melanieripple's reviews
77 reviews

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Minor: Medical content

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

reflective

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, and Blood

Incredible. A beautifully written, thought-provoking book about identity and motherhood and womanhood and so much else.

Short note: I love the choice of not even giving her a name and only referring to her as “the mother” until she goes through her Transformation. That in and of itself can be a whole discussion of identity and erasure and so much else.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

dark informative

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Suicide, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Self harm

Minor: Sexual assault

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

challenging informative inspiring

5.0

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape

Minor: Drug abuse and Suicide

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

dark funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

emotional funny lighthearted

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Violence

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Racism, Rape, and Car accident

Minor: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death