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1.84k reviews by:
caseythereader
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Thanks to Macmillan for the free advance copy of this book.
📚 I feel like my entire review of this book is just QUEER SCREAMING!!! Sapphic second chances, teen angst, and whole range of identities - lesbian, bi, Black, nonbinary, Jewish - and that's just the main cast.
📚 IT GOES LIKE THIS also totally nails the vibe and language of Tumblr fandom, which is so hard to do without sounding cringey.
📚 If you love found families and/or the idea that friendships can be as meaningful in your life as romantic relationships, get your hands on this book.
📚 I appreciated that while there is some discussion of various -phobias and -isms the band members encountered through their rise to fame, their immediate family and friends were completely loving and supportive of everything and everyone at all times.
📚 I feel like my entire review of this book is just QUEER SCREAMING!!! Sapphic second chances, teen angst, and whole range of identities - lesbian, bi, Black, nonbinary, Jewish - and that's just the main cast.
📚 IT GOES LIKE THIS also totally nails the vibe and language of Tumblr fandom, which is so hard to do without sounding cringey.
📚 If you love found families and/or the idea that friendships can be as meaningful in your life as romantic relationships, get your hands on this book.
📚 I appreciated that while there is some discussion of various -phobias and -isms the band members encountered through their rise to fame, their immediate family and friends were completely loving and supportive of everything and everyone at all times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
- Whew, what a ride! FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER takes a little bit to get rolling, but once it does, you won't be able to leave Daunis' side for a second.
- Love seeing a book that places Indigenous lives firmly in the present. This book covers everything from white friends being casually racist to addiction problems and from saying prayers throughout the day to the importance of respecting elders.
- So many of the characters in this book exist somewhere in a morally gray area, and a lot of that muddling has to do with how Indigenous peoples are treated (or ignored) in the United States.
- This may be a spoiler but I'm going to talk about it precisely because I think it shouldn't be treated as such. About 100 pages from the end of the book, there is a rape. It comes at a climactic moment and is kind of treated as a shocking plot twist. I know the intent was to illustrate how poorly Indigenous women are treated, but that was dealt with elsewhere in the book and given that the perpetrator is the most comically evil character when so many other characters had a gray morality (like, um, the cop love interest) it left a bad taste in my mouth at the end of an otherwise gripping book.
- Love seeing a book that places Indigenous lives firmly in the present. This book covers everything from white friends being casually racist to addiction problems and from saying prayers throughout the day to the importance of respecting elders.
- So many of the characters in this book exist somewhere in a morally gray area, and a lot of that muddling has to do with how Indigenous peoples are treated (or ignored) in the United States.
- This may be a spoiler but I'm going to talk about it precisely because I think it shouldn't be treated as such. About 100 pages from the end of the book, there is a rape. It comes at a climactic moment and is kind of treated as a shocking plot twist. I know the intent was to illustrate how poorly Indigenous women are treated, but that was dealt with elsewhere in the book and given that the perpetrator is the most comically evil character when so many other characters had a gray morality (like, um, the cop love interest) it left a bad taste in my mouth at the end of an otherwise gripping book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- There is so much jammed into the pages of PLEASURE ACTIVISM - dozens of voices in interviews, essays, poems, artwork, and more. Many perspectives in the pursuit of one goal.
- I'm going to be totally honest here. A lot of the pieces about finding relaxation and restoration in sex (and through various types and higher frequencies of it) did not particularly resonate with me. However, I am definitely here for the idea that our bodies can be sites of joy and liberation as we shake off what a misogynist, homophobic patriarchal society has taught us.
- I loved the pieces that looked at the pleasure things like fashion, books, and deep friendship can bring - that is what I will be returning to from this book.
- I'm going to be totally honest here. A lot of the pieces about finding relaxation and restoration in sex (and through various types and higher frequencies of it) did not particularly resonate with me. However, I am definitely here for the idea that our bodies can be sites of joy and liberation as we shake off what a misogynist, homophobic patriarchal society has taught us.
- I loved the pieces that looked at the pleasure things like fashion, books, and deep friendship can bring - that is what I will be returning to from this book.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thanks to Gallery Books for the free advance copy of this book.
📚 THE SOULMATE EQUATION is sweet, heartfelt, and loving. If you're looking for a gentle romance between two thoughtful people, this is it.
📚 I will admit, as a sci-fi reader I couldn't help but keep imagining the potential alternate, darker universes this story could be set in, but I'm really glad there's this version with Jess and River.
📚 I really did find myself wavering with the characters - they're perfect for each other! No, they're just primed to think so because of the match! No, they're actually perfect!
📚 There is some heavy stuff in the plot, too, it's not all rainbows. But I think it all plays well into showing us who these people are and why they make the choices they do.
📚 THE SOULMATE EQUATION is sweet, heartfelt, and loving. If you're looking for a gentle romance between two thoughtful people, this is it.
📚 I will admit, as a sci-fi reader I couldn't help but keep imagining the potential alternate, darker universes this story could be set in, but I'm really glad there's this version with Jess and River.
📚 I really did find myself wavering with the characters - they're perfect for each other! No, they're just primed to think so because of the match! No, they're actually perfect!
📚 There is some heavy stuff in the plot, too, it's not all rainbows. But I think it all plays well into showing us who these people are and why they make the choices they do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Medical content
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
- Choi has the most incredible ability to write flawed people in complicated relationships. YOLK moves a bit slower than her other books, but it's worth it for the excavation of Jayne and June's relationships to themselves and to each other.
- So much is covered in this book, and it really gets at the way different pressures in your life get all tangled up together until it's nearly impossible to separate out all the experiences and feelings that make you who you are.
- I know this book won't be for everyone, especially if you don't like being in the point of view of someone who doesn't like themselves and/or purposefully sabotages themselves. But if you're up for it, YOLK is an incredible exploration of two sisters trying to find themselves through each other.
- So much is covered in this book, and it really gets at the way different pressures in your life get all tangled up together until it's nearly impossible to separate out all the experiences and feelings that make you who you are.
- I know this book won't be for everyone, especially if you don't like being in the point of view of someone who doesn't like themselves and/or purposefully sabotages themselves. But if you're up for it, YOLK is an incredible exploration of two sisters trying to find themselves through each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
- THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER is one of the most beautiful and engaging epic fantasies I've read in a long time. Stewart drops you into the world with little preamble, letting you figure it out on your own, and the world she has created is intricate, sprawling, and filled with vibrant people.
- There are a pretty big number of POV characters, and each time a chapter ended I was like "no wait, what's next!" but then got immediately engrossed by whoever else we were returning to.
- This is also a queernorm world, with a F/F relationship between two of the main characters.
- I did see the big reveal coming, but that didn't make the story any less gripping - if anything, I was reading faster to see how it all turned out. Give me book two now!
- There are a pretty big number of POV characters, and each time a chapter ended I was like "no wait, what's next!" but then got immediately engrossed by whoever else we were returning to.
- This is also a queernorm world, with a F/F relationship between two of the main characters.
- I did see the big reveal coming, but that didn't make the story any less gripping - if anything, I was reading faster to see how it all turned out. Give me book two now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
📚 To be completely honest, I don't think it's possible for me to write any kind of real review for a Becky Chambers Wayfarers book. I just love them too much and wind up hugging the book while making heart eyes.
📚 This one is even more of a character study than the previous books in the series, with several characters (the only one we'd met previously is Pei) who are essentially quarantining at a truck stop for the entirety of the book. And yet, I couldn't put it down. I was so engrossed in seeing how these disparate sentients - some from enemy species - had to work and live together for a time.
📚 I just love how Chambers creates these wildly inventive alien species and then is able to explore the essence of humanity through them.
📚 I'd happily read any book set anywhere in this universe. I'm sad to be leaving it, but looking forward to Chambers' new series debuting later this year.
📚 This one is even more of a character study than the previous books in the series, with several characters (the only one we'd met previously is Pei) who are essentially quarantining at a truck stop for the entirety of the book. And yet, I couldn't put it down. I was so engrossed in seeing how these disparate sentients - some from enemy species - had to work and live together for a time.
📚 I just love how Chambers creates these wildly inventive alien species and then is able to explore the essence of humanity through them.
📚 I'd happily read any book set anywhere in this universe. I'm sad to be leaving it, but looking forward to Chambers' new series debuting later this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief