what love is, how to balance the career you want and the personal life you need, and what to do in crisis. Despite these heavy topics, it was still quite an easy read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion and Child abuse
The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
I really enjoyed this book!
As a Korean adoptee who didn't have a connection to their culture growing up, it was a good, basic, and easy introduction to Korean culture and their pantheon. Because it's part of the Rick Riordan Presents series, it is intended for younger audiences, but that doesn't noticeably detract from the story.
As a Korean adoptee who didn't have a connection to their culture growing up, it was a good, basic, and easy introduction to Korean culture and their pantheon. Because it's part of the Rick Riordan Presents series, it is intended for younger audiences, but that doesn't noticeably detract from the story.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this book! It took me a while to get through the first half, but the second half was much quicker, and I found it hard to put down. It does have one of my pet peeves, though, which is incredibly long chapters - each chapter was roughly 30 pages long.
That being said, this is a cute, queer, romance novel with a modern take on suspension of disbelief. 4/5.
That being said, this is a cute, queer, romance novel with a modern take on suspension of disbelief. 4/5.
You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
YOU BETTER BE LIGHTNING is the newest poetry book by Andrea Gibson. it is full of heartfelt poetry discussing being clear, mental illness, climate change, and love. i highly recommend it for anyone and everyone. it was moving and profound and honest. 5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicide