theoryfruit's reviews
18 reviews

Alice Sadie Celine by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
This book was a slog from near the start, but as the first book I picked up in 2025 I had a sparkling and naïve inkling that it would get better (or at least become slightly less intolerable)—it did not. Aside from unlikeable and flat characters that the author tried and failed to make seem interesting time and time again, there were irritating spelling and grammatical errors that made this book even more excruciating to get through.
Bluets by Maggie Nelson

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informative reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

This was more of a joy to ruminate about than it was a joy to read, but it was worth the read, nonetheless.
Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

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funny 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? Yes

5.0

Freya Marske is an incredible writer, and I was wholly enchanted by Swordcrossed from about ten pages in.
It made me feel very seen that Matti’s panic attacks and Luca’s ADHD were included and described so well, and it was amazing to see a low-stakes fantasy delve into these conditions as part of everyday life.
Maya and Nessa were also wonderful characters, along with the entire Jay family’s dynamic. What an incredible, fun, and heartwarming work!
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The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
I started off loving this book, but by 20 percent the protagonist still seemed very one-note and predictable.
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You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

This was incredible. Mark is a new favourite character of mine, and my only gripe is that this book wasn’t 200 pages longer.
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Dykette by Jenny Fran Davis

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
I hated every character, and I’m not averse to unlikeable characters in books, but literally every character was just so garishly superficial. I could argue that the author was trying to make a point about the ingrained and inescapable superficiality of American upper-middle class queers in a late capitalist hellscape, but I’m not sure it was supposed to be that deep.
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Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin

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tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

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

4.0

The Idiot by Elif Batuman

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Maybe I didn't understand it, but I found this insufferably written.
Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

4.5

This was a ton of fun to read. The pod are a group you want to be friends with so badly, and I appreciated the casual inclusion of so many different folks without preachiness. I wish this was a series!
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