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takarakei's reviews
525 reviews
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
This is definitely a commentary about mental health/depression and also of course on our society's focus on pharmaceutical patches vs actual mental health care. Her psychiatrist was wild to read, just how absurd she was - really a caricature of a person. Actually come to think of it pretty much every single side character in this book is also kind of awful. Especially her ex-whatever-boyfriend is disgusting.
There's a point at which the lengthy descriptions about drug use and waking up not remembering what she's done got a bit repetitive. This was likely a choice by the author to really beat us over the head. I wasn't expecting the endingto be so positive for our MC! I guess I just kinda thought she would continue to fuck up her life beyond repair? and I'm not saying I was unsatisfied with the ending, but it was unexpected to me.
This is a hard one to really form coherent thoughts on, but I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a while. And likely would reread it at some point!
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I truly wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. You have to be down to read about a truly awful person and really be in her thoughts with no escape while basically nothing else happens. So if that's not your vibe then this book isn't for you!
I loved the descriptions of the art world, art bros etc, they were spot on. I was absolutely screaming in laughter and had to read them to my friends!
It's funny because I too quit my corporate (somewhat art related) job a few years ago to really reassess my life, however for me personally I was depressed being in that job and quitting (and processing in therapy) is what helped me. I also recognize this book is set over 20 years ago and it was just a completely different world. I deeply felt for the character when she says:
I loved the descriptions of the art world, art bros etc, they were spot on. I was absolutely screaming in laughter and had to read them to my friends!
It's funny because I too quit my corporate (somewhat art related) job a few years ago to really reassess my life, however for me personally I was depressed being in that job and quitting (and processing in therapy) is what helped me. I also recognize this book is set over 20 years ago and it was just a completely different world. I deeply felt for the character when she says:
There was no sadness or nostalgia, only disgust that I'd wasted so much time on unnecessary labor when I could have been sleeping and feeling nothing. I'd been stupid to believe that employment would add value to my life.
This is definitely a commentary about mental health/depression and also of course on our society's focus on pharmaceutical patches vs actual mental health care. Her psychiatrist was wild to read, just how absurd she was - really a caricature of a person. Actually come to think of it pretty much every single side character in this book is also kind of awful. Especially her ex-whatever-boyfriend is disgusting.
There's a point at which the lengthy descriptions about drug use and waking up not remembering what she's done got a bit repetitive. This was likely a choice by the author to really beat us over the head. I wasn't expecting the ending
This is a hard one to really form coherent thoughts on, but I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a while. And likely would reread it at some point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, and Abortion
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
If you're a musician especially if you ever played strings, this is a must read. Truly the scenes of them playing music together are SO HOT. If you get it you get it...
Julie truly can write a 'down bad' man... Alex is *chefs kiss* I wish we got more POVs from him, there were only a few throughout. I just prefer more balance in multiple pov romances, like if you're gonna give me both then I want a more equal amount. Sometimes it was a lot to be in Gwen's head almost the whole book. What also kinda took the wind out of my sails was how AWFUL every man in this book (except for Alex) is. Like truly can egotistical greedy men just go the f away!? [though I did find the comparisons to a certain scooter quite hilarious] Any conflict in this book really stems from them and basically they were f'ing up everything.
Anyway yeah I think I liked Forget Me Not slightly more, but Julie is becoming an autobuy romance author for me!
Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy!
Julie truly can write a 'down bad' man... Alex is *chefs kiss* I wish we got more POVs from him, there were only a few throughout. I just prefer more balance in multiple pov romances, like if you're gonna give me both then I want a more equal amount. Sometimes it was a lot to be in Gwen's head almost the whole book. What also kinda took the wind out of my sails was how AWFUL every man in this book (except for Alex) is. Like truly can egotistical greedy men just go the f away!? [though I did find the comparisons to a certain scooter quite hilarious] Any conflict in this book really stems from them and basically they were f'ing up everything.
Anyway yeah I think I liked Forget Me Not slightly more, but Julie is becoming an autobuy romance author for me!
Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cancer and Death
Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse
adventurous
slow-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
3.25
Ok here's the thing about this series: the worldbuilding and characters are FANTASTIC, but there were too many things going on and I think it got away from the author. Therefore the conclusion of this series didn't stick the landing, and I definitely feel like there are things left unresolved (which is not really where you want to be after 600 pages). It felt like the world got too big and unruly. There were too many threads to follow and tie back together (and then introducing new things in the third book when things need to be wrapping up!?). So we spend too much time lost in descriptions and court politics that don't actually amount to anything (like ultimately did the sky clans even matter when it just comes down to a few people playing god?! and the coyote clan was just completely abandoned after book 2).
The plot pacing in most of this series is just not great - there are so many large sections of especially books 2 and 3 where nothing important is happening, but questions also aren't being answered. Like halfway through this third book I did not understand WHY these different groups were even going to war, and that's because it wasn't explained yet! Was there a reason the Teek lost their song and Xiala was the only one? or was that just to make her more powerful? I love a prophecy plotline, but I also feel like if that's going to be introduced (for a second time in this series) then there needs to be a reason besides: Serapio needs something to do.ALSO WTF was the point of Serapio and Okoa reconciling if he was gonna be killed for literally WHAT reason? Make it make sense! It felt like some character needed to die so he was randomly chosen. And the other 4 main characters couldn't die because their stories are all left unresolved: esp Naranpa, like wtf she ends the series just basically in a coma?? Naranpa deserved better than this ending, and honestly I felt she was the most underutilized character after so much character development from book 1! Like yes the things she's doing in this book are cool, but she's also completely separated from the main world and everything going on. Also please explain to me why we had that whole big thing between her and Serapio at the end of book two and then she never even sees/speaks to him again...
Xiala and Serapio you will always be famous! Honestly I'm being generous with my rating because I love these characters so much and that's partially why I wanted a better written ending for them!!!
The plot pacing in most of this series is just not great - there are so many large sections of especially books 2 and 3 where nothing important is happening, but questions also aren't being answered. Like halfway through this third book I did not understand WHY these different groups were even going to war, and that's because it wasn't explained yet! Was there a reason the Teek lost their song and Xiala was the only one? or was that just to make her more powerful? I love a prophecy plotline, but I also feel like if that's going to be introduced (for a second time in this series) then there needs to be a reason besides: Serapio needs something to do.
Xiala and Serapio you will always be famous! Honestly I'm being generous with my rating because I love these characters so much and that's partially why I wanted a better written ending for them!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide, Sexual content, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Animal death
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
This is definitely the spiciest of Ali's books to date (including Bride). And those scenes were all really good, but perhaps because they were more frequent (which the author notes at the beginning of the book) - I didn't have quite as much emotional connection to the two MCs.
FWIW tho I did read this in basically a day so... there's that !
FWIW tho I did read this in basically a day so... there's that !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal cruelty and Car accident
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall
funny
medium-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? It's complicated
2.0
I was laughing out loud at parts (mostly towards the beginning), it was a fun tongue in cheek take on The Great British Bake Off.
However, ultimately I really was upset by some Things that happened to our lovely Rosaline because she's bi, and also because we spend so much time with that relationship, I felt the ultimate romance to be a bit lackluster (can't really say more detail without spoilers).
However, ultimately I really was upset by some Things that happened to our lovely Rosaline because she's bi, and also because we spend so much time with that relationship, I felt the ultimate romance to be a bit lackluster (can't really say more detail without spoilers).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Sexual assault, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pregnancy
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
mysterious
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 great mix of latinx culture, mystery and a lil queer romance. Just amazing characters that were fun to read! Julian and Maritza especially are iconic! I really enjoyed reading about Yadriel's family and was pleasantly surprised by how intricate the storytelling and plot pacing was. Honestly this would make a fantastic screen adaptation!!!
Really appreciate the positive representation of Maritza as a vegan character!
Really appreciate the positive representation of Maritza as a vegan character!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Blood
Moderate: Deadnaming and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
animal blood is used for some rituals
Hearts That Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
The world/setting is very cool and unique in this series. and is by far the best thing about it. I found the beginning of this sequel to be rather slow-not a lot happens until towards the end of the book, and then the ending feels a bit rushed. There's a lot of traveling around in this book which maybe also lended to the pacing feeling off.
I liked getting more of Bianca in this book. I think it could've used more Io and Edei in order to really solidify their relationship beyond fate thread. I also could've used a reference sheet of the gods because the mythology of who was who was a bit lost on audio. There's a big focus internally for Io on her relationship with her sisters and that complicated dynamic, but we don't spend a lot of time with them (it's all debate in Io's head).
I liked getting more of Bianca in this book. I think it could've used more Io and Edei in order to really solidify their relationship beyond fate thread. I also could've used a reference sheet of the gods because the mythology of who was who was a bit lost on audio. There's a big focus internally for Io on her relationship with her sisters and that complicated dynamic, but we don't spend a lot of time with them (it's all debate in Io's head).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, and War
Minor: Death of parent
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
emotional
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
2.0
I should've DNF'd this...
I literally couldn't have cared less about these two MCs - I was literally only invested in their teacher/mentor Joe and from the beginning you know how that's going to end. So why did I make myself suffer?
I literally couldn't have cared less about these two MCs - I was literally only invested in their teacher/mentor Joe and from the beginning you know how that's going to end. So why did I make myself suffer?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson
funny
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
Lift is a goddamn icon and I love her
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
4.25
Without even reading the blurb for this book (I like to go in knowing nothing, so basically all I knew was: this is queer scifi) after the first couple chapters I myself described it as "RW&RB but in space with a murder mystery"... so yeah the blurb is accurate lol
I was definitely all in on the romance side of things from the get-go.
I was definitely all in on the romance side of things from the get-go.
- A snarky prince who doesn't want any responsibility but has to get married for political reasons? CHECK
- The political ally/representative who is closed off, but it's because he's been previously put in a really bad position emotionally? CHECK
- Add in a murder mystery and court politics? CHECK
I do wish there was a bit more balance in the book because the ending was very plot focused whereas the beginning was more character driven, and I think mixing this up a bit more would've made the ending feel a little more connected to the beginning of the book (I was full on laughing out loud at parts at the beginning). I WANTED TO HUG JAINAN THIS ENTIRE BOOK!!
I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!
I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Torture and Violence
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Murder, and War