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vagaybond's reviews
446 reviews
The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist by Sophie Gonzales
emotional
funny
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
rep: bi mc, lesbian poc (unspecified iirc?) sc, aroace sc, one nonbinary classmate mentioned by name once with no lines
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Honestly I was really surprised by how much I loved this. I read a lot of misc romance and things are pretty formulaic usually. This was not. It was the full arc of a teenager figuring out what's right for them and dealing with a fear of abandonment. It reminds me a lot of personal growth I've had to work through with my BPD (though this was not BPD rep, IMO. just relatable.)
there was a lot that wasn't explained but it was explicit that there was no explanation for how the magic worked, and it didn't feel like a lack of thought went into it.
I usually reserve 5 stars for books that have fundamentally changed me (like fertilizer for personal growth), or otherwise have all the tropes I love. I think that if I read this when I was younger (instead of at 29) this book would have changed me.
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Honestly I was really surprised by how much I loved this. I read a lot of misc romance and things are pretty formulaic usually. This was not. It was the full arc of a teenager figuring out what's right for them and dealing with a fear of abandonment. It reminds me a lot of personal growth I've had to work through with my BPD (though this was not BPD rep, IMO. just relatable.)
there was a lot that wasn't explained but it was explicit that there was no explanation for how the magic worked, and it didn't feel like a lack of thought went into it.
I usually reserve 5 stars for books that have fundamentally changed me (like fertilizer for personal growth), or otherwise have all the tropes I love. I think that if I read this when I was younger (instead of at 29) this book would have changed me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
rep: chinese lesbian mc, vietnamese sapphic love interest, background & secondary characters from pretty much anywhere seafaring with special attention to those sailing around the south china sea, some queer partnerships in the background as well.
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I loved this story. I loved that it brought a real historical figure into the retelling, and that the contrasting ways different pirate ships ran was depicted. This felt like a real thing that could have happened along with a retelling.
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I loved this story. I loved that it brought a real historical figure into the retelling, and that the contrasting ways different pirate ships ran was depicted. This felt like a real thing that could have happened along with a retelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Death of parent, Abandonment
Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver
I really liked this book but certain stuff made me angry. I didn't like how weird the ending was and how little was explained. Frankly, there was a lot that wasn't explained well enough.
Bloodlist by P.N. Elrod
adventurous
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
coulda been gayer but what can u do 💁🏻 wondering if there's any fanfic now
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood
I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt by Madeline Pendleton
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
4.75
heavy tw for description of waking up to learn of a partner's suicide. this was hard for me (it's not the same, but I had an ex who died by suicide and feel a lot of disenfranchised grief about it - the talk about this was done pretty responsibly). this was a really helpful book for me - I don't think most of the advice applies because I am unable to work for the most part, but it's still something I got things out of, both low income money management ideas and a lot of just general insight into how a business like madeline's works, and on the different sort of like... navigating life stuff. I also just generally find her storytelling very compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic
A Canadian Werewolf in New York by Mark Leslie
1.5
there's a noticable amount of sexism in the book. the damsel in distress thing, the "women aren't interested in reading, this guy makes them interested in reading because he's hot" comment, etc. there was also some awkward straight man shit where letterman asks the protag if he would leave his romantic interest (who he is not even with) for ryan reynolds and he accidentally says yes before he realizes what's been said and ryan reynolds is blushing and then protag backpedals etc.
the r-word is also used early on.
the protag also doesn't seem to have a sense of when he would be perceived as creepy, which I find weird I guess? at least unusual. he is very scantily clad after a transformation and then seems to find nothing weird about talking to a child in public.
I get that the author wrote this starting in 2006, but it feels like something written in the 80s that would have been deemed too scandalous for the womenfolk.
I just get the vibe the author doesn't talk to a lot of women or anyone else besides men. if he does, well, maybe he just talks at them and doesn't do a lot of active listening.
the r-word is also used early on.
the protag also doesn't seem to have a sense of when he would be perceived as creepy, which I find weird I guess? at least unusual. he is very scantily clad after a transformation and then seems to find nothing weird about talking to a child in public.
I get that the author wrote this starting in 2006, but it feels like something written in the 80s that would have been deemed too scandalous for the womenfolk.
I just get the vibe the author doesn't talk to a lot of women or anyone else besides men. if he does, well, maybe he just talks at them and doesn't do a lot of active listening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Excrement
Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
I feel like the author googled for canadianisms, found a listicle, and made a character from them tbh. either that or that molson canadian commercial. I like to think I'm pretty travelled within this so called country and I have yet to meet someone who uses the word chesterfield or hoser. (I'm not a linguist or w/e but I think this is more 90s slang? definitely pre internet.) this isn't like, oppression or anything, but it is tokenizing. I also don't know how someone could talk about tbay without acknowledging the huge racism issues it's known for (specifically toward Indigenous people). there's other things I think would just make the rep more genuine. like saying couch instead of sofa, or mentioning any of the chains that exist here besides tim hortons - shopper's, dollarama, etc.
otherwise I thiiiink it was maybe ok? maybe the twist ofmike finding out they met before felt pretty contrived and I think his reaction was out of character. weirded out and introspective would have made more sense to me.
otherwise I thiiiink it was maybe ok? maybe the twist of
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Car accident
Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
It just didn't particularly resonate with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Bullying, Abandonment