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166 reviews by:
katselvocki
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I will continue to read everything that Mary H.K. Choi writes because her novels are just stunning. This was emotional and wonderful. Yeah, there’s a romantic plot line, but it’s really about family and the lies we tell ourselves and healing and New York and being seen. And I loved it so, so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Vomit
Moderate: Cancer
Love Is In the Air Volume 1
Anna Brooks, Anna Blakely, Abbi Zanders, Darcy Burke, A.M. Kusi, Susan Stoker, Elizabeth SaFleur, Alley Ciz, Cora Kenborn, Becca Steele
DID NOT FINISH: 26%
It’s taken two months, but I’m finally ready to acknowledge that I bought this for Alley Ciz’s story, and wasn’t super excited about the rest that I read.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved this even more than I expected to. While there is a story arc, it's really about the characters, particularly Lois, her sourdough starter, and the brother who gifted the starter to her. I loved the quirkiness, the layers to the story, and the only thing that could have made it better for me was reading it while eating sourdough slathered with butter and honey.
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The good:
- Queer South Asian rep
- Rukhsana and her brother Aamir’s relationship
- Rukhsana’s relationship with her grandmother
- Rukhsana’s friendships with Irfan and Sohail
- Rukhsana and Ariana’s relationship felt very much like a teenage love story
The less good:
- HOLY HECK this got much darker than I’d anticipated
- Pacing felt off—things dragged for a bit in the middle, but then wrapped up VERY quickly and rather tidily after the darker plot points
- Not much character development of Ariana or of Rukhsana’s best friends in Seattle
- Rukhsana and Ariana’s relationship felt very much like a teenage love story
I am very much not over Sohail’s death even though all of the characters seem to be
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder
hopeful
medium-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
I wish characters other than Janna hadn’t been so flat, but even still, I loved this and can’t wait to read Misfit in Love when it’s released.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual assault
I started out really enjoying the writing and curious about the story, but the further I got into it, the more I was struggling to follow the threads. I wasn’t excited to pick it back up to finish.
Not excited about the art, not excited about the story.
lighthearted
fast-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
So on the one hand, I adored Evie, and I really appreciated: 1) kickass smart girl in STEM, and 2) excellent representation of an anxiety disorder and therapy. On the other hand, EVIE’S MOM FORCIBLY MEDICATES HER (and I could tell it was coming, ugh), and Caleb is...not great. I feel like he has some good qualities as a friend, BUT I can’t get past him creating a profile to trick her into falling for him. I’d assumed it was going to be a “Who’s Got Mail?” kind of thing like Tweet Cute was, and it was NOT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Bullying
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I came into this not expecting much, and it turned out to be charming, tragic, thoughtful, and sad. There’s a lot of reflection on what it means to be trapped, to be different, to be human. I feel like that sounds like a cliche thing to write, but... 🤷🏻♀️
Also, I’m craving avocados now.
Also, I’m craving avocados now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Car accident
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
I love enemies-to-lovers, but the slow burn in this was a little too slow for me. The story was cute and I liked Miles and Zoey.