kristenjk22's reviews
16 reviews

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.75

The Idiot by Elif Batuman

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

Selin’s free thoughts throughout the book feel like what it means to lose yourself and try to find yourself. She is trying to find her voice and yearning for a connection which isn’t there. Themes of unrequited love and anxiety and overthinking. I feel her bc I have been her. This makes it hard to rate, bc I became so frustrated with her at points as a character but the writing is soo beautiful that I often would stop to relish in a sentence. 

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

slow-paced

3.5

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Novik’s voice and illustrative writing make this an enjoyable fun fantasy read. There is lots of action packed into the 400 pages and I love how the story takes on family, friendship, and a touch of romance. 
Fantasy for the adventure girlie 

Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn

dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

For fans of My year of rest and relaxation if you loooove a problematic MC. She just has a way of doing the absolute wrong thing and I liiive for the drama. The only thing that took me out of the story was that it had moments of over the top millennialisms and social media jargon and typically I’m reading to forget social media exists BUT it was important to the story at times. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

My Dark Vanessa is a poignant story with a beautifully crafted plot. Russell’s Lolita retelling is well done as you see the confusion, the manipulation, the loss and the pain which Vanessa has to navigate. It is an important work because it highlights SA survivors’ experience. The reader feels the complicated feelings a young girl may experience, while also understanding the ways in which the predator is manipulating and controlling the victim. 

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

Milk Fed by Melissa Broder

4.0

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

I loved Clarke’s writing, and how Piranesi was able to describe and show love and care for his world. Clarke unfurls the mystery of piranesi in a way which is engaging and emotional.