rosennest's reviews
82 reviews

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

i could not get into this at all for some reason, maybe i’ll return to it at a later point but i can’t bring myself to read it any further rn. that’s not to say that its bad at all i think the author’s writing style might just not be for me

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective 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? No

5.0

this was a really interesting read!!! on one hand it’s a cute ya novel with a (mostly) lovable cast of characters and a happy ending! on the other it depicts an issue/ discourse thats become more prominent in the last couple of years (perhaps covid/lockdown related and due to people having too much time on their hands)

i get the whole “wanting people in your community to represent you on screen” thing but dont people (even actors) deserve respect and privacy and time to figure things out? and do they have to share whatever they end up deciding? or not deciding? will it really hurt you if a straight person plays a gay character? (isnt the quality of the performance more relevant) who are you to decide what they are or aren’t? (when i say that i do NOT mean cis people playing trans people thats another thing); the amount of people that were forced out of the closet in the last 2-3 years alone because of discourse on the internet(!!!) is ridiculous, it’s also interesting how these discussions always talk about portrayal on screen but then they don’t care about the quality of whatever it is that’s being portrayed (like hiring writers that perhaps identify with or can speak to the characters experiences - but even thats not a MUST; we’re all people!! and the idea that a straight person couldnt write an emotional and sincere depiction of queer love is more than absurd) i lost my train of thought but i think thats all i have to say

(also have to admit that i VERY much related to imogen overthinking -explaining and -apologizing which was fun to read instead of experience for once lmao)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Biphobia

Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko

funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

THIS WAS SO SWEET!!!! i’ve been in a reading slump and havent read an actual book in months but i couldnt put this dow!!!! 
also listened to fiona apples when the pawn hits the conflicts while reading and it surprisingly fit really well!!
of course i watched the music video when it came out (I WAS 13???) and getting an insight into the characters we were introduced to was great!! i also loved that coley wasnt alone the entire time! not everyone was an asshole! she had sj and blake and kendrick (her “family” at makoto’s in general)!! and i do love a story about a parent and their child reconnecting :’) 
i didnt go into this with any expectations and it was a quick easy summer read but i really like the characters we got to meet and i’m really going to miss them!
 
also couldnt stop myself from grinning and smiling while reading which was a little embarrassing when i was reading on the bus lmao

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Homophobia

Minor: Suicide

Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

i really enjoyed this and i’m very glad i went into it barely knowing anything, that definitely increased the horror experience while reading it. so good and sad.

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

i am sad.

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

emotional funny fast-paced

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

5.0

i haven’t related to a fictional character like this in a WHILE, sometimes i had to pause because i couldn’t believe how similar things gilda was considering were things i’ve thought of myself. my favorite thing is probably elis and gildas relationship:)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Life for Sale by Yukio Mishima

reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

i quite enjoyed reading it but i’m not sure what to make of the last page

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

emotional hopeful reflective fast-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? Yes

5.0

im in love with this book and i enjoyed the time reading it SO much. i adore nina lacours writing in general but this one stands out to me for some reason - its a love story, sure but mostly it’s two women growing on their own and together

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

i wasn’t entirely sure how i felt about this, but after taking some space and thinking about it i did quite enjoy it. it’s a great character study and murata details the story in a very much objective manner, while also respecting her main character.