wanderingcurls's reviews
468 reviews

I have had Dukes and Dekes on my TBR list for ages, and by some stroke of luck, I won a signed copy as part of a fall giveaway. And it is the perfect, cozy, and heartwarming fall read. I adored the sunshine and grumpy and friends to lovers tropes, but more than that, I appreciated the authentic representation of a male caregiver and the effects years of medical gaslighting and illness can have on someone’s emotional state. Even though this was a quick read and lighthearted at times, it was certainly not without heavy and intense themes, which @authortoriejean handled with such care. If you're looking for your next fall read and want to feel seen as a spoonie, especially if you are living with diagnosed or undiagnosed endometriosis, this is your book!

Content Warnings

Light Enough to Float by Lauren Seal

Go to review page

dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

CWs: anorexia, eating disorder, anxiety, suicidal ideation, depression, fatphobia, inpatient therapy, diet culture, skin-picking, overdose

Thanks to @penguinteen and @netgalley for the eARC of Light Enough to Float. Seal’s debut novel-in-verse offers a compelling and heartfelt portrayal of her fictional character Evie’s time in inpatient therapy while getting support for her eating disorder, anxiety, and depression. Her powerful and descriptive imagery pulls a punch and can be hard to read at times, but this is a testament to the author's raw honesty and vulnerability and her lifelike characters. I found the development of Evie’s relationship with herself, her family, her therapist, Anna, and her fellow patient and friend, Marianne, over the course of the four months the novel takes place during heartwarming and healing.

I appreciated Seal’s inclusion of content warnings at the beginning of the book, which shows her concern for the well-being of her readers. It’s important for anyone dealing with similar challenges to approach Light Enough to Float gently and with self-compassion, as it can be triggering. I think it’s essential to read this powerful narrative at your own pace and ensure you’re in a good place emotionally.

Content Warnings

At the End of the River Styx by Michelle Kulwicki

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Thanks to @pagestreetya and @netgalley for the ARC copy of At the End of the River Styx. As a fan of the romance genre and contemporary Greek mythology retellings, I was very interested in the premise of an Achillean paranormal romance between two teenage boys, one who is struggling with the guilt and grief of the recent loss of his mother and the other who is in the final year of his 500-year curse of working for the Ferryman of the River Styx. I found Bastian’s character to be compelling as he struggles to relate to his friends, schoolmates, and surviving family members and finds solace and escape with a dead teen boy, Zan. Kulwiki also handled Bastian’s experiences with panic attacks and PTSD with sensitivity and care. I also appreciated how she showed how two people can experience the same life-altering experience as Bastian and his twin brother, Dorian, do and not process grief the same way. I loved the connection between Bastian and Zan and how they could not fight the pull they felt toward each other despite all the drawbacks and consequences. This book was an emotional and poignant read.

I only wish the ending had been fairer for Zan, as my heart broke for him

Content Warnings