periwinkleocean's reviews
337 reviews

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

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4.0

“But that is how a tragedy like ours or King Lear breaks your heart—by making you believe that the ending might still be happy, until the very last minute.”

I really enjoyed the general writing style, and I found the characters to be complex and compelling. There was so much stuff going on but it generally just made me wanna sit down and gossip to one of my friends, because the relationships between each of the 7 were just so interesting to read. I think the ending definitely made me go and search up fan theories.

However, I am also unfortunately uncultured. There were scenes where the characters would act out the scenes in the play, and it definitely had some kind of special meaning that I did not understand whatsoever. More of a me problem, but it did draw me out. Also there’s so many quotes of Shakespeare that it made it feel cluttered.
Gone by Michael Grant

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3.75

Honestly kinda fun to read. This is definitely a book middle school me would've eaten up that it almost made me sad. I think some parts were weird and didn't make sense
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

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3.5

The Kind Worth Killing is a book about murder and whether or not some people deserve it. 

I'm gonna be honest, I was looking for a more twisty thriller book. I think the characters were interesting to read, but not my favorite nor really likable. The writing style didn't really connect with me, but that's just personal preference. 

I did think it had a good atmosphere and I'm glad the author closed it like that because it was something I was wondering about. 
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

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4.25

I've had a really bad reading month and this book just reminded me on why reading is such a beautiful thing. 

The prose is absolutely fantastic, and I almost cried at certain parts. The characters are lovable and sweet and flawed and so so real. 

Readinng this book felt like time traveling because I'd look up and hours would go by. 
Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson

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3.25

Y'know I have this thing where I don't read unfinished series because I always end up getting annoyed. 

To be fair, each book is a separate case, so it is better, but still. 

Like most of the other books, I found the pacing to be off, but the plot still enjoyable and fun to read. 

Chapters are still too long, but I think the writing improved.
The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson

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3.25

Each chapter was like 10 pages long and that honestly ruined my day. 

Also the romance is stupid. 

Good plot though 
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

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3.5

Okay so thoughts. First of all, I really liked the world building, the descriptions of the North and the South. The writing style was easy to read, and made the experience go all the more quicker. The characters were generally entertaining and kept up a good plotline. 

My main issue with this book, however, is the connection and feelings that it brought upon me, namely, nothing. Even if I thought it was good, I didn't feel anything for the characters, for the subtle romance. Also some of those names were weird. Frangelica??? Hated the pet name Jacks had for her too. 

Overall, this book was very average.
The Summer of Lost Letters by Hannah Reynolds

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3.25

The beginning was definitely solid, but the middle kinda sucked and felt drawn out, ending's weird and way too bright but I still enjoyed it. The fact that I read when summer's near a end also probably didn't help 


Also ugly cover, what was that
#murderfunding by Gretchen McNeil

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2.0

I'm actually kind of shocked about how little I cared about this book. The characters felt flat and the romance was boring and uninteresting. The writing was questionable at best, like seriously who describes a head decapitation like a pez dispenser? This author, apparently. I was actually too weirded out by some of these comparisons, that the death didn't even matter. And our main has some strong plot armor because wtf were those action scenes. She didn't even get injured?? Girl basically is invincible, I would like her to die.

The end was basically that ending where it's like shock shock look at our cool totally original (not) plot twist. 

And actually what was that romance?? I love reading sapphic relationships, yet somehow every single horror/thriller book with a sapphic romance has no development. These characters had two conversations and then declared their love for each other. Like geez, I get that you're in a life threatening situation, but people don't fall like that. They literally said "I love you"... after knowing each other for less than TWO weeks.

I read the first book of this at the start of the year, and I enjoyed that. In this book, we have two POVs from the first book, and then a new one introduced in this book.  SO BORING. I lowkey hate everyone in this book.  And the og trio had no business being here, because they added nothing. They weren't too interesting in the first book and literally held no purpose. 

I also feel like the trauma from killing people snd experiencing deaths wasn't shown much. We get the whole 'omg they just died i wanna throw up and cry' but like ,,, that's it. Dee from the last book did not go through therapy and she has way less trauma than a teenager would after going through that. 

Oh, and the plot holes!!
Like they literally run away from everyone and are illegal or criminals despite the fact that it was aired live??? who cares if it was only aired in russia?? u can literally still get evidence wtf??is the author okay


Well, at least I borrowed this from the library. 
Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild

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3.75

I loved the way this story was written, and then intricate plot. I never actually felt attached to the characters or any main emotion other than curiousity, but it was certainly good.