wilfsmeath's reviews
11 reviews

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

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

3.25

i was somewhat disappointed reading this book just because i thought it would lean more into the lying and deceit side of things but it seemed to focus less on lying and more on just not knowing things. i also found cady’s amnesia and headaches uncomfortable to read because they were so graphic it sort of made my head hurt too while reading… i did however think the book was a nice length and reading about the 4 main characters and their friendship was sweet. there were some nice moments with the family feud too which were entertaining to say the least. plot twist was unexpected and will definitely stick with me.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

reading this book really felt like i was reading a memoir or biography about a real life band ! the attention to detail is incredible and the characters were believable and fleshed out. i felt some parts about the songwriting or recording process were sometimes repetitive and the book could maybe have been a tad shorter, however on the whole i did really enjoy the reading experience and thought it was a very creative idea and well executed. still can’t believe that daisy jones isn’t a real person !!! the characters were by far the best part of this reading experience and i think its very easy to fall in love with them. 
Bunny by Mona Awad

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

4.75

i was really unsure what rating to give this book purely because i spent quite a lot of it in a state of confusion but looking back i found it very enjoyable and struggled sometimes to put it down !! the characterisation and dialogue was extremely fun to read and there were nice moments of spookiness and horror aspects though it kept its satirical tone throughout. i still don’t fully understand the true meaning of the book, however there were some nice plot twists and clues throughout the book which alluded to moments later on which would be interesting to read back a second time. really felt like a melanie martinez album in the form of a book.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

practically everybody has either heard of or read this book so it’s interesting to see why it’s so highly regarded as a must-read book. i thought that the characters were likeable and interesting to read about however i had a few problems. the way charlie’s character was written seemed strangely juvenile which could be argued was deliberate but i didn’t buy the fact that he was 15/16 when he spoke and acted like he was 10. however then when he was doing more adult things like drinking and smoking, it made the act of doing so seem unrealistic and uncharacteristic. saying this, all in all i found myself growing to like charlie as the book went on, and even though i didn’t particularly enjoy the shocking twist/reveal at the end, i can definitely see how some people would and it definitely made me sympathise for the main characters more and think about the book after finishing. 
Normal People by Sally Rooney

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

normal people has been extremely popular and recommended, and now i see why. it’s written carefully and meaningfully, and Sally Rooney does an amazing job at investing you in the lives of Connell and Marianne- you truly are rooting for them the entirety of the way through. apart from some personal elements that weren’t quite to my taste such as the constant, sometimes frustrating and unnecessary back-and-forth with their relationship and brief encounters with severe mental health issues, i predominantly enjoyed my experience reading the book and would recommend to anyone looking for an emotional yet raw love story between two souls. 
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

such a beautiful & emotional read, i thoroughly enjoyed the overall experience of this book. the way in which it travels through time and navigates two separate points in the twins’ lives and relationships is very clever and interesting, although i did find that the chapters following noah were more captivating than those which followed jude. that may just be down to personal taste, however i did generally find the storyline with noah and brian to interest me more than jude and her interactions with guillermo and oscar. all in all though, the book is beautifully written and has such a powerful message of family and unity that i think feels rewarding to read.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

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emotional funny reflective sad 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

5.0

this is my favourite book i’ve ever read. it’s written so beautifully and flawlessly yet doesn’t lose track of its purpose. the characters are diverse and uniquely interesting yet sad in a way that’s very relatable. i’d definitely recommend this book for people like me who love more character-driven books rather than plot-driven as the whole plot kind of is character development. regardless, i loved every second of it and won’t ever stop obsessing over it !!!! there are a few darker parts so maybe check the content warnings but still an amazingly sad, funny, romantic, real book. 
Beach Read by Emily Henry

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i absolutely loved this book- i read it on the beach & by the pool on holiday (as intended) and it was definitely an easy, relaxing read. the book isn’t short exactly, but it is quite a quick read for more experienced readers (not me lol). i loved the characters, especially january the protagonist, and enjoyed reading from her pov. she brought a humorous but interesting perspective to the table which was enjoyable to read. the ups and downs in her relationship with gus frustrated me a bit as some of the downs felt unnecessary but on the whole i have got to say i highly enjoyed it. the writing and description  made it so easy for me to picture what was happening in my minds eye which i loved, and the dialogue (internal & external) felt natural and realistic. a great summer read <3
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Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

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emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in only 2 days which is impressive for me as a new reader and someone who has also read at a snails pace my entire life due to finding reading somewhat challenging. it is told in a collection of short stories (all interlinked) which is why it feels fast to read. it is a bit tricky to get attached to the main characters when they are each in a maximum of 2 chapters- some are only in 1 but saying that, having a diverse range of characters is refreshing. it isn’t necessarily a sad book but it has a sad outlook and seems written in a somewhat melancholic way, however there are certainly funny moments and lighthearted characters. there isn’t really a strong plot if that is your thing but in my opinion there doesn’t need to be one. the characters carry the book and the short stories give insight into the complexity of other people’s lives and the way that people can be interlinked in a way that you would never expect. the name is fitting as the book is a sensory experience !! it covers some heavy topics but in a lighthearted way that may help some people who struggle with the topics read about them without having to go into triggering detail. definitely a great filler-read when you want to get through a quick book on holiday or in between longer books. would recommend :)
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On Midnight Beach by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

I LOVE THIS BOOK. the characters are so adorable and well-thought out. as far as i can remember no one did anything out-of-character and everyone’s personalities were deeply considered. this book is extremely appealing to teenagers, its lighthearted, romantic and friendship-oriented with sad, funny and tense moments that have you laughing, crying and everything in between. it is an easy read with a nice summer setting and a fun, youthful plot but the best part by far is the characters. it is told through two perspectives of emer and gus, both of which bring unique outlooks on the events. there are some more sad parts of this book but they do not distract from the positive nature of the rest. i wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending as in my opinion it felt kind of rushed and out of place but i don’t think that spoils the extraordinarily beautiful majority of the book. i cannot recommend this enough, especially to read in summer and i hope everyone loves it as much as i did <333
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