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veggiestrawenjoyer13's reviews
29 reviews
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
Romcom/contemporary books aren’t my usual reads- but this one was so good. It took me a while to get into the groove of it, but once I did, it was such a good book. I was soo hooked and it was hard to put the book down. My only genuine complaint is some of the dialogue and language. Some of the wording sounds very social media and tiktokified, which made me cringe a little. However, it gets way less frequent after the beginning. And, the book is so good regardless. The mental health representation felt realistic and I personally could relate to the character’s inner monologue. The romance is seamless and doesn’t feel forced. The characters feel like real, 3-dimensional people. As I read, the book kept getting better and better. I would definitely read this again and definitely definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
People Like Us by Dana Mele
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m gonna be honest, the beginning had me doubting the book. About halfway through the story really picks up and the end had me shocked. I was so so shocked at who the killer was, that it brought the books rating up a whole half star.
I’ll start with the pros. I genuinely could never form a real theory. I figured some people were too obvious, but I had no other leads. The mystery was really entertaining. Not only the mystery with the murder case, but also with information about characters. The slow reveal of what happened in Kay’s hometown had me so hooked and I liked that little moments were sprinkled throughout the book.
Now the cons. Until the end, I would’ve rated this book 3 stars. Especially at the beginning, I felt like the writing lacked emotion. It was a very tell-not-show style and I wasn’t used to it. I do think the writing got a little better throughout, but some things still confused me. Kay received some heavy threats and acted completely normal about what happened on the website. As she did each task, I felt like the book rushed through those moments. Also, all the characters at the beginning of the book confused me, but it was not too difficult to understand after a few chapters.
Overall, the book is probably worth 3 stars, but the plot twist was so good that I had to bump up the rating. It was enjoyable to read and I liked the suspense.
I’ll start with the pros. I genuinely could never form a real theory. I figured some people were too obvious, but I had no other leads. The mystery was really entertaining. Not only the mystery with the murder case, but also with information about characters. The slow reveal of what happened in Kay’s hometown had me so hooked and I liked that little moments were sprinkled throughout the book.
Now the cons. Until the end, I would’ve rated this book 3 stars. Especially at the beginning, I felt like the writing lacked emotion. It was a very tell-not-show style and I wasn’t used to it. I do think the writing got a little better throughout, but some things still confused me. Kay received some heavy threats and acted completely normal about what happened on the website. As she did each task, I felt like the book rushed through those moments. Also, all the characters at the beginning of the book confused me, but it was not too difficult to understand after a few chapters.
Overall, the book is probably worth 3 stars, but the plot twist was so good that I had to bump up the rating. It was enjoyable to read and I liked the suspense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, and Classism
Every Gift A Curse by Caroline O'Donoghue
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5
It was a decent book. My personal favorite in the series was the second book, but this one was pretty good too. The plot was interesting and kept me hooked. I feel like I really understood and knew the characters at this point in the story. The modern media references are one of the biggest downfalls of the book. They break the immersion. However, the conflicts kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending was satisfying and I feel like the story is complete. It would be cool to know the main character’s futures, but it was still a nice end. It’s definitely going to be weird reading a new book without these characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
The Gifts That Bind Us by Caroline O'Donoghue
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
3.75
Personally, I liked this book more than the first one. All the new plot points tied in really well and didn’t feel randomly added in, they felt planned. The modern media references continued to throw me off, but there were less so it was easier to read. I really enjoyed the conflicts and personal struggles each character went through. They felt realistic and relatable. The plot twists towards the end of the book had my jaw dropped and I didn’t know who to trust. I would say the only thing that I disliked was (minor spoiler about a new character’s background) Manon’s source of power. Gods were never mentioned before this, so it felt very random. It seemed like a way to give the group a super powerful ally (because they desperately needed one.) Otherwise, I think the plot moved at a good pace and I enjoyed all the characters. It’s not a literary masterpiece, but it’s still a really good sequel and a nice casual read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Transphobia, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, and Dysphoria
Minor: Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
Overall, this book was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading the second one. The plot twists were unpredictable and I liked the mystery/suspense. The modern media references threw me off a lot, but they were funny. Some of the dialogue was awkward, but teens are going to be awkward so I can get over that. The romance was cute, I like that it wasn’t the main plot but added more emotional depth to the characters. The diversity and inclusion felt authentic, not forced. The witchy vibes were cool and I leaned a lot about Wiccan traditions. The supernatural aspect was also cool, and it all tied together very well. The only major issue I had was the pacing at the end. It felt rushed after the main conflict was resolved. The concepts of everyone’s gifts were really interesting, I just wish it didn’t seem so sudden. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a casual read who likes modern magical books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cursing and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Godslayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
This book. This duology. Just wow. I loved it the first time around, and I loved it again the second read. The characters, the conflict, the writing, it’s all amazing. I get totally sucked into the story and it’s difficult to put the book down, let alone think about anything else. The only reason it’s not 5 stars is because I feel like the first book was slightly better, but I can’t place why. It’s still such a great book. Definitely recommend this duology!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
I’ve read this book twice now and I loved it both times. The characters are well-rounded and lovable. It’s easy to get attached to everyone, even the minor characters. In my experience, I could really feel the emotions during any scene. Along with the unique plot and amazing characters, the writing is spectacular. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the story and lose track of time. It flows nicely and the descriptions are beautiful. 10/10, would read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
I Thought You Loved Me by MARINAOMI.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Rape
Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Dementia, Abortion, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism