windermerepeak1's reviews
133 reviews

Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler

adventurous funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

a surprisingly delightful listen <3 also found myself preferring the LA side of the story w/ Adam, but I just pretend that the two storylines take place in parallel universes for the best of both worlds

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

adventurous emotional tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Racism

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

Idk. I’ve read such good thing about it but just couldn’t vibe with it. But sometimes reading on my phone doesn’t hit the same as reading an actual physical book — might try again in the future :)

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

3.5

The intersectionality between race, sexuality, and religion is done so well here and that makes it good enough of a read to recommend

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Racism

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Did not finish book.

Why’d I stop reading this? Idk I got bored I guess despite it being a bestseller

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

Idk, I think I want to go back to it eventually and try again but I just wasn’t vibing with it 😔 and I really wanted to get into it too😔

Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Definitely worth a listen/read. Super insightful and it’s always important to learn more about the various groups of people with the queer community, such as queer Muslims. :)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Islamophobia and Xenophobia

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Pretty captivating book, purely because of how much I absolutely LOATHE the main character. Hate her almost in like a hating Joe Goldberg kind of way, not because she *thinks* about murdering someone at some point, but more in a sense that’s like ‘of course this white person is getting away with all this shit’ kind of way. I see why this book was so popular and listening to it on audio made it better for me to engage with it, Helen does a great job at narrating and expressing everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Racism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual assault

The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight by Andrew Leland

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Crier's War by Nina Varela

adventurous mysterious tense 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

This is really meant to just build up the plot for Iron Heart but I just know it’s gonna be so good

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Updated review 25 March 2024:
So much better than I remember reading it the first time. Bumped up my rating from 3.5 to 4.5 ⭐️ bc I basically binged most of it. Love the world building and what Iron Heart could possibly have in store