hallereads's Reviews (197)

Lapvona

Ottessa Moshfegh

4.25

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Kitchen

Banana Yoshimoto

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I'm a Fan

Sheena Patel

3.0

dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A Court of Silver Flames

Sarah J. Maas

4.0

adventurous dark tense 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

We Had to Remove This Post

Hanna Bervoets

4.0

dark reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Inseparables

Simone de Beauvoir

5.0

dark reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Watching Women & Girls

Danielle Pender

5.0

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

this book covers a lot, including (but also not limited to); grief, sex, class and age divide, family relationships, parenting. etc. pender achieves these concepts beautifully, with so much detail and attention, I felt every part of the book deeply. the stories are unflinching and raw but delivered with subtle humour and compassion in parts. it is a real ode to girlhood and womanhood in britain. love.

I love that this is a debut because it perfectly showcases pender’s writing and skill. my favourite stories in particular were; three sisters, paper dolls, look at me mummy, single serve and self portrait.

also special shout out to the stories in Newcastle, the local dialect that I miss so much !!! howay man !!! also shout out to bar italia in soho being literally a whole story title (one of my favourite bar/cafes in london and if you don’t know you need to!)

I will now be recommending this book to every single one of my girlfriends and anyone that will listen to me tbh. I am obsessed. can’t wait for what danielle pender brings out next !! 💘

‘watching women & girls’ is out 23 JUNE !!

thank you so much @4thestatebooks for gifting me this advanced copy