asipofcozy's reviews
206 reviews

A Sign of Affection, Volume 7 by suu Morishita

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love this manga series so much, the art style is a masterpiece, the story is beautiful, and I have come to love all of the characters... (well except Oushi -.-). And of course I have to wait gosh knows how many months for the next volume to come out!
Solo Leveling, Vol. 3 by Chugong

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adventurous dark fast-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? Yes

3.75

Really enjoying this series so far! I am loving the action and the character development.

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Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

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adventurous 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

3.75

(Reread) One of my goals for 2024 is to finish out series that I own, the Shadow of the Fox series is one of them! So I had to do a quick reread of the first book to remember what happened 4 years ago when it first was published.

I don't have much to say on this besides it was enjoyable and fast-paced. I enjoyed my reread and I loved the characters.

It isn't anything over the top by any means. It's YA and reads like any YA from 2015-2019. However, I am still looking forward to continuing the trilogy.

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Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

Didn't think I would squeeze in one more book before the new year and yet here we are 4.5 hours from 2024 and behold I finished a book.

I was adamant that I would not pick this book up, I was all I won't like it, it sounds like all other YA fantasies, it's not going to be my cup of tea, why would I subject myself to another hyped TikTok book...I WAS WRONG!!!! WHY WHY did I not pick it up sooner. Guys, I devoured this book in a matter of 4 hours. 4 HOURS! I couldn't put it down, I even kicked my hubby out of the living room because I was in tense reading mode. 

What can I say that hasn't already been said, the writing style is beautiful, the story moves smoothly, the characters are dimensional and have so much passion and characteristic, the FRICKEN ENDING!!!! I am so glad that Ruthless Vows came out on December 26th, I don't know if I could wait months to get the sequel. I don't know how my heart move on after reading that. 

Is this review all over the place and makes absolutely no sense (and to think I have a degree in linguistics and literature), absolutely! Should you still go pick this up, YES! YES YOU SHOULD!

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Solo Leveling, Vol. 2 by Chugong

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

3.75

I am really getting into this series. Loving the action, the video game-esque style, the characters. 

What I am not sure I was fond of in this volume is the complete 180 our main character Jinwoo Sung has. Maybe I expected more of a buildup and I understand the story needs to move along but by the end of the volume he was almost unrecognizable.

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Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

Caught up with my reread of Heartstopper! Cannot wait to read volume 5 🫶🏽

I will always turn to this series when I need to feel good book to re-center myself when I have a really rough day.

Serious Themes/Topics that are talked a lot about throughout this volume:
- Depression and Anxiety
- Mental Health Awareness
- Eating Disorder Awareness
- First love and saying “I love you” for the first time
- Teen love
- Unhealthy home environments
- Coming out to family members
- Homophobic comments and situations
- How mental health effects those around you
- Suicidal thoughts and actions/Self-harm
- How family members can help a loved one without inhibiting them

What I loved most about this volume, is the understanding that family members, friends, partners and teachers are not a substitute for healthcare professionals. They can be supportive, they can be there for you, but they can't cure you nor should they try. When I was diagnosed with anorexia and orthorexia, my family thought they could cure me and in the process made things worse and our relationship worse. Alice Oseman delivers this in such a practical and safe way. Oseman brought in so many important discussions on how family members can help their loved ones without inhibiting them or making it about the family. 

I also loved that she included snippets of the medical definition of anorexia and eating disorders. There are so many individuals out there that believe that those of us that have anorexia are doing it for attention or because we honestly just want to be skinny/we are vain. Trying to explain to friends and family that it's not a choice but the only source of control was difficult and Oseman shows this well. 

This is the first book/graphic novel that I have ever come across that actually depicts and talks about anorexia correctly. Most books make it seem like it's a cognitive choice, not realizing that we start off by not realizing what we are doing and even when we do realize there is a huge fear of not being in control. So a thanks to the author for finally bringing to light the realness of mental health and eating disorders and making sure to show correctly what should be done when a loved one is suffering from either.

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Solo Leveling, Vol. 1 by Chugong

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

3.75

I had heard about this series for awhile and wanted to give it a go, so I stopped at my local library (no way I was paying $20+ a volume for a series I know little about) and have to say I was surprised. 

I think the art style is stunning and the detail put in is wonderful, it's unique for a manga and I enjoy that. 

I think because I don't know much about the series I don't really know what to expect going forward but the first volume was fun and I look forward to seeing more character growth and plot development. I still don't think I will invest in the series but that's okay because the library has all the volumes!

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Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad 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

This is a reread from last year in prep for volume 5 that just came out and I still stand by this being the most wholesome series to exist. We needed this beautiful graphic novel in our lives currently. There are so many topics and themes that she touches on that can connect to so many readers.

This graphic novel/webtoon has everything from first love, defining your sexuality, saying "I love you" for the first time, dealing with bullying and homophobia, standing up for what you believe in, facing your fears, coming-out, loving yourself, and in this latest installment the struggles with depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

This volume definitely hit home for me when one of the characters is revealed to potentially have an eating disorder. As someone that struggled with body dysmorphia as a child which grew into Anorexia as young teen and adult, I am so glad that Oseman captures eating disorders correctly and not with the assumption that it's because we are obsessed with being skinny.

I always get so happy when I pick up another volume of Heartstopper. It's one of those comfort reads you can turn to when you have a bad day and just need something happy in your life.

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Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The nostalgia I have rereading this series and watching the tv show at the same time. It's just so perfect to read during the winter season. Also preparing myself for volume 5 that comes out soon!!!!

Love Nick, Charlie and the entire cast of characters in Heartstopper so much.

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Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-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

3.0

I wanted to love this so bad.

An Arthurian re-telling with queer characters and lots of representation, I thought YES sign me up! What I got instead was two characters hating each other for 70% of the book, making a pact to save-face, and the rest of the book was them having a horrible time dealing with their feelings on their crushes. It was the last 10 pages of the book that only made me happy.

Where was the medieval rom-com I was promised? I felt like this book was angst and anger.


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