sophee_568's reviews
471 reviews

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

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challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Yellow Jessamine by Caitlin Starling

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4.25

The Bayou by Arden Powell

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

Finally a 5-star horror for me. This was just what I needed. It is an eerie, dark tale about a naive boy (Eugene) who witnesses a horrific act, and scars him for life. 17 years later he accidentally photographs 2 robbers, a man and a woman akin to Bonnie and Clyde, right after they finished robbing a bank. The man looks him straight in the eye like he recognizes him. Eugene and the man's paths will cross again but it will be more than a simple encounter. Eugene never thought the man's history could be tied to his own.
Powell creates a lush, sweltering atmosphere, damp and putrid enough to clog your nose and create a mass in your throat. His writing is exquisitely descriptive. If you don't have aphantasia, I assure you that you will have vivid pictures of every scene ingrained in your mind's eye. The setting is colored by a sepia tone, rich in green, yellow, and brown shades. The bayou is a perfect setting for a book like this. A book where the protagonist is haunted by a religious figure, who may or may not be a rougarou. A book where the swamp is haunted, not by a mythical monster, but by a human person rightfully hungry for revenge.
If you enjoyed the atmosphere and setting of Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris, I suggest you dive into The Bayou. Both books have queer protagonists as well.
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The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart

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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? It's complicated

5.0

Chlorine by Jade Song

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dark reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

I adore this!!! I read most of it in one day, and finished the last 3 chapter on the second day. Also, I read some of it at the beach, and in a beach bar, which was a wondeful decision. This is another perfect summer/beach/pool read. The writing is exquisite and original. I loved Ren's voice. Chlorine had me in a chokehold from the first page/chapter. I read Chlorine like I would eat my favourite meal - so eager to gobble it all up as soon as possible, while physically restraining myself from eating it too fast and trying to savour every bite. Absolutely lovely. I loved seeing Ren's chaotic passion for competitive swimming. The way her path from amateur to agile swimmer is described is described was exciting to read. I was rooting for Ren the whole time. The whole plot was intoxicating. I have nothing but high praise for this debut novel. I cannot wait to reread it, and make sure I read it more slowly. I would definitely read anything new by Jade Song.
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy

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2.75

This was underwhelming. Nothing happens, but the vibes are amazing. It's a perfect beach read because it doesn't require much thought. If the temps are high, and your brain can't work properly, this is a great read. Everything in this book is vague and fuzzy. It's character driven. We follow Sofia and her mother Rose in Almería, Spain. Rose has an unspecified illness which makes legs numb/paralyzed, so she and Sofia traveled to Spain to see a famous expensive doctor who could help Rose. Sofia lives in her mother's shadow, but she wants to break free. While in Spain, she meets quite interesting people. The dialogue is philosophical and typical for literary fiction books. No one in real life talks like that. There's a section in the book where Sofia travels to Athens to visit her estranged father, his "child bride" and their baby girl. That part was absolutely unnecessary. This book would have worked so much better as a novella.
Swipe Right by Tagan Shepard

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3.0

I think friends to lovers is not my thing. I went into this book blind so I had no idea, until I was about 50% into the book, that this was friends to lovers. The blurb spoils the whole plot. Sorry Tagan, the plot was too flimsy for me. I didn't buy their romance at all. This would've been 2.5 if it wasn't for the very emotional ending.
Hearing Red by Nicole Maser

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love Saff. And I love Saff and Maddie
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
I know I'm Dnf-ing books left and right this year, but I just don't have any patience left. If I'm not vibing with a book for whatever reason, I'm moving on. Life is too short to force myself to read books I don't want to read.
I don't like historical fiction and Im too old for YA
Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno

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emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

I loved this so much!