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booksoversecondbreakfast's Reviews (79)
challenging
informative
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a heart wrenching book and an all around literary masterpiece. I will definitely be purchasing my own copy (I borrowed it from the library) and rereading this over and over.
This is the kind of multiple-POV book where a bunch of stories start out seeming kind of disjointed, and then they all come together and intertwine in a satisfying way that you get to uncover throughout your read. Each chapter is told by one of several characters, where each has their own voice that is unique to them and that helps the reader really empathize and connect with them.
The book reveals fairly early on what traumatic event will take place at its climax, so it has a slow-burn thriller feel to it as the story progresses. This, plus the fact that you've built such deep connections with the characters make the read feel even more exhilarating as you start to see events unfold towards the climax and you wonder if the characters you've come to know and care about progressing towards that event.
I really loved that that author included some non-fiction chapters in the story, and I thought that the self-insert character, Dene, was written really tastefully yet in a way that singled to the reader what he was aiming for with the book. This books also teaches a lot about different Native American experiences, and I really enjoyed that about it.
The writing was so beautiful and full of symbolism that one could spend hours pondering, and this is all around a book that will stick with me. It's so heart wrenching and so sad, but only in the way that some of the best books are. 10/10
This is the kind of multiple-POV book where a bunch of stories start out seeming kind of disjointed, and then they all come together and intertwine in a satisfying way that you get to uncover throughout your read. Each chapter is told by one of several characters, where each has their own voice that is unique to them and that helps the reader really empathize and connect with them.
The book reveals fairly early on what traumatic event will take place at its climax, so it has a slow-burn thriller feel to it as the story progresses. This, plus the fact that you've built such deep connections with the characters make the read feel even more exhilarating as you start to see events unfold towards the climax and you wonder if the characters you've come to know and care about progressing towards that event.
I really loved that that author included some non-fiction chapters in the story, and I thought that the self-insert character, Dene, was written really tastefully yet in a way that singled to the reader what he was aiming for with the book. This books also teaches a lot about different Native American experiences, and I really enjoyed that about it.
The writing was so beautiful and full of symbolism that one could spend hours pondering, and this is all around a book that will stick with me. It's so heart wrenching and so sad, but only in the way that some of the best books are. 10/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Rape, Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Abortion
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
I loved this book and am so sad that it's over! I sincerely hope that the author will consider writing another book featuring Chloe.
Like the author and the main character, I have fibromyalgia, and this was the first fiction book where I've seen that aspect of my experience reflected, and it was so wonderful. The struggles Chloe faces are relatable and real, and the book covers them all so accurately, but the book also features how strong Chloe is and how she can have a romance that's not all about fibromyalgia. It was also nice seeing disability representation in a way that centers accessibility rather than ableism. Chloe is surrounded by loved ones who accommodate for her, and it's heartwarming for me as a disabled woman to see this example of the kind of healthy relationships that are out there.
The romance between Chloe and Red was so sweet and so enjoyable to see unfold. It was a wonderful slow burn. I just wish we got more time with these characters and that the book was a bit longer.
I enjoyed that they featured a man who pursued therapy, and that he began attending therapy early on, rather than just as an attempted bandage when things get rough. I also appreciated how this book showed what healthy conflict looks like between two adults with their own mental health baggage.
All in all, this really was a cute story with very lovable characters, and I expect this is a story I'm going to think back to for a long time. Definitely recommend, especially for other chronically ill romcom lovers!
Like the author and the main character, I have fibromyalgia, and this was the first fiction book where I've seen that aspect of my experience reflected, and it was so wonderful. The struggles Chloe faces are relatable and real, and the book covers them all so accurately, but the book also features how strong Chloe is and how she can have a romance that's not all about fibromyalgia. It was also nice seeing disability representation in a way that centers accessibility rather than ableism. Chloe is surrounded by loved ones who accommodate for her, and it's heartwarming for me as a disabled woman to see this example of the kind of healthy relationships that are out there.
The romance between Chloe and Red was so sweet and so enjoyable to see unfold. It was a wonderful slow burn. I just wish we got more time with these characters and that the book was a bit longer.
I enjoyed that they featured a man who pursued therapy, and that he began attending therapy early on, rather than just as an attempted bandage when things get rough. I also appreciated how this book showed what healthy conflict looks like between two adults with their own mental health baggage.
All in all, this really was a cute story with very lovable characters, and I expect this is a story I'm going to think back to for a long time. Definitely recommend, especially for other chronically ill romcom lovers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I feel so conflicted about this book. It was very thematically profound and it's one I anticipate thinking about often in the future, but it was also so boring and so slow at times. It felt simultaneously like a 2 star book, in that it was so uncomfortable to read at times and I really had to drag myself to finish it. But it was also felt like a 4 star book, because it really is a beautiful book, with elegant prose and powerful themes.
I liked the imagery of the eyes in the trees, and I like the parallel way in which Leah's four kids all had personalities that aligned with the four personalities of the original four sisters. I really loved Leah and Adah's characters and their character development, but I really disliked Rachel and the Father's. I think that's part of the point, but it just made it a not-so-satisfying book for me.
I think the book was good in that it got me looking into Central Africa. This was the first book I've read that takes place in that region. The theme of colonialism was just really rough to read about, and I found it frustrating reading a book featuring a family taking part in contributing so strongly to the forces of colonialism. I loved that the book still featured the resiliency of the Congolese people and of Africa as a whole though. I think if it weren't for that, I would have rated this book even lower.
I don't know that I will read this book again, but it has definitely impacted me, and has some quotes I anticipate looking back to. I don't regret the time spent reading it, but I've read much more engaging books before, so I feel like 3 stars reasonably fits this book.
I liked the imagery of the eyes in the trees, and I like the parallel way in which Leah's four kids all had personalities that aligned with the four personalities of the original four sisters. I really loved Leah and Adah's characters and their character development, but I really disliked Rachel and the Father's. I think that's part of the point, but it just made it a not-so-satisfying book for me.
I think the book was good in that it got me looking into Central Africa. This was the first book I've read that takes place in that region. The theme of colonialism was just really rough to read about, and I found it frustrating reading a book featuring a family taking part in contributing so strongly to the forces of colonialism. I loved that the book still featured the resiliency of the Congolese people and of Africa as a whole though. I think if it weren't for that, I would have rated this book even lower.
I don't know that I will read this book again, but it has definitely impacted me, and has some quotes I anticipate looking back to. I don't regret the time spent reading it, but I've read much more engaging books before, so I feel like 3 stars reasonably fits this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Racism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, War, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cancer, Alcohol
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
An absolutely wonderful book summarizing the state of Race among U.S. students! Very engaging and informative.
I enjoyed that it was filled with history of Race in America, that it offered lots of recommendations for action across races, and that it was book honest and hopeful. The focus on race among students also made the contents of the book feel very easy to grasp because it touched on experiences we've all be a part of in our schooling. This is a book I will highly recommend to other White folks in my life. 100% recommend.
I enjoyed that it was filled with history of Race in America, that it offered lots of recommendations for action across races, and that it was book honest and hopeful. The focus on race among students also made the contents of the book feel very easy to grasp because it touched on experiences we've all be a part of in our schooling. This is a book I will highly recommend to other White folks in my life. 100% recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel so conflicted rating this book. I can't tell if it's a 4 or a 2, so I picked a 3.25.
I loved the main character, Fern, so much - especially her sweet relationship withher love interest and her wonderful character development. I'm not sure whether it's a spoiler to say so, but I especially loved how she learned to request accommodations for herself by the end of the story, because it was so stressful seeing (okay this next part definitely is a spoiler) her sister manipulate her into thinking she was broken . Fern's journey of empowerment was so heartwarming though, so thats the reason I can't rate this book too low and still overall liked it.
The main antagonist really made me so mad throughout the book. It all turned out to be so much more twisted than I had expected. This was the main reason I can't rate this book higher than a 3.25. It was just so painful seeing all that Fern was going through, and it just wasn't the book for me for that reason.
This book was such a page-turner, which was interesting because it was relatively slow and very character-heavy. I know it's categorized as a thriller, and I agree with that classification. Potential readers should just be away that this is specifically a slower domestic psychological thriller. I really enjoy this subgenre, so it was something I enjoyed, but I just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone thought this might be a Stephen King or Dan Brown kind of thriller.
I loved the main character, Fern, so much - especially her sweet relationship with
The main antagonist really made me so mad throughout the book. It all turned out to be so much more twisted than I had expected. This was the main reason I can't rate this book higher than a 3.25. It was just so painful seeing all that Fern was going through, and it just wasn't the book for me for that reason.
This book was such a page-turner, which was interesting because it was relatively slow and very character-heavy. I know it's categorized as a thriller, and I agree with that classification. Potential readers should just be away that this is specifically a slower domestic psychological thriller. I really enjoy this subgenre, so it was something I enjoyed, but I just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone thought this might be a Stephen King or Dan Brown kind of thriller.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Abortion
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
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:
No
This was so good!! I read it via audiobook and I really enjoyed it. It was a real page-turner by the halfway mark, though just a little slow leading up to that point. It was a page-turner with an highly engaging plot, but it was also filled with deep exploration into the human experience and to systems of oppression. I appreciated the fact that the book touched on topics such as human trafficking and sexual assault, but did so in a way that I didn't find triggering to my own PTSD.
The characters were loveable and has satisfying character development, the twists weren't too predictable, and it had a strong empowering theme of community and found-family, all of which I really enjoyed. This is a book I want to purchase a physical copy of because I'll probably come back to read this one again.
The characters were loveable and has satisfying character development, the twists weren't too predictable, and it had a strong empowering theme of community and found-family, all of which I really enjoyed. This is a book I want to purchase a physical copy of because I'll probably come back to read this one again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide
I was listening to the audiobook and the author's voice just felt too overstimulating. I think I'd rather read this from a physical book or ebook so my own mind's voice can process it a bit better. It had too much humor for my current mood (yay depression!) so it's possible it's just not the right time for me either. I loved Jenny Lawson's other book, Furiously Happy, when I read a physical copy of it, so I'll try doing that with this one too.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really love this book but the end really saddened me. It felt so rush and it felt kind of forced in such a way for things to have a bit more of a tragic end to the story. I loves the adventure prose of the story as well as the such loveable characters. I enjoyed the character development too. The book overall felt so cozy and heartwarming. It was just the end that got to me too much and caused me to bump it down a star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abandonment
It was okay and I was enjoying it until I got to the part where there's an inappropriate relationship (described in too much detai) between an adult man and an underage girl. Icky that it's just casually in a book like this. DNF.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia