emilyrowanstudio's reviews
204 reviews

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.

Can't quite believe i've DNFed this after loving Open Water so much. The storytelling felt disjointed and I found myself not wanting to pick it up. The writing style is easier to read than Open Water yet at over a hundred pages longer it feels too long. Really wanted to like this, but alas...

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

4.5

So sad, so funny, so real. Through the worst of times we have humour and love, which this book encapsulates beautifully.

Nevada by Imogen Binnie

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-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? Yes

3.75

The First Bad Man by Miranda July

funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.5

Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzie

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad 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

4.25

4.25 stars - An enjoyable read with irreverant and unexpected twists and turns. The pacing felt a little off, but every character had a charm that can't be ignored.

Grieving her failed marriage and parents who long ago went missing in the Australian outback, Penny tries to navigate the lives around her as a way to escape from her own - including a possibly murderous Grandmother, her accountant who shares a toupee with his brother, and a fluffy orange dog named Kweecoats.

Although more to my taste than most of 2023's Women's Prize longlist, i'm surprised this got a nomination as it doesn't feel like there's enough here to make it uniquely IT, as the others had (for better or worse).

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Pod by Laline Paull
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

emotional funny hopeful sad 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? Yes

4.25

Around 75% of this book I found wonderful, charming and astute. But there were some characters, and chapters, I really didn't care for. I totally relate to the reviewers who've said they stopped reading because they thought the characters were horrible. I nearly stopped a few chapters in once the supporting characters were introduced. They all seemed so unhappy for Cleo and Frank when they got together, and why still remains a mystery. Some of them are redeemed later on in their individual chapters when you find out why they are the way they are, and some aren't. I can't be sure what their inclusion brought to the book, however I LOVED our main characters Cleo and Frank. A chapter later in the book which is in near entirety an argument between them is *chefs kiss*. Eleanor's chapters, and her characterisation, is *chefs kiss*. I think she was my favourite character.
I can't relate to the reviewers who say this is poorly written. Genuinely, I can't see where they're coming from. There are some metaphors and single lines in this book that i've made a note of because I don't want them to ever leave my brain.

I'm glad I persevered, because the 75% I enjoyed I really loved. I'm looking forward to reading what Coco Mellors writes next.

N.B. A lotta lotta content warnings - particularly all areas of mental illness, addiction, drug use - so probably check those out if you're thinking of picking this up 👍🏻
N.B.B. I did not see the Sally Rooney comparisons AT ALL. Can we please stop doing this, it's so lazy 🙃

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Suicide

Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, and Death of parent

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

funny informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

3.5 stars - Started off really well and I was all in but definitely tapered off. Public shaming, like the internet, is a moving beast, and having been published in 2015 this book is largely outdated now. 
I also thought the ending was a bit of a let down and didn't reach much of a conclusion.
I have a huge interest in cancel culture, the media and the internet. Though not unjoyable, this book was not as good, as well-written or thought-provoking what I thought it would be.