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valeria_balzan's reviews
152 reviews
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Two words to describe it: Holy. Shit.
Holy shit it was so fucking good.
I can't believe to explain how well the author captured her experience.
When she was happy, so was I; when she was weeping, I was tearing up. The author's prose and writing style gave me chills all around. Every sentence is packed with so much meaning and emotions that it feels how this book was written with so much love, passion and hard work.
Listening it as an audiobook kinda improved that experience since it is read by the author herself. Chanel gives it a new layer of raw emotion that could not have been delivered otherwise.
Holy shit it was so fucking good.
I can't believe to explain how well the author captured her experience.
When she was happy, so was I; when she was weeping, I was tearing up. The author's prose and writing style gave me chills all around. Every sentence is packed with so much meaning and emotions that it feels how this book was written with so much love, passion and hard work.
Listening it as an audiobook kinda improved that experience since it is read by the author herself. Chanel gives it a new layer of raw emotion that could not have been delivered otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Gutter Child by Jael Richardson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
I haven't had the time not the energy with this book, it's too dense. I can't get into it.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
adventurous
dark
slow-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? No
4.0
This is not your normal Romeo and Juliet retelling, as it has some fantasy elements, but sometimes it overwhelmes you with all of the world building and setting that it forgets about the main plot for some parts. And it was such a a shame because in those rare scenes where it was a romance it excelled at giving you sexual tension and romantic interest overall.
I will be continuing the series :)
I will be continuing the series :)
Orange: The Complete Collection, Volume 2 by Ichigo Takano
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
BRO. It all went so fast, so quickly.
I can't describe, in words, how good this volume was. The closest I can think of is just * chest pains because of love *, you know? It is to put it mildly, and emotional rollercoaster.
These characters are everything to me. All of them have made themselves a special nook in my heart now, next to all of my all time favorites.
I think the best way I can describe it is like when you're smiling while crying.
I can't describe, in words, how good this volume was. The closest I can think of is just * chest pains because of love *, you know? It is to put it mildly, and emotional rollercoaster.
These characters are everything to me. All of them have made themselves a special nook in my heart now, next to all of my all time favorites.
I think the best way I can describe it is like when you're smiling while crying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
orange -future- by Ichigo Takano
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
First and foremost, I would like to clarify that this is a very biased review since, and I don't mean to exaggerate, I WOULD DIE FOR SUWA.
Seeing him as the main character for once, living for himself and not to please others just was the thing that I needed to break down crying.
Seeing the future and how it played out for all of the remaining cast of orange, especially Suwa and Naho, added a new layer to his character and it gave meaning to every single line in his letters to past (present?) Suwa.
It was such a good ending.
(And there's going to be a volume 7??? Sign me the f up okay?
Seeing him as the main character for once, living for himself and not to please others just was the thing that I needed to break down crying.
Seeing the future and how it played out for all of the remaining cast of orange, especially Suwa and Naho, added a new layer to his character and it gave meaning to every single line in his letters to past (present?) Suwa.
It was such a good ending.
(And there's going to be a volume 7??? Sign me the f up okay?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
This book is kind of like that one Hannah Montana movie, but with mature elements. And it worked.
It tells the story of a girl trying to reinvent herself and I thought that was very inspiring. Her journey can be reflected on her actions as the book goes on.
I didn't like the romance at the beginning but it kinda grew on me as it went on.
It tells the story of a girl trying to reinvent herself and I thought that was very inspiring. Her journey can be reflected on her actions as the book goes on.
I didn't like the romance at the beginning but it kinda grew on me as it went on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
orange: The Complete Collection 1 by Ichigo Takano
Since Suwa mentioned it once, and Kakeru doesn't respond, I'm going to assume that Kakeru does have some kind of eating disorder (which may explain why he's so thin...but then again, that might be the art style)
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love this story so much, it's very lighthearted and cute but then it hits you with dark, emotional themes.
Overall I think the concept and the story are well crafted, and it makes you root for the main characters and their situations.
My main critique would be that Naho is not very proactive, and she lets her overthinking get the best of her, some of the times I was like "girl, get a grip, hold his hand" but then again, would I be able to deal with knowing the future of a friend and trying my best to change it?
Also, I love that Suwa was not letting his feeling for Naho get in the way of her getting together with Kakeru. I felt like that was very mature of him and I love him with all my heart 💖
Overall I think the concept and the story are well crafted, and it makes you root for the main characters and their situations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Eating disorder
Nothing But Life by Brent Van Staalduinen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book was just so hard for me to get into. The story is told in such a way that a chapter does not move the plot forward. In order to continue reading it I had to start skipping chapters all together and just reading dialogues.
And the ending? Not worth it.
And the ending? Not worth it.
She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey
informative
slow-paced
3.0
The chapters were long and hard to digest, which was a contributing factor to the book feeling eternal. It constantly added more and more and diverging into different cases, which felt hard to keep track of, especially since I listened to the audiobook.
The last chapter + epilogue was the best part of the book, it gave a little closure while also trying to remain hopeful.
The last chapter + epilogue was the best part of the book, it gave a little closure while also trying to remain hopeful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
The prose of the author kinda reads like poetry