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art_books_chemistry's reviews
538 reviews
The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Are you looking for a book where basically nothing happens for pages upon pages, hours upon hours? Then you might like this more than I did.
I do believe I understand the point of this book, I just think it was terribly and boringly executed. It could be an interesting commentary about how a series of small decisions can completely derail your life and turn you into a totally different person. However, I hated all of the characters (except Nia because I've also been that bff that has to watch the crazy happen) so it was hard to sympathize or empathize with them regarding any of the events happening. And after listening to the FMC's inner monologue for 10 hours, she definitely needed therapy just as much as the rest of them.
This gets a two because it wasn't "poorly" written, just boring. The only redeeming factor in my opinion is the general commentary of professional millennial life in NYC. Themes that included: how to afford a house and bills, how to work when company loyalty is non-existent, how to find a job when you're somehow both under and over qualified simultaneously. The ending was also a small redeeming quality since unlike a lot of books, it completely wrapped up the storyline in a somewhat reasonable way.
Honestly, don't recommend unless you like pure extreme social commentary.
I do believe I understand the point of this book, I just think it was terribly and boringly executed. It could be an interesting commentary about how a series of small decisions can completely derail your life and turn you into a totally different person. However, I hated all of the characters (except Nia because I've also been that bff that has to watch the crazy happen) so it was hard to sympathize or empathize with them regarding any of the events happening. And after listening to the FMC's inner monologue for 10 hours, she definitely needed therapy just as much as the rest of them.
This gets a two because it wasn't "poorly" written, just boring. The only redeeming factor in my opinion is the general commentary of professional millennial life in NYC. Themes that included: how to afford a house and bills, how to work when company loyalty is non-existent, how to find a job when you're somehow both under and over qualified simultaneously. The ending was also a small redeeming quality since unlike a lot of books, it completely wrapped up the storyline in a somewhat reasonable way.
Honestly, don't recommend unless you like pure extreme social commentary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Gun violence
Violence in the Void by Alice Stanco
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
Holy Corefire, I couldn't put this book down! Stanco had me absolutely hooked from the prologue. She pulled me into Violet and Xander's story, didn't let me go, and then ripped my heart out. So, basically, Violence in the Void was perfect! 😂
The dynamic of the MCs is all the right kinds of steamy, spicy, and adorable. I'm 100% invested in them-both their background stories and their futures. There's the perfect amount of plot and romance, all wrapped together with magic.
Seriously, I loved every second of this. It's in the running for my favorite book of the year.
《“Keep running that mouth of yours, Angel, and we’ll see where it gets you.” What was that little twist in my gut from his words?》
The dynamic of the MCs is all the right kinds of steamy, spicy, and adorable. I'm 100% invested in them-both their background stories and their futures. There's the perfect amount of plot and romance, all wrapped together with magic.
Seriously, I loved every second of this. It's in the running for my favorite book of the year.
《“Keep running that mouth of yours, Angel, and we’ll see where it gets you.” What was that little twist in my gut from his words?》
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child death, Drug use, Xenophobia, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
Wolf Moon by Nora Roberts
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- Super cute story
- Coming of age, life lessons sort of tale
- Kind of old school comic feeling art style
-Pretty dark and sad
- Coming of age, life lessons sort of tale
- Kind of old school comic feeling art style
-Pretty dark and sad
It's Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal by Raquel V. Reyes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.5
Reyes masterfully weaves together intense spanglish, multiple cultures, and delcious food into a perfectly bound story. I am a little slower at reading this than I am with an english only mystery, however it's purely for my stubbornness of remembering all the spanish I've forgotten since high school (over a decade ago 😶) instead of just looking it up or reading further for her translations that are worked back into the storyline. The latter means you don't need to understand any spanish to keep up! The mystery was well-woven into the story of Miriam's film screening.
Maybe it's because I just had my baby girl but I was really able to connect with Miriam and appreciated both her Velma nickname plus her anthropology background. I'm also absolutely going to use the recipe for Arroz con Pollo in the back of the book! I haven't had it in years and this version sounds yummy, though I might nix the olives!
Maybe it's because I just had my baby girl but I was really able to connect with Miriam and appreciated both her Velma nickname plus her anthropology background. I'm also absolutely going to use the recipe for Arroz con Pollo in the back of the book! I haven't had it in years and this version sounds yummy, though I might nix the olives!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Audited By The Anubis by Wendi Gogh
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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
4.75
Wendi Gogh does it again with an adorably perfect monster meet-cute! I love the main characters, and I definitely love identifying with a curvy FMC that loves to bake! Who doesn't love being able to insert themselves into a spicy book?? 😍
It's hard to gush about this one without giving all the secrets and little twists away! But they seriously make a great underlying plot that allows the spice to be front and center but relevant. I will say it's paced ever so slightly to fast for me. It's definitely insta-lust/love and though I like that with the right background story, it can feel rushed plot-wise if not done very carefully.
The spice is fabulous, just the right amount of delicious description. 🤤 Recommended for all monster lovers but definitely check the content warnings.
It's hard to gush about this one without giving all the secrets and little twists away! But they seriously make a great underlying plot that allows the spice to be front and center but relevant. I will say it's paced ever so slightly to fast for me. It's definitely insta-lust/love and though I like that with the right background story, it can feel rushed plot-wise if not done very carefully.
The spice is fabulous, just the right amount of delicious description. 🤤 Recommended for all monster lovers but definitely check the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Ash and Snow: The Curse of the White Throne by Silvana G. Sánchez
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0