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emmyrandomreport's reviews
314 reviews
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fun book that also addressed hard issues. Mostly focused on mental illness and preventing suicide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Lesbophobia
After the Bloom by Leslie Shimotakahara
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a great idea but I had hoped for better execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual assault, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is more like Big Little Lies set at a ballet company instead of a school. In the end, it lined up with BLL plot points. All the men are horrible there isn't one nice one. All of these men used the C-word like it was going out of fashion.
It would have been better if it focused on more of the relationships between the women and been labeled literary fiction. It showed the complicated relationship between mother and daughter well. A sudden twist and a big bad did not need to exist to make this story shine.
I think people looking for a thriller will be disappointed and those looking for dance fiction a bit disappointed in the end. It is a good debut.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.
It would have been better if it focused on more of the relationships between the women and been labeled literary fiction. It showed the complicated relationship between mother and daughter well. A sudden twist and a big bad did not need to exist to make this story shine.
I think people looking for a thriller will be disappointed and those looking for dance fiction a bit disappointed in the end. It is a good debut.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Abortion
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness and Toxic relationship
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
A beautiful story with a diverse cast. The relationships were realistic and had a moral without beating you over the head. It is nice to have a book with friendly aliens. A mix of science fiction and pagan folklore that merges seamlessly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Transphobia
Written In Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Very interesting information on the dark topic of investigating deaths using bones we leave behind. It did what it advertised it would do. I found the subject of bodies and bone intriguing. Black is extremely knowledgeable and speaks it down to a plain level of learning. Be aware of the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, and Sexual assault
The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Shows the hypothesis of the psychological effects of time travel. Would time travel cause issues or would existing issues would be heightened by time travel? It was interesting.
Court of Swans by Melanie Dickerson
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
A bit too preachy. Did not know it was Christian Fiction until I was halfway through.
Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Bits of this story are unbelievable and strange. The bad guy was a shock because how would we know? Will have a moment of violence then we stop to have a conversation about relations. Just did not hit the mark.