literally_just_tears's reviews
90 reviews

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

adventurous mysterious

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

3.5

While a lot about this book irked me while I was reading it, in hindsight it really isn't bad.
I really loved the concept. It was so interesting and has so much potential. Monsters that have the power to take time from humans in order to time travel? That's great. I just wish the ethics were explored further. 
I didn't really like the writing style. It felt overly simple and bite sized. The sentences were choppy, the similes bland and the descriptions a bit dull. The concept was great, if only the execution was a little better. 
The characters were fine. I had no major grievances other than that they all felt a little flat. Genuinely, the only character I really cared about was Jamie, who you meet in the later half of the book. 
I think the diversity was well done in this book and that's something I applaud. You can tell that the author put a lot of herself into Joan and her family. Even if the book was bland, at least wasn't bland and completely white. 

I actually didn't mind the whole soulmate thing as much as other people. I think it made Joan's unexplained love for Nick a bit more understandable. While I think that the book could have done with more prefacing of Joan's love for Nick (you know like seeing them interact in a meaningful way) the soulmate idea wasn't horrible. What I found interesting which I haven't seen anyone else comment on was the subversion of the saying "Monsters aren't born, they're made." In this world it works in the opposite. Heroes a created. Monsters are born.

Another one of my gripes with the book is that it falls into a few tropes that it really doesn't need to. Aaron felt like a cookie cutter love interest that I've seen hundreds of times. There was nothing unique or interesting about him, he was meant to sit there and be blond and troubled. 
In sum, this book wasn't bad, it did actually get more interesting towards the end but it was just painfully average. 

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

adventurous dark reflective tense

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

4.75

Phenomenally written. Dripping with diversity and freshness. Such a vibrantly different book. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

dark mysterious tense

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a cleverly written, deftly put together book. It takes you on a journey that you can't forget for ages after reading. Gillian Flynn 100% knew what she was doing when she wrote this.

Writing Nick and Amy's relationship is something I would congratulate her on. That isn't complicated relationship. That's a wormhole of five years worth of learning, breaking each other into something only the other would understand. The quote "Who are you? What have we done to each other?" really sums it up. They're horrible for each other yet somehow perfect. Well done Nick and Amy, never involve anyone else in what you have going on holy shit.

Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

This was another fun read. I knew what was coming but that didn't make it any less fun. I could imagine this book really well as a film, and perhaps the story would do better that way.
I'm not normally a fan of stories that have multiple POVs and written in first person unless the narrative voices are very distinct which is what I had trouble with at the beginning. 
It reminded me of Dead Poets Society, just centred around something lighter, you might want to read this if you like that film.

The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark mysterious tense

3.75

The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle

adventurous emotional inspiring sad

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

4.25

This graphic novel became very important to me very quickly.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

dark mysterious reflective tense

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

What I like about Frankenstein is that it gets to the point without going on unnecessary five page long tangents about things that don't matter. That isn't something a lot of classics can say about themselves. 
There is a reason why this book has been able to hold its ground after so many years and why it has cemented itself into the modern consciousness. 
The language is much easier than your average classic and very quick to get through.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

dear god.