gabrielastbr's reviews
231 reviews

Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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 Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

4.0

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

emotional sad tense slow-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

5.0

You, with a View by Jessica Joyce

3.5

Nothing Like The Movies by Lynn Painter

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, and Medical trauma

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

3.0

Shred Sisters: A Novel by Betsy Lerner

emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

I love a story about sisters, so I knew this was a must-read. This story follows the tumultuous life of the Shred family, often at the mercy of one of the daughter's (Ollie) struggle with authority, mental health, and addiction. Told from the perspective of her sister (Amy), it highlights the ways in which this family was shaped by Ollie's actions. It's also a coming of age story, following Amy closely as she tries to build a life of her own, but ends up in her own tumultuous situations with partners and friends. 

Beautifully written, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. This isn't necessarily a book that will make you sob, but it has a lot of tension and family drama. I enjoyed my time reading this, even when at times my heart was heavy with pain for this cast of characters.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic for providing a review copy through NetGalley. It took me a bit longer than I wanted to read it, but I am so glad I did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Mental illness

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall

hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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