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caseythereader's reviews
1758 reviews
Second Night Stand by Fay Stetz-Waters, Karelia Stetz-Waters
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming and Alcohol
Minor: Transphobia
Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thanks to Tor Dot Com Books for the free copy of this book.
- Is there any greater joy than a tightly written, deeply satisfying story? LOST ARK DREAMING gives us that: a fully realized world and complex characters in under 200 pages.
- I loved this blend of sci-fi and fantasy. It’s WOOL x THE DEEP, with heartbreaking individual stories and heart-pounding action.
- It’s hard to discuss much of this book without giving away the plot twist, given that the book is so short. I’ll just say that it didn’t go the direction I thought it would and I loved that. Please read this book!
- Is there any greater joy than a tightly written, deeply satisfying story? LOST ARK DREAMING gives us that: a fully realized world and complex characters in under 200 pages.
- I loved this blend of sci-fi and fantasy. It’s WOOL x THE DEEP, with heartbreaking individual stories and heart-pounding action.
- It’s hard to discuss much of this book without giving away the plot twist, given that the book is so short. I’ll just say that it didn’t go the direction I thought it would and I loved that. Please read this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Classism
Moderate: Slavery and Murder
In the Shallows by Tanya Byrne
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thanks to Henry Holt Books for Young Readers for the free copy of this book.
- Tanya Byrne has the incredible ability to write books that feel both real and ethereal, and IN THE SHALLOWS is no exception.
- I loved Mara and her group of girlfriends. They were a wonderful mix of loving and sniping, always there for each other but also willing to tell hard truths.
- I also liked the perspective of the book. It’s told as if an older Mara is looking back at this time in her life. There’s a lot of “I understand now that...” and “if only I had known” and I think made the intense subject matter a bit of a lesson for younger readers without literally spelling out morals.
- As soon as I understood what was happening with the central mystery, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Truly: I read this whole book in one day because I had to know what was going to happen.
- Tanya Byrne has the incredible ability to write books that feel both real and ethereal, and IN THE SHALLOWS is no exception.
- I loved Mara and her group of girlfriends. They were a wonderful mix of loving and sniping, always there for each other but also willing to tell hard truths.
- I also liked the perspective of the book. It’s told as if an older Mara is looking back at this time in her life. There’s a lot of “I understand now that...” and “if only I had known” and I think made the intense subject matter a bit of a lesson for younger readers without literally spelling out morals.
- As soon as I understood what was happening with the central mystery, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Truly: I read this whole book in one day because I had to know what was going to happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Medical content, and Death of parent
Thirsty by Jas Hammonds
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Thanks to Macmillan for the free copy of this book.
- It feels sort of cliche these days to call a YA novel “important,” but THIRSTY really is. It tackles not only drinking, but also race, class, and more.
- I loved the way Blake’s drinking was portrayed in this book. She was drinking socially, drinking to feel like she belonged, drinking to make friends. She didn’t have one huge rock bottom moment, but rather a slow building of moments that finally came into focus for her.
- It’s sometimes a hard read, when Blake and others are making repeated bad choices. But it’s also filled with love and understanding for Blake and her mindset.
- After adoring Hammonds’ WE DESERVE MONUMENTS and now THIRSTY, they’re an autobuy author for me now. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
- It feels sort of cliche these days to call a YA novel “important,” but THIRSTY really is. It tackles not only drinking, but also race, class, and more.
- I loved the way Blake’s drinking was portrayed in this book. She was drinking socially, drinking to feel like she belonged, drinking to make friends. She didn’t have one huge rock bottom moment, but rather a slow building of moments that finally came into focus for her.
- It’s sometimes a hard read, when Blake and others are making repeated bad choices. But it’s also filled with love and understanding for Blake and her mindset.
- After adoring Hammonds’ WE DESERVE MONUMENTS and now THIRSTY, they’re an autobuy author for me now. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit, Outing, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Pretty: A Memoir by KB Brookins
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, and Pandemic/Epidemic
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Coming Home by Brittney Griner, Michelle Burford
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Thanks to AA Knopf for the free copy of this book.
- I was a bit skeptical of COMING HOME before picking it up, given that it was published quite quickly after Griner’s return home. I was proved wrong, though, and I think it might be one of the best celebrity memoirs I’ve ever read.
- Griner takes us through her entire ordeal in Russia, from the arrest at the checkpoint to the beginnings of her recovery at home. I’d followed the story as it happened, but not in great detail. It’s both what I expected and also not at all.
- It’s a hard read, obviously. Griner shows us not only what happened to her physically, but takes us inside her mental state throughout. Her openness and vulnerability make it quite unlike anything I’ve ever read.
- The audiobook, narrated by Andia Winslow, is excellent. I did extra housework just to keep listening. I do recommend looking at the hard copy as well if you can, as there’s a photo insert section that will match faces to names for you.
- I was a bit skeptical of COMING HOME before picking it up, given that it was published quite quickly after Griner’s return home. I was proved wrong, though, and I think it might be one of the best celebrity memoirs I’ve ever read.
- Griner takes us through her entire ordeal in Russia, from the arrest at the checkpoint to the beginnings of her recovery at home. I’d followed the story as it happened, but not in great detail. It’s both what I expected and also not at all.
- It’s a hard read, obviously. Griner shows us not only what happened to her physically, but takes us inside her mental state throughout. Her openness and vulnerability make it quite unlike anything I’ve ever read.
- The audiobook, narrated by Andia Winslow, is excellent. I did extra housework just to keep listening. I do recommend looking at the hard copy as well if you can, as there’s a photo insert section that will match faces to names for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Medical content, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Racial slurs
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
emotional
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? It's complicated
2.75
Thanks to Orbit Books for the free copy of this book.
- I both loved and was frustrated with THE HONEY WITCH. I adored the isle of Innisfree, with its beautiful cottage and friendly spirits and bees. Truly, the beauty of nature is on display in this book.
- I also loved the romance element of the story. The concept of bringing a skeptic around to believing in magic and falling in love along the way was so sweet.
- However, the world building of this book left a lot to be desired for me. Unrelated magical powers popped up when they needed to, the rules of society were never quite clear, and the plot reveal at the end was so obvious so early on that it actually became frustrating waiting for the characters to figure it out.
- This book also kind of confused romantic love and physical intimacy in a way I didn’t like. I don’t want to go into it here due to spoilers, but I’d love to talk about it if you’ve read this book.
- I both loved and was frustrated with THE HONEY WITCH. I adored the isle of Innisfree, with its beautiful cottage and friendly spirits and bees. Truly, the beauty of nature is on display in this book.
- I also loved the romance element of the story. The concept of bringing a skeptic around to believing in magic and falling in love along the way was so sweet.
- However, the world building of this book left a lot to be desired for me. Unrelated magical powers popped up when they needed to, the rules of society were never quite clear, and the plot reveal at the end was so obvious so early on that it actually became frustrating waiting for the characters to figure it out.
- This book also kind of confused romantic love and physical intimacy in a way I didn’t like. I don’t want to go into it here due to spoilers, but I’d love to talk about it if you’ve read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Brooms by Jasmine Walls
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Thanks to Levine Querido for the free copy of this book.
- What a beautiful graphic novel, in terms of both story and art. I picked up BROOMS based just on the cover, and I’m so glad I did.
- The many racers are all so fully realized. Their wide variety of backgrounds and situations are presented so lovingly and thoughtfully (and occasionally with rightful rage).
- On top of the fantastic characters, the art of the broom race scenes is edge of your seat exciting and gorgeous.
- What a beautiful graphic novel, in terms of both story and art. I picked up BROOMS based just on the cover, and I’m so glad I did.
- The many racers are all so fully realized. Their wide variety of backgrounds and situations are presented so lovingly and thoughtfully (and occasionally with rightful rage).
- On top of the fantastic characters, the art of the broom race scenes is edge of your seat exciting and gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Suicide