leialou's reviews
170 reviews

The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Key Themes:

Mental Health, Grief, Friendship, Death.

Best (or Worst) Moments:

I found the best moments were those viewed from Audette's POV - just found it more interesting with the murder and mystery solving, and she had an agenda and clear goals which also helped.

Was this Book What I Expected?:

No - with it being called ‘the psychology of time travel’ I expected it to focus even more on psychology. I’m an MSc Psychology student so obviously love psychology so I think I would have enjoyed the book even more if it went into more detail about the actual psychology behind it all - not just basic ‘she would have had those mental health problems without time travel’. I know there was some explanation but just felt it wasn’t enough - but maybe that would be too much for someone without a background in psychology?

Review:

This book was okay - I enjoyed it but it just wasn’t what I was expecting and it kind of disappointed me as a result.

Things to Research Further

The concept of how time travel could impact a person psychologically is so interesting - obviously not applicable until time-travel is a thing but would be such an interesting topic to study.

Content Warnings

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Key Themes:

Coming-of-Age; Friendship; Mental Health; and Abuse.

Best (or Worst) Moments:

As heart-breaking as the end of this book is, it truly makes it great. I’ve watched the film adaptation several times so I knew what to expect, but it still made me cry while driving home from work at midnight, while listening to the audiobook. Imagine how much worse it would have been if I didn't know what was to happen!

Was this Book What I Expected?:

This book was what I expected, but also better written than I expected it was going to be. I knew that I’d probably enjoy it as I have watched the film but, really loved it.

Review:

I really liked this book and the story it follows. Charlie’s experience in this coming-to-age novel is sad and beautiful and illustrates someone different, who struggles with their mental health, and uses maladaptive coping techniques. If I hadn’t watched the film the ending would have been a shock and no doubt more impactful but it was still amazing despite me knowing what to expect.

The only thing that would have made this better is if Charlie was a bit more self-aware of his mental health problems - I know part of this will have been a result of his repression, but I think I would have enjoyed reading it more if it went a bit more in depth (but maybe that’s just the psychology degree talking?). But anyway this was still an amazing book.

Things to Research Further:
Not related to the book but strong endings are becoming a pattern in my ‘best moments’ - try and look for recommendations for books with strong endings, especially ones with twists involved.

Content Warnings

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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? No

3.25

Key Themes:

Childhood; Aging; Friendship; and Adventure.

Best (or Worst) Moments:

The best moment in my opinion is when Peter returns to collect Wendy only to see that she has grown, and gets to meet her daughter who is excited to meet Peter.

Was this Book What I Expected?:

The book was as expected - but maybe a bit more violent than the films depict.

Review:

The book was okay and fast to listen to with the audiobook, but it wasn’t amazing - I’m not the biggest fan of classic literature, so it’s probably down to the writing style and language associated with classic literature that put me off a little here.

Things to Research Further

Nothing to research further.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Key Themes:

War; Fear; Coming of Age; and Love.

Best (or Worst) Moments:

I really loved the moments in which Anne talked about her emotions and mental health. It only makes sense that a young girl in the prime of her life, who has been forced into hiding would feel panic and fear and suffer from periods of depression and I love how frank she was about her feelings.

Was this Book What I Expected?:

I watched the film years ago in school so kind of knew what to expect, but I love that Anne’s diary alongside illustrating her life in hiding, also outlines all of her emotions and her experience of puberty and development into mature teen.

Review:

I really like Anne’s writing. I find that non-fiction novels don’t usually engage me but Anne’s diary had me gripped. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Helena Bonham-Carter, which was really well done which further added to the experience. The diary was complex, sad, funny, ad delved deeply into relationships in close quarters.

Things to Research Further

I really enjoyed this book - would love to read more books about other individuals’ experiences of the war.

Content Warnings

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Key Themes:

Depression; Loss; Suicide; Love; and Recovery.

Best (or Worst) Moments:

In my opinion the best part of this book is the end, and ‘after’. The raw emotion that violet demonstrates and the adventure she continues is so heart-breaking, yet beautiful, and is so well written. Niven’s end notes, however, illustrate that she has personally found a friend who committed suicide so probably drew on her own experience and emotions making the story even more heart-breaking.

Was this Book What I Expected?:

This book is a reread - the book isn’t as emotional as I remember it being, but at the time of my initial read through my life had a lot of similarities to the book so maybe that’s why it was so emotional. However, the book was still great and emotional and pulled on my heartstrings.

Review:

This book is beautiful and sad, but shows both sides of what death can do to an individual whether accidental or suicide, yet this also shows strong character development and growth following a significant loss, and shows that there is beauty in recovery. This is a hard book to read, especially when you have personal experience, that allows you to relate to either Violet or Finch, but at the same time beautiful, in that it demonstrates that your life can continue after the loss of a loved one and still be beautiful.

Things to Research Further:

Nothing that I want to research further - but I’m intrigued to read Niven’s other work. I’ve tried reading some of her other work in the past and always DNF’d it but I love this book so really want to give her work another try.

Content Warnings

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

Key Themes:

Depression; Anxiety; Life; and Recovery.

Best (or Worst) Moments:

While none of the little stories were bad my favourite ones involved the breaking done of famous philosophies such as Aurelius, Nietzsche and the likes. The way Haig was able to break down all these quotes and link them together and to his experience of depression and anxiety was really intriguing.

Was this Book What I Expected?:

This book was what I was expecting, and I actually enjoyed it which is rare for a non-fiction novel. It kept my interest throughout, without me having to rely on the audiobook to keep me on track.

Review:

Overall this book was great, the stories were engaging and intriguing and really opens your eyes as to how depression can tint your world view grey and how to think around that and begin to live your life again. Alongside this it gave music playlists, book lists, ideas of what to do on a bad day which I really like the idea of. This is a book that I could pick up again and again and just pick a random spot to read and reap a comforting story to help get me through the day.

Things to Research Further

This book on top of Haig’s ‘The Midnight Library’, have really reawakened my love of philosophy - I need to add some philosophical texts to my TBR.

* While I have added content warnings to my review while the listed topics are briefly mentioned the book walks through Haig's experience and recovery in a way that I found endearing? and hopeful, but feel it's only right to say the book explicitly mentions Haig's specific experience of mental illness, specifically in relation to depression, suicidal thoughts and panic attacks but doesn't go into detailed explanations.

Content Warnings

Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

Key Themes:

Revenge; Heartbreak; Independence; Homesickness; Friendship; and Love.

Best (or Worst) Moments:

The best moment of this book is definitely the ending there’s a few twists in the last 200 pages that really make the book a 5-star for me. The way this book delves into relationships both intimate and platonic is really beautiful.

Was this Book What I Expected?:

This book was better than I expected it was emotional, and sexy and the magic system building was great (though I would of liked even more detail, but I know that isn’t for everyone).

Review:

Overall this book was great it talked through getting over a heartbreak that made you doubt yourself and your capabilities, it talks through friendship and love and how to reconnect with parents you’ve distanced yourself from. But it also includes romance and spice that break up the book and also the complicity of romantic relationships when trying to balance them with long-distance and work and other complicated feelings that are holding you back.

Things to Research Further:

Nothing to research further but looking forward to the second book in the series!

Content Warnings