mcclapper's reviews
75 reviews

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Murder

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.

It was just too slow and didn't seem like any plot was happening 

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

emotional mysterious slow-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

3.0

It was a really slow burn for me. It seems to drag on quite a bit with much of the climax/resolution happening altogether at the end. The end was a bit too optimistic for me as well and I was really confused as to why they all had miscommunicated with each other so badly.

There should have been no animosity towards Natalie for calling the cops considering what Lynn and Jake had done. No matter what they would have faces those consequences regardless of who called the cops.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

Recursion by Blake Crouch

dark emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

funny lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.0

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Not knowing anything about the publishing world or how Twitter really affects writer’s careers, this was quite an entertaining read for me. I absolutely loathed the main character Juniper and I was finding myself so frustrated with how she felt like she did nothing wrong throughout. While what another character ended up doing to her at the end of the novel was a bit of a visceral reaction to what Junie had done, I still had no sympathy for Junie due to her inability to see how horrible she was herself. With that said however, I did relate to her to jealousy towards a more successful friend and feeling like her contribution to this world would be lost. As I’ve grown older though, I resonate with her sister Rory instead. I’m not so worried about comparing myself to others and I can be content with my own decisions in life and see that I am still successful in other ways. 

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0