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elizlizabeth's reviews
224 reviews
Persuasion by Jane Austen
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Had some trouble getting into this one but I'm sure my attention span of late is to blame. Probably not my favorite of Austen's, nor the one I'd recommend for beginners but it was enjoyable. My only gripe is that the ending felt a bit rushed given how long we were building up to it, but knowing now how many drafts it went through I understand a bit better, sometimes you just want to get it done and gone!
Might be that the open-end quality grows with me overtime, I'm already delighted by the possibility of Mrs. Clay and Mr. Elliot grifter spinoff so we'll see.
Might be that the open-end quality grows with me overtime, I'm already delighted by the possibility of Mrs. Clay and Mr. Elliot grifter spinoff so we'll see.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I can understand it as a dark comedy, but absolutely not as a cozy heartwarming tale. Ove is not without many flaws which fine, but did the plot have to be so dull? It mostly hinges off bad things happening and Ove reacting to them, which got tiring after a while.
I have a bone to pick with the many slurs, fatphobia, and shrieking women. Might give Backman another chance to see if this was an Ove thing or an author thing but I have limited hopes.
I have a bone to pick with the many slurs, fatphobia, and shrieking women. Might give Backman another chance to see if this was an Ove thing or an author thing but I have limited hopes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Car accident
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
3.0
Liked it more than what I was expecting to. It gave me early seasons Grey’s Anatomy vibes with all the drama sprinkled with little pockets of happiness. Modern fairytale, the way soap operas are.
Did Lily “break the cycle” tho? Well… no, but much like a TV show, this shouldn’t be your source of information on domestic violence and abuse. Still, I think that (at least on this one) the author did a good job at broaching the issues to a mainstream audience with a good amount of nuance, empathy, and respect for the victims.
Did Lily “break the cycle” tho? Well… no, but much like a TV show, this shouldn’t be your source of information on domestic violence and abuse. Still, I think that (at least on this one) the author did a good job at broaching the issues to a mainstream audience with a good amount of nuance, empathy, and respect for the victims.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
Main character NOT a monsterfucker. What is even the point of falling for a vampire if you're not gonna have the moral conundrum of eternal life in sin while your body runs horny.exe on the background.
Beyond that, zero effort was put into any of the writing: the characters are cardboard, the pacing is all over and there are so many historical innacuracies that I wonder if the author did any research at all or just winged it. How this reached publication is beyond me.
Beyond that, zero effort was put into any of the writing: the characters are cardboard, the pacing is all over and there are so many historical innacuracies that I wonder if the author did any research at all or just winged it. How this reached publication is beyond me.
I Hope This Doesn't Find You by Ann Liang
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
It was ok, a bit boring. Clunky plot, like one of the newer Netflix romcoms.
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
dark
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
This went into a different route than the one I was expecting but it was gratifying either way. I wish more people were talking about it because there’s so much to unpack from so many angles, would be a fantastic book club read.
Do heed the content warnings though, especially if you don’t enjoy dark themes being explored in media.
PS. For the four people that both read this and watched Our flag means death: I have such a vivid image of a steddyhands crossover that I’ll never get to writing but that played in my head simultaneously to the actual book plot and I needed to share with the class.
Do heed the content warnings though, especially if you don’t enjoy dark themes being explored in media.
PS. For the four people that both read this and watched Our flag means death: I have such a vivid image of a steddyhands crossover that I’ll never get to writing but that played in my head simultaneously to the actual book plot and I needed to share with the class.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Lacks so much self-awareness. Didn't like the MC a lot to begin with but then she insta-falls for the dude and they? pokemon flirt? It's so nonsensical. Also kind of annoyed with the "footnotes" but I could've overlook that if it weren't for the racism claims while also being racist.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
The narration style has different POVs all tangled into a single stream of consciousness voice so in a way it felt similar to To the Lighthouse -if the former weren't such a bore.
I liked it much more than if it were just a whodunnit type of book for the way it manages to weave several themes into the plot. Can't say much else without giving stuff away but definitely would recommend, especially if you liked other works by the author.
I liked it much more than if it were just a whodunnit type of book for the way it manages to weave several themes into the plot. Can't say much else without giving stuff away but definitely would recommend, especially if you liked other works by the author.
My Policeman by Bethan Roberts
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.5
It was ok. Good prose, can't say I really cared for any of the characters by the end of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Infidelity
Moderate: Gaslighting
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I feel like the second act conflict felt a bit rushed in its resolution, which took away some of enjoyment I had so far. I'm also not the biggest fan of explicit sex scenes on books, less so in audiobook form (': but that one was my own fault for going in blind.
Overall I'd say it was a fun read; I like the author's sense of humor a lot and loved the way it dealt with a disabled MC without making it the only topic of the book nor the opposite of magically healing her. Will probably be reading the rest of the series.
Overall I'd say it was a fun read; I like the author's sense of humor a lot and loved the way it dealt with a disabled MC without making it the only topic of the book nor the opposite of magically healing her. Will probably be reading the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship