lyd41's reviews
49 reviews

Court of Lions, by Somaiya Daud
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.

had to return to library. this sequel was so agonizingly slow i could barely pick it up.

The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida, by Clarissa Goenawan

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed. I was apprehensive at first about the whole story supposedly centering around finding the 'Why' to Miwako's suicide. Once I started reading, though, I was relieved. This was nothing like thirteen reasons why, no romanticization. (It didn't even focus that much on finding out why.)  It was more like a character study, a psychological analyzation of how we deal with trauma, and the baggage that we all carry. The story was told in three separate parts, from each protagonist's POV. I enjoyed seeing three different perspectives of relation to Miwako. The characters are what sold me on this book, they're all very well written. The writing is beautiful: relflective prose, with 2/3 parts being in third pov. My critiques are that the three parts attempted to connect an overarching storyline, creating much suspense and build up, but it failed toward the end. The ending rushed and left me wanting more closure and explanation. 

Even though I would have enjoyed a traditional book where the story was told from Miwako's point of view, I think I prefer how this author layed it out, as it created much more curiosity and suspense. 


Notes to keep in mind when looking to read this book: 
This book is set in Japan and includes all traditional aspects of Japanese etiquette and culture. It may be confusing for some who don't know much of the social culture. 
This book is angsty. Very Angsty. Top tier angst. Very possibly triggering things. Check content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Deadnaming, Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer, Rape, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Transphobia

Minor: Outing, Adult/minor relationship, Dysphoria, and Alcohol

Nick and Charlie, by Alice Oseman

dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

2.0

Jane Anonymous, by Laurie Faria Stolarz

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Gotta love another recovery from traumatic event novel where no one understands the protagonist except that one special person and you kinda can Never tell what's going on because it's written in first person so it's like all over the place obviously bc she's going through a crisis which is what the author intended but I still don't like it. Guys please start writing your trauma recovery books in third person I can't read another first person abstractly described panic attack

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, Stalking, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Vomit, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Blood

Minor: Self harm, Death, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Grief

We Can't Keep Meeting Like This, by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

physically cannot finish this. too millennial cringe

I Wish You All the Best, by Mason Deaver

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-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

2.75

Dialogue was terribly written and insufferable to read and also very out of character at times but I still liked the premise of the book. Plot was fun. Although cheesy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, and Suicidal thoughts

Mirage, by Somaiya Daud

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.0

Extremely unique premise!!!

A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous tense slow-paced

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

1.0

This was wattpad level trash and the sex scenes weren't even worth it. Also SJM ruined fae lore. Fae are supposed to be epic and whimsical, all she did was make them sus 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Vomit, Gore, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, War, Murder, Stalking, Sexual content, and Slavery

The Mirror Season, by Anna-Marie McLemore

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This book was just so beautiful. The writing was full of imagery that felt poetic in nature. I am so glad the author decided to share their story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Racism, Bullying, Car accident, Classism, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, Alcohol, and Grief

I Was Born for This, by Alice Oseman

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

The premise of this book was completely unique. Oseman decided to tell a story seldom told before. I loved themes of parasocial love and fandom culture and living as a celebrity and struggling with mental illness. This book would have been nice for me to read a bit younger 🥲. The exposition was a bit too slow, but the fast paced, tense, action filled ending made up for it in a way. Each character felt like a real being with motives and interests, which i enjoyed. I also thoroughly did not like some characters, just like real life!!! :D 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Stalking, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, and Vomit

Minor: Transphobia, Self harm, Death, and Homophobia