claire_reardon's reviews
116 reviews

Funny Story by Emily Henry

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

If Emily Henry has no fans, I’m dead. I will read everything this woman writes for the rest of my life. 

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

What a book to start the year with. 😭 I already loved it after reading the last chapter, but the author’s note and acknowledgements made my appreciation even stronger.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Meh, not my favorite Riley Sager. If you already read Verity, you can skip this one. 

The Official Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book by Taylor Swift

adventurous emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Yes, I’m including this on my Storygraph. Yes, I cried. Multiple times. Yes, I’m crazy.

No notes. 

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

If my future child isn’t like Felix then I don’t want them. 

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Melanie has my whole entire heart. Loved how everything wrapped up for each character. If you liked The Last Of Us, you’d probably like this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Animal death, Abortion, and Alcohol

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

lighthearted medium-paced

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

1.0

There’s an alpaca named Harry Styles. There’s a chicken named Lizzo. I am in so much physical pain from this book.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

lighthearted 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

3.5

✨why you so obsessed with me✨

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes

funny mysterious slow-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

1.0

I’M FREE!!! This book had way too many words. It was the longest 12 hours of my life. I wish that every character died. It started off so promising but quickly became very unorganized and boring. Honestly it could’ve been cut in half.