volcanic_ash's reviews
434 reviews

The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

emotional hopeful 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

3.75

This was really nice! But I wish it was about double the length. It felt rushed and like the payoff was unearned because it came together so quickly. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it!

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I had mixed feelings about this book as I was reading it but ultimately I’m so glad I did. It really captures the current moment both in content and form in a pretty touching way. It somehow tapped into all my existential dread about the future of the world (perfectly articulated in exactly the way I’d put it) but also at the end made me hopeful in a way that’s maybe a touch nihilist but… nice, in its way. 

Wake by Anna Hope

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

A surprising novel. The plot took turns that I wasn’t expecting, but were earned and warranted. 

Every Little Piece of Me by Amy Jones

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.75

Everything I’ve read by Jones has just propelled me straight through. It’s such a cliche, but I really couldn’t put this one down. It’s so well written, well researched, and yet personal and heart wrenching. 

With Teeth by Kristen Arnett

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

I am so torn about this book. It felt a little bit like a draft of the novel. The little vignettes felt totally out of place and like a cheat code to further development in plot and character that weren’t earned. The plotting was a tad messy, and a lot of things felt unearned, but at the same time the ending really left me shook. 

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan

emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.75

I’m not quite sure if I really liked this book. The humour was so dry, which is a bit different for me. It also made me quite sad to read. 

All the Names They Used for God by Anjali Sachdeva

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

An absolutely incredible, and surprising, collection of stories. The range is unbelievable. Looking forward to rereading this already. 

The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood

dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

4.5

The mix of humour and unflinching looks into the realities of deep personal and political crises was at times a little jarring, but in a way that I think served the thesis of the book. These tragedies happen to real humans who still love, laugh, and find light where they can. People are complicated and this book does an excellent job demonstrating how true that is—how grey everything really is. 

The Push by Ashley Audrain

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was INTENSE.

Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

emotional hopeful medium-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? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed reading this one! A book that was easy to sink into comfortably, and get enmeshed in the lives of the characters.