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caseythereader
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Thanks to Legacy Lit for the free advance copy of this book.
- GRIEF IS LOVE explores not only the many ways grief can manifest for a person, but also how our society is not set up to support people before, during, and after a loss.
- Personally, I felt deeply seen by the portions discussing grief and lack of social support in a "before" stage. My grandmother died last year after a lengthy illness, and our work and relationship structures are simply not built to allow time and space for both obtaining medical care for your loved one and the extended time spent knowing a loss is coming.
- Lee's book isn't a guide telling you what steps to take to soothe your grief, but rather someone holding your hand, telling you it's okay that your pain doesn't fit in the box you've been given for it. She is also explicit in writing about the extra pain and barriers marginalized people, especially Black women, face during these periods.
- I am so grateful to @literaryintersections for putting this book in my hands. I know I will be revisiting it often.
- GRIEF IS LOVE explores not only the many ways grief can manifest for a person, but also how our society is not set up to support people before, during, and after a loss.
- Personally, I felt deeply seen by the portions discussing grief and lack of social support in a "before" stage. My grandmother died last year after a lengthy illness, and our work and relationship structures are simply not built to allow time and space for both obtaining medical care for your loved one and the extended time spent knowing a loss is coming.
- Lee's book isn't a guide telling you what steps to take to soothe your grief, but rather someone holding your hand, telling you it's okay that your pain doesn't fit in the box you've been given for it. She is also explicit in writing about the extra pain and barriers marginalized people, especially Black women, face during these periods.
- I am so grateful to @literaryintersections for putting this book in my hands. I know I will be revisiting it often.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
No
Thanks to Tiny Reparations Books for the free copy of this book.
- PORTRAIT OF A THIEF is a cinematic meditation on colonialism, the Chinese diaspora, art history, and rewriting history from the view of the oppressed. You can absolutely already see the movie playing in your head as you read.
- It's much more of a character study than you might expect from a heist novel, but there are still plenty of heart-pounding passages amid the exploration of the team members' motivations and histories.
- Some of the ruminations become a bit repetitive in the last third, but the ending is more than worth sticking around for.
- PORTRAIT OF A THIEF is a cinematic meditation on colonialism, the Chinese diaspora, art history, and rewriting history from the view of the oppressed. You can absolutely already see the movie playing in your head as you read.
- It's much more of a character study than you might expect from a heist novel, but there are still plenty of heart-pounding passages amid the exploration of the team members' motivations and histories.
- Some of the ruminations become a bit repetitive in the last third, but the ending is more than worth sticking around for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation
Moderate: Racism
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
Thanks to Atria Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- I feel divided on THE SIGN FOR HOME. I love that this is a story with perspectives we rarely, if ever, see in fiction: Deaf and DeafBlind people and culture, Jehovah's Witnesses, interpreters. There's so much here about the relationship between a DeafBlind person and their longtime interpreter, about different types of language and communication for DeafBlind people, and about confronting ableism at every turn.
- However, as much as this book was about Arlo finding himself and his liberation, I still felt a weird savior-y vibe from Cyril for a lot it. There were several completely unexamined fatphobic comments from both Arlo and Cyril. Arlo's love interest wasn't a fully developed character. And finally (SPOILER!), I absolutely did not buy Molly's abrupt change of heart.
- I feel divided on THE SIGN FOR HOME. I love that this is a story with perspectives we rarely, if ever, see in fiction: Deaf and DeafBlind people and culture, Jehovah's Witnesses, interpreters. There's so much here about the relationship between a DeafBlind person and their longtime interpreter, about different types of language and communication for DeafBlind people, and about confronting ableism at every turn.
- However, as much as this book was about Arlo finding himself and his liberation, I still felt a weird savior-y vibe from Cyril for a lot it. There were several completely unexamined fatphobic comments from both Arlo and Cyril. Arlo's love interest wasn't a fully developed character. And finally (SPOILER!), I absolutely did not buy Molly's abrupt change of heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thanks to Macmillan for the free copy of this book.
- A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON is gorgeous and action packed. The descriptions of the teas made even this tea hater want to try some of them.
- I did take some issue with the pacing in some parts, and didn't really understand and/or buy the motivations of some characters.
- However, if you're looking for an atmospheric, inventive read with a determined heroine, it's worth giving this book a try.
- A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON is gorgeous and action packed. The descriptions of the teas made even this tea hater want to try some of them.
- I did take some issue with the pacing in some parts, and didn't really understand and/or buy the motivations of some characters.
- However, if you're looking for an atmospheric, inventive read with a determined heroine, it's worth giving this book a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
No
- It's been awhile since I read a Courtney Milan book, and I'm reminded again how much I love her stories. Sharp, smart heroines. Kind, progressive heroes. And always a dash of queerness along with bringing people of color into historical romance.
- Camilla and Adrian find themselves in a uniquely weird and complicated situation, and I loved watching them work through the layers of what was happening to them, and their feelings about it.
- Plus, a delightful cameo by Mrs. Martin, from a previous novella in this series. Such a treat to see her again!
- Camilla and Adrian find themselves in a uniquely weird and complicated situation, and I loved watching them work through the layers of what was happening to them, and their feelings about it.
- Plus, a delightful cameo by Mrs. Martin, from a previous novella in this series. Such a treat to see her again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL AND NEV is one of those books that feels so real you can't believe it's fiction. I kept wanting to listen to these songs and look up the photos and album covers described.
- I listened to the audiobook, which is read by a full cast: a uniquely all-encompassing experience for a book written in an oral history format.
- It's funny and glam, and also serious and sad. So much is covered in this book that's ostensibly about rock and roll excess. You'll be thinking about Opal and her life for years to come.
- I listened to the audiobook, which is read by a full cast: a uniquely all-encompassing experience for a book written in an oral history format.
- It's funny and glam, and also serious and sad. So much is covered in this book that's ostensibly about rock and roll excess. You'll be thinking about Opal and her life for years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
Thanks to Scholastic for the free copy of this book.
- WITCHLINGS is so precious, y'all. It's a sweet story about friendship, inclusion, and believing in yourself even when the world is stacked against you.
- Seven and her pals were delightful, bickering and having fun and learning that not everyone is as they seem at first glance.
- There's also some casual, unremarked-on queerness with some secondary characters. Love it.
- WITCHLINGS is so precious, y'all. It's a sweet story about friendship, inclusion, and believing in yourself even when the world is stacked against you.
- Seven and her pals were delightful, bickering and having fun and learning that not everyone is as they seem at first glance.
- There's also some casual, unremarked-on queerness with some secondary characters. Love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Dutton Books for the free copy of this book.
- TRIPPING ARCADIA is quite the ride! Blending gothic horror with modern nightmares and a heavy dash of queerness, it's visceral and gripping at every turn.
- I found myself quite invested in the Verdeaus in an unexplainable way just as Lena was.
- Some of the plot machinations were a bit tidy and predictable, but I still quite enjoyed the trip. I'll be interested to see what Mayquist does next.
- TRIPPING ARCADIA is quite the ride! Blending gothic horror with modern nightmares and a heavy dash of queerness, it's visceral and gripping at every turn.
- I found myself quite invested in the Verdeaus in an unexplainable way just as Lena was.
- Some of the plot machinations were a bit tidy and predictable, but I still quite enjoyed the trip. I'll be interested to see what Mayquist does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Random House for the free copy of this book.
- THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES is a meditation on grief and love that somehow feels both breezy and substantive at the same time.
- I read this entire book in less than 24 hours, if that gives you any indication as to how quickly it draws you in.
- This book is funny and farcical, serious and painful. I loved it very much and will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
- THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES is a meditation on grief and love that somehow feels both breezy and substantive at the same time.
- I read this entire book in less than 24 hours, if that gives you any indication as to how quickly it draws you in.
- This book is funny and farcical, serious and painful. I loved it very much and will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation