frances_frances's reviews
286 reviews

Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Incredible portrayal of 2023 late-stage capitalist dystopia / existential dread / intergenerational trauma / overwhelming anxiety. So well written and so, so stressful. I loved it and I never wanna read it again. 
This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

writing could be clunky and the ending was ehh, but the book was creepy and entertaining
Death Valley by Melissa Broder

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Did not finish book.
DNF at 30%
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I loved the concept but didn't exactly enjoy the reading experience. The story kinda meanders and drags at some points. 

Kevin Wilson's stories have a Wes Anderson / Lemony Snicket vibe that I do appreciate. People talk in ways that are funny and entertaining but not really realistic. And while the stories are presumably set in the present time and place, they have an uncanny sightly off kilter feel to them. 

Overall a good book but not one that engaged me in a meaningful way.
A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan

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dark funny tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

I feel so mixed about this book! I was loving the first half. The characters and the dialogue felt real. Seeing the dynamics of Remy and Alicia's relationship and their shared obsession with Jen was so off putting and funny and just strange in a very entertaining way. As many have pointed out, the last third of the book changes abruptly and just goes completely off the rails. It was definitely not what I was expecting and I don't get the ending. Overall, I'm not really sure what Beth Morgan's trying to say with this story. But, despite the incomprehensible climax and ending, I found this book so easy to get lost in. Somehow it was highly engrossing.
In the Act by Rachel Ingalls

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dark funny reflective fast-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

4.0

Assembly by Natasha Brown

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challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

I loved the themes and ideas but not so much the format or presentation. Well-written, just not my style.
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Took some turns that I didn't love. But good writing, good pacing/flow, and an engaging narrator. 
Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng Thom

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adventurous dark hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

3.25

I'm so glad this book exists. It's weird and engaging, well written and extremely queer. This kind of book (fantasy/poetry/etc) is not really my cup of tea, but the cover and queer themes drew me in. There was a lot going on for such a short novel. I would have preferred less plot points/details OR more time to let things land. 

The overall vibe of the book felt like a YA novel. The quality of writing is excellent but the pacing and voice of the narrator felt like YA. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not what I was expecting or looking for.

All that being said, I wanna reiterate that while this book wasn't for me, it's a beautiful, compelling piece of art.
Sexuality: A Graphic Guide by Meg-John Barker

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challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Overall I enjoyed this book way more than I anticipated and I'd happily share it with young people in my life. The cover and title might be a bit misleading and some topics could have been fleshed out a bit more. I have a degree in gender and sexuality studies and much of the info was familiar to me. I wonder how accessible this book is to a general audience. Either way, it provides a great intro and cites a lot of other authors and resources to explore.