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amalas_bookstop's reviews
91 reviews
Jackal by Erin E. Adams
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This has been the best thriller I have read all year. There is something about a black horror novel, that is strangely right up my alley. I enjoyed every bit of this ride. The author is able to worked the realness of racism and the fear that brings in and of itself with the magical realism that is going on in the woods. I am going to be on the hunt to read more thrillers like this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
This book has so much amazing dialogue that came across perfectly as a audiobook. I really felt like I was listening to a bonus season of Dear White People set in the UK.
I love how witty the characters are with each other and the romance was perfect. It was a slow burn with the characters developing over time, slowly realizing that there is no such thing as fake dating. I also enjoyed all of the black culture pop references. The focus on friendship was wonderful as well. This book had me smiling and laughing all the way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Infidelity
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Solid 3.25 ⭐️
Giving this a rating based on it being somewhat of an entertaining read. But this was not really a thriller, I didn’t even feel suspense reading this. Definitely a overly hyped book from Tik-Toc.
I get what the author was trying to do with the twists and the end, it just didn’t hit hard enough for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Grief and Pandemic/Epidemic
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
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
3.5
This was a really sweet cozy read, more of a slow burn. I enjoyed the patrons and the folks who worked at the cafe. Apart of me wished that this wasn’t written in third person, I think it took me awhile to really get into the story because of that and I think it caused some type of separation between me and the characters.
I feel really comfortable rating this 3.5 stars. It was well written, but did not really wow me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
I throughly enjoyed this book. From beginning to end the author had me totally enraptured.
I felt for both of the Vignes sisters. As you follow one twin who decided to live as a black person and the other who decided to live as a white. I ended up feeling for both and the ending of this book felt appropriate as well.
The author made such smart decisions in writing. It is so well done! My only critique is that I want more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
The Street by Ann Petry
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Woah this story felt too real! I had to put it down for a while before I could finish it. Lutie’s circumstances are absolutely heartbreaking and all encompassing. I could physically feel the heartbreak and loneliness.
Ann Petry was able to tackle racism, classism, colorism, socialism, etc. She navigated flawlessly and her writing left no crumbs. This book is a perfect example of allowing the reader to discuss and think about these topics without having the narrator spoon feed the topic to us. This book is a must read. I will definitely read more from her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity, Grief, and Abandonment
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Solid 4.5⭐️
Taylor Jenkins Reid has definitely found a niche that works perfectly for her style of writing. This felt somewhat familiar because just like Daisy Jones and the Six. We have strong female protagonists that is being interviewed about her past and uses that monologue to leave life lessons for the reader.
Taylor has a way of blurring the line of history and fiction, to where she might almost have you fooled that you are reading a non-fiction.
Some of the themes of this book were personally a little much for me, and I figured out the twist as she was telling it, but I was still throughly entertained.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, and Car accident
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
“Color is not a human or personal reality; it is a political reality.”
The amount of gold nuggets he dropped in this essay should be illegal. Sometimes you read something meant for the current time only to realize it defies time.
I cannot believe that I have not read anything by James Baldwin before. This is a first, but won’t be the last.
The amount of gold nuggets he dropped in this essay should be illegal. Sometimes you read something meant for the current time only to realize it defies time.
I cannot believe that I have not read anything by James Baldwin before. This is a first, but won’t be the last.
Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home by Jessa Hastings
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
I have been in a bit of a reading slump all summer. As soon as I felt the urge to read again I knew exactly what I wanted to read, and Jessa Hasting did not disappoint. I absolutely love the MPU universe and I don’t even normally read romance.
The way she write emotions and human interactions is real and visceral. Even though Magnolia and BJ drive me absolutely nuts, you can’t help but love them and root for them to figure it out.
The ending has left me reeling. I am so excited to jump in with Daisy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual content
Minor: Violence and Vomit
End of Watch by Stephen King
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I don’t know how Steven King is able to write a detective trilogy where we as the reader know everything that is happening, but are still completely intrigued as the detective is finding it out. I thought this was a great ending to a wonderful horror trilogy.
Honestly this trilogy has started a new obsession with Steven King and now I have plans to read everything he has written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail