pucksandpaperbacks's reviews
599 reviews

challenging emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-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

CW: racism, generational trauma, mention of dementia/character living with dementia, death of a parent, grief, alcoholism, mention of a drunk driving car accident, mentions of the pandemic, heart attack,
Spoiler
character goes into a coma but wakes up.

Maurene Goo nailed this Back to the Future inspired novel set in 1995. Through Samantha "Sam/Sammy" Kang's trip to 1995 - the same year her mother was in high school - she learns about her mother in a whole different way. The references to the culture of the 90s vs modern day times had me laughing throughout the book as Samantha tries to hide her identity of being from the future. However, Goo hits each point she is trying to make and further improves Sam's character development. Before the book ended, I felt myself disappointed because I thought it wasn't fair to claim Sam had to "fix" her mother's relationship with her grandmother. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when Sam realized this:

Spoiler

"Maybe … maybe when I traveled to the past, it was just me that was supposed to change. And I had. Because even with my mom not doing exactly what I hoped she would do, her response didn’t fill me with despair or frustration."

There is a romance that I thought was sweet, but I am pretty neutral on whether it was needed or not. I have only read Goo's debut, I Believe in a Thing Called Love which wasn't my favorite but I think this is her best book by far.

If you want a book about a mother/daughter relationship, generational trauma, and travel back in time to the 90's, I highly recommend Throwback.

Now I want to go and watch Back to the Future!

Content Warnings

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maritza Moulite, Maika Moulite

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

CW: HP and JKR reference, Alzheimer's, ableism, miscarriage, sexual harassment
A great debut full of family drama and family history. The main character was such a realistic teen as she made teenage-like mistakes and I liked her growth throughout the story seeing her learn about her mother that she has a rocky relationship with. I also liked and thought it was a smart writing decision to have the book written in epistolary format since it has to do with the media and as she finds the diary entries that lead her to more information about her family's history.

As this is co-written, I thought it was a unique approach because most co-written words have dual POV but this has a single POV. I'm excited to read more from these authors!

Content Warnings

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

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CW: ableism and ableist language (challenged), panic attack, vomiting, alcohol, intoxication, mentions of anxiety, depression, OCD, intrusive thoughts, sexual content, and a depressive episode.

A sweet romance showing two queer, neurodivergent men - demisexual & gay - falling in love on a reality TV show. This had me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I was filled up with tears, smiling, and laughing as I read Dev and Charlie's love story. As a neurodivergent person and specifically someone with generalized & social anxiety, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the kindness each character showed to each other.

Content Warnings

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

An immersive experience that will make you sick to your stomach. A truly unreal read. Loved the audiobook!

The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Marina in the Middle by Nicole Melleby

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

CW: Anxiety & panic attack (on page; briefly described)

Content Warnings

If You Change Your Mind by Robby Weber

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CW: Underage drinking, Alzheimer's

A sweet YA rom-com filled with movie references, summer vibes, and queer joy. I loved the setting, the family dynamics and the messiness of Harry's character. If you liked Always the Almost by Edward Underhill, you'll enjoy this book!

Content Warnings