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the_pink_pharmacist's reviews
163 reviews
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Okay, very rare that I enjoy a sequel. This one was an endless pool of love and tears that I fell head over heels into.
SO GOOD.
I love my characters hard when I am allowed to get to know them through great imagery and in-depth characterization. I adored my characters in this book and I was heartbroken and so happy where they all ended up.
This one was so good. I told my husband repeatedly that I was worried about my characters and their story was just so realistic and hit me hard in the feels throughout the book.
I can’t wait to buy this set and add it to my bookshelf.
SO GOOD.
I love my characters hard when I am allowed to get to know them through great imagery and in-depth characterization. I adored my characters in this book and I was heartbroken and so happy where they all ended up.
This one was so good. I told my husband repeatedly that I was worried about my characters and their story was just so realistic and hit me hard in the feels throughout the book.
I can’t wait to buy this set and add it to my bookshelf.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.25
I fell in love with each of the sisters and pretty much saw the plot as it all started coming together right near the very end, but that made me enjoy it more.
I would have loved more stories about the girls and their backstories because that was just such a great part of the book.
I would have loved more stories about the girls and their backstories because that was just such a great part of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Abandonment
Minor: Child death and Suicide attempt
The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Wow! This book obviously takes place in a world well over 100 years ago, but you’d never know that for parts of this story.
It was so hard to watch a perfectly competent woman do a job only to be denied because she was simply a woman.
I do wish that the ending was not so abrupt, but I understand. Maybe a sequel is out there! I haven’t even looked yet.
It was so hard to watch a perfectly competent woman do a job only to be denied because she was simply a woman.
I do wish that the ending was not so abrupt, but I understand. Maybe a sequel is out there! I haven’t even looked yet.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
This book was so sad. A fantastic historic fictional read, but so very sad. I know we treated our vets this poorly, it’s still very evident as I live urban and am a hospital worker.
I wanted to add that I felt the accounts of medical trauma and PTSD were very real. VERY ACCURATE. And even as a regular trauma responder, I felt the feels, smells, sounds, and it was very real to read along with.
I cannot imagine all that our vets went through but also be told it didn’t exist or your experiences weren’t real- I couldn’t even imagine the downward spiral I would have found myself in.
This is a fantastic book, just make sure you’re ready and able to read about such profound sadness that hasn’t gone anywhere or been addressed. It’s still disgustingly right up front and center in our modern world.
I wanted to add that I felt the accounts of medical trauma and PTSD were very real. VERY ACCURATE. And even as a regular trauma responder, I felt the feels, smells, sounds, and it was very real to read along with.
I cannot imagine all that our vets went through but also be told it didn’t exist or your experiences weren’t real- I couldn’t even imagine the downward spiral I would have found myself in.
This is a fantastic book, just make sure you’re ready and able to read about such profound sadness that hasn’t gone anywhere or been addressed. It’s still disgustingly right up front and center in our modern world.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Well, it made me cry. It hit so close to home. Not sure I’ve had a book hit this close to home in regards to how it feels and what it looks like growing up in a very small town.
It’s difficult to actually accurately depict the small town mentality and patriarchal undertones in a small town. And if you’ve not lived through it as a woman, many people would even argue this as the very accurate reality.
But it’s there. It’s true. All of it. Honestly, it felt like this story was ripped from the pages of my ultra small town high school yearbook. Wild.
Do yourself a favor and read this book and then come find me so we can discuss this one is that good.
So. Dang. Good.
It’s difficult to actually accurately depict the small town mentality and patriarchal undertones in a small town. And if you’ve not lived through it as a woman, many people would even argue this as the very accurate reality.
But it’s there. It’s true. All of it. Honestly, it felt like this story was ripped from the pages of my ultra small town high school yearbook. Wild.
Do yourself a favor and read this book and then come find me so we can discuss this one is that good.
So. Dang. Good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thought the plot was good in that it kept me guessing and I liked the characters. Didn’t love the people or want them as friends of my own, but I got a good sense of what kind of people they would be and I like that in a book.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
4.5
I really liked the book. I actually checked it out after my husband made me watch the movie.
I like how it is placed in a dystopian society and the hopes and fears make sense for the characters.
I did get tired of how small and thin our heroine was because I hate when people continue to focus on small physical form as writers. Either it’s such a big thing the heroine overcame OR it’s some sort of big, huge thing they panic about.
Maybe mention it once (we can remember these things) and then we will be good the entire book.
Please and thank you from a historically short/small person.
I like how it is placed in a dystopian society and the hopes and fears make sense for the characters.
I did get tired of how small and thin our heroine was because I hate when people continue to focus on small physical form as writers. Either it’s such a big thing the heroine overcame OR it’s some sort of big, huge thing they panic about.
Maybe mention it once (we can remember these things) and then we will be good the entire book.
Please and thank you from a historically short/small person.
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
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
3.25
I loved the subject matter and the storyline, it just moved kind of slow for me. I hate that the witches they murdered really were just women.
The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Well…. I wanted to love it. And I think I would have if certain areas and storylines had more time spent on them. I had questions and some things seemed like others might have inferred the answers but I did not and it left me confused and lost for quite a bit of the story.
I loved the idea of everything falling apart to come together, I just struggled to fill in too many pieces. 😔
I loved the idea of everything falling apart to come together, I just struggled to fill in too many pieces. 😔
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
What a darling children’s story. I will be passing this off to my ten year old. Spoiler, but duh: of course the children lived happily ever after, just as these little sweethearts deserve.