axmariex's reviews
74 reviews

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny fast-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

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

3.5

One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.5

Notes on an Execution is a story of American serial killers and... womanhood(? I'm not totally sure what else I'm supposed to take away from this) told by characters Lavender, Hazel, and Saffy. Between these points of view, we get Ansel's point of view as he counts down his hours until he faces death.
I went in with too high of expectations. I need to stop accepting Booktok as the word of god lol
There is something so entertaining about a non-linear storyline, and I have to give Danya Kukafka props for doing such a marvelous job in that area. That being said I needed more emotion from this book. I didn't care enough about the characters to feel distraught about what they were going through. I love the multiple points of view that Kukafka provides here but ultimately Notes on an Execution lacked depth for me.