underscorelsa's reviews
170 reviews

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

I guess you could say… this book…. wasn’t my cup of tea

Albatross by Terry Fallis

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

Let's get this out of the way first, I loved this book. I thought it weird when I first read the description, a book about golf? But oh man it is definitely much more than that, and it strayed from what I thought was gonna be a typical "oh man, I'm so good at golf I'll just leave everything else behind (and regret it later)".  The whole doing what you really want vs what other people expect of you is just amazing. As well as the "celebrity" aspect of it all. ALSO THE ENDING AAAAHHHHH.

The only thing that bothered me a bit was the weird pacing in various parts. I felt I was reading the beginning way faster than what was happening in the "after-that-event" chunk.  

Also, reading this post-2020 is just so funny. Never in a million years could we have guessed what would happen, so I can't blame the author at all. But, oh man. 

Eyeing over other reviews, I can't wait to read more of his books, given that this is one of his "worse" ones. How???

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

medium-paced

2.0

um. so that was definitely a book. it’s not like i hated it but it just… was something. every relationship felt extremely forced and not believable at all. the “magic” aspect wasnt even that interesting, which is a WILD thing coming from me, because i always love it.

also kind of spoiler but i feel like this was a worse heathers… like the whole “romantic interest faking suicides bc the victims did ‘bad’ stuff to the person they loved”?? and then the guy dies at the end??? yeah no i will stick to heathers.

The Insiders by Mark Oshiro

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book so much. I actually CRIED reading it, which hasn’t happened to me in years… So sweet, such a necessary book.

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

This was a beautiful book. I am so glad I picked it up. As a lesbian myself, I found myself represented in so many ways here. It was beautiful to see another lesbian from another culture speak about her own experience. This book has made me reflect about myself and the way I treat my close ones and how I am perceived. Overall a fantastic book that I will cherish forever.

Rey blanco by Juan Gómez-Jurado

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

MENUDA PEDAZO DE CONCLUSIÓN A LA TRILOGÍA!! Menudas ganas tengo de seguir leyendo sobre el universo Reina Roja.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

dark reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I picked it up because I wanted to step out of my usual comfort zone and read a Booker Prize winner. Didn't turn out that well.

Magical realism is something that I tend to like, but this one didn't quite do it for me. The premise was fantastic, but the book itself felt too convoluted. I enjoyed reading a well written second person book, and some of the reflections on this book stuck with me, but other than that, I had a hard time getting through it due to the amount of names and undeveloped characters. The plot wasn't anything too great throughout, either.

He besado a Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

funny lighthearted medium-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

4.0

Idol, Burning by Rin Usami

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I have a lot of thoughts about this one. It’s been a while since I last cried with a book and wow, reading the epilogue and the author’s notes just did it for me.

I personally am a kpop stan, and I do rely on a lot of these people and this one hit hard. The fan space is totally realistic, how fandom works and how it feels when something like this happens. I wish I could make my parents read this book for them to understand me better.

I’ll write a better review in the future, but wow, really. Really good book.