toorsdenote's reviews
259 reviews

You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor, Janina Matthewson

emotional 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

5.0

My only complaint about this book is that I'm done reading it. :-(

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Alcohol

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Child death

Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Murder, and Transphobia

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Gun violence, and Medical content

Minor: Abortion, Blood, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and War

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Solid ghost story, cool plot twist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Car accident, Chronic illness, Dementia, and Vomit

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

Definitely lower stakes than the first book, which was a bit of a disappointment. More Hunger Games than A Darker Shade of Magic. A+ love triangling though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore

Moderate: Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Confinement

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Gun violence

Moderate: Drug use and Suicide

Minor: Abortion

Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-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

4.5

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Curve of Time by M. Wylie Blanchet

adventurous funny informative slow-paced

5.0

A must-read for PNW folks. Around 100 years ago, this white woman had an incredible series of adventures exploring the islands off Vancouver with her kids. It honestly changed the way I think about the agency and 'modernity' of women living an essentially pioneer type existence.

The chapter on Native American customs is Not Great. Very Noble Savage-y. She means well and clearly admired native folks, but not in a respectful way.

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.0