mec8337's reviews
207 reviews

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Small Game by Blair Braverman

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

5.0

False Witness by Karin Slaughter

dark sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Maaaan normally I enjoy Karin Slaughter books but this one was a miss for me. The first chapter was SO GOOD - the realization that

Callie is the babysitter and not Buddy’s wife

hit me like a train. Unfortunately, I feel like it went downhill from there. This book was DARK and literally everything that was revealed throughout the book was depressing as hell. The only character I liked was the vet, and he makes three appearances. The Covid references irked me, not because I disagree with Karin Slaughter and her (obvious) lean, but because of how constant they were. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Rape

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

challenging sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Thought-provoking. Very different. Idk what else to say, really. 

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

challenging funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

4.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this, especially as an audiobook. The narrator did a fantastic job making Elmira’s tones, attitudes, and uncertainties leap off the page in a way I could never have done had I read this book. 

I didn’t love that the last chapter had some fast forward moments and would have preferred that the book ended immediately after the interview. That’s just my opinion, though, and it’s a very minor thing. 

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

fast-paced

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

2.5

Likes: the cultural insights! I’m not familiar with Japanese culture so it was very interesting to get a little more insight into it, especially societal expectations for women & men. 

Dislikes: literally every single character

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

These Still Black Waters by Christina McDonald

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.5

NO. I hate this kind of twist. This book draggggggggged for me. 

Beach Read by Emily Henry

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

I enjoyed the audiobook version of this book, and thought it was nice and lighthearted. However, I found January to be quite whiny at some points. 

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

dark hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book was engrossing that I couldn’t stop listening. The narrator did an amazing job conveying all of Pheby’s emotions, conflicting as they may be. Sadeqa Johnson researched the jail so well and I desperately wish there were more information about Mary, the woman this book is based off of.