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nila's reviews
500 reviews
Ambisjoner: minus gjennomføringsevne by Hanne Sigbjørnsen, Tegnehanne
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
3.75
Solid work from Tegnehanne.
Belinda Blinked 5 by Rocky Flintstone
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Death
Mord på Nilen (Hercule Poirot, #17) by Agatha Christie
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Another great "locked-room" whodunnit murder mystery from Christie. A bit slow in terms of getting to the actual murder, there's a lot of exposition before you get to the actual murder mystery... I enjoyed the colorful characters, though I do sometimes struggle to keep them all separate and remember who's who, but that might be a personal challenge. Poirot delivers as the over-the-top Belgian know-it-all who is the only one who can solve the murder, and the book is genuinely quite funny at times.
For negatives, it is very clear that the books were written during a different time, the way indiginous people are referred to, are absolutely problematic, and I personally found it took me completely out of the story.
For negatives, it is very clear that the books were written during a different time, the way indiginous people are referred to, are absolutely problematic, and I personally found it took me completely out of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
My feelings on the book hasn't quite landed yet. On one hand, it's an original and interesting story, but on the other hand there's a vagueness to the plot that I'm not sure I like... The whole book is beautifully written as well, so it's still a joy to read it, but I just wanted more answers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Transphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident
99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I really liked Tom, the love interest. I'm a sucker for a person who's just trying their best. I really hoped I'd like Darcy eventually, but her character never seemed to learn from her mistakes or show any consideration for Tom or other characters, until the last few chapters... And by then, the development just felt rushed. The dialogue between all the characters was just repeating itself throughout the book and that was also tiring.
I also think Thorne has tried to put all the tropes into the book, and naturally didn't have enough time to fully explore all of them satisfyingly, so there are certain things that just seemed a bit out of left field or that is was added as an afterthought...
All in all, its a sweet and fun book, and I think it checks most of the boxes of what you want from a romance read
I also think Thorne has tried to put all the tropes into the book, and naturally didn't have enough time to fully explore all of them satisfyingly, so there are certain things that just seemed a bit out of left field or that is was added as an afterthought...
All in all, its a sweet and fun book, and I think it checks most of the boxes of what you want from a romance read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Medical content
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm on a romance roll here. I really enjoyed the plot and the additional relationships (friendships and sibling-relationships) in this book compared to the romance novels I've read recently. It helped flesh out the characters more, and make the romance character tropes less obvious. I thought the book was funnier too, just from the absolute absurdity of some of the situations that the characters found themselves in. However, certain details (shoutouts to a certain fantasy series and stereotypical "gay best friend") make this book seem more dated, even though it was published in 2019.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia and Gaslighting
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A short and sweet story about a dog and the people whose lives he touches. I'm a sucker for "full circle" short stories like these, and this was really cute.
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
It's been a while since I felt so invested in a story. I struggled through the first letters, feeling like I was reading a text for which the author had overused a Thesaurus, but it got easier as the story went on. Even though the whole plot is relayed through various letters, I found myself really attached to certain characters, particularly Ella and Tassie, and I felt the tension as the stakes got higher.
I found Ella Minnow Pea to be a unique read, I have never read a book like it, and though it's short, it really packs a punch, and is high memorable.
I found Ella Minnow Pea to be a unique read, I have never read a book like it, and though it's short, it really packs a punch, and is high memorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide attempt
Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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
4.25
Gorgeous artwork accompanying the story. I was on the edge every time I turned the page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use