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maggies's reviews
622 reviews
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
challenging
reflective
slow-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
3.0
For the first third of this book, I was too preoccupied with trying to figure out the line between fact and fiction to really enjoy it. For the middle third, I had given up my constant questioning and just succumbed to the story. For the last third, I was fatigued by the sadness and negativity and mostly just wanted it to end. It may be realistic, but it's not what I typically go to fiction for. The book was incredibly well-written and thoughtful, so the rating is more a reflection of me than the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Suitably entertaining thriller with good twists and turns. The mystery unfolded in such a way to keep me guessing, and there weren't too many plot holes. Lower rating because I didn't really find the characterizations for Ella, Keller, or Jessie very believable (possibly suffered from men-writing-women syndrome).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide
She's a Keeper by Ali K. Mulford
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pros:
- Really let me live out my fantasy of working in zoo/with animals (and convinced me the fantasy would be better than the reality for me)
- The cast of characters were so fun and left a lot of room for future installments in the series
Cons:
- Way too many references to poop. Yeah, I know, everyone poops. But this was beyond gratuitous
- Referring to sexual organs by a gender. So weird to me
- I didn't really feel that Lark grew/changed throughout the course of the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Knowing next to nothing about Lisa Marie Presley or her family, I've come away with the further conviction that fame, notoriety are a poison. It takes a very balanced person to be so in the public eye and not be affected by it. This memoir was beautiful in its rawness, and I'd never read one written almost like a conversation between the subject, who's passed away, and her daughter. Will be thinking about it for awhile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
Ember Spark and the Frost Phoenix by Abi Elphinstone
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Another fun and funny Abi Elphinstone adventure. Inspiring for adults and children alike.
Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube: Chasing Fear and Finding Home in the Great White North by Blair Braverman
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Braverman is a wonderful storyteller. I knew her first from her tweet threads about her dogsled team, usually both humorous and poignant, and then from her thrilling novel Small Game. Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube is somewhere between the two and yet not what I expected. I'll admit I was taken aback by her forthrightness in sharing her emotional life, but it was never gratuitous. I appreciated the structure of the memoir, bouncing between her youth and young adulthood, her trips to Norway and her summers in Alaska.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons by Abi Elphinstone
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
Abi Elphinstone is a master of uplifting middle grade fantasy, and this is no exception. The characters are colorful and layered, the world-building is just right, and the adventure is exciting but not perilous. Lovely narration to the audiobook by Paula Masterton as well (although the mispronunciation of "chimera" was annoying).
Vince & Joy by Lisa Jewell
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
3.0
Very early 2000s perspectives (on, for example, women's weight and appearance, LGBTQ+ people, depression and mental illness, and race) made it difficult for me to really love this book, but I did enjoy how the story unraveled. Vince's relationship with his siblings was the cutest part imo.
Not in My Book by Katie Holt
2.0
Middle-of-the-road romance, pretty repetitive, spicy scenes came off cheesy, too long, and predictable. Not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content