basementeyes's reviews
318 reviews

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

As someone with two sisters who also is a bit of a mess I never stood a chance and did, in fact, end up crying. Good book!!!!

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Very well written book and interesting plot/world! Simply too genre for my pretentious lit fic tastes but rating does not reflect quality! 

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Seep by Chana Porter

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

So incredibly written, so insightful. I nearly cried at the end which is not an easy feat with me! Loved it loved it loved it. It hit me in all the right spots. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Blood and Alcohol

Henry Henry by Allen Bratton

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m always very cautious of retellings, but this one is so beautifully crafted, it didn’t feel like a story I’d heard before. So much of this book felt like a constant cocktail of “sickos yes yes yes” and having my heart wrenched out of my chest at the same time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Classism

Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A very good book, really incredible use of form. Only downside is the fat phobic/racist/transphobic commentary the protagonist sometimes gives. It appears that this is a quirk of the main character being “grizzled” but it can be a bit jarring in an otherwise really interesting and gripping story.

Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke

dark funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Woodworm by Layla Martínez

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.0

Bless your heart by Lindy Ryan

adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.0