francesmthompson's reviews
957 reviews

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

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challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I highlighted the shit out of this book and can't wait for my kids to be old enough to read it.
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

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

4.0

Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon

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challenging informative reflective

4.75

It's both fascinating and alarming that so many of the observations in this book still hold true 70 years after it was first published. An essential read for anyone wanting to dismantle their internalised racism and biases.
Bloom Town: Genesis by Ally North

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4.5

Trans and Disabled: An Anthology of Identities and Experiences by Alex Iantaffi

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective

4.75

Forbidden Fruit by C.J. Lucci

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

4.5

These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Sci-fi is not my genre but this was MY JAM!
Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Pumpkin Spice and Poltergeist by Ali K. Mulford, K. Elle Morrison

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Pansies by Alexis Hall

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emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

For the record, I will never not love an Alexis Hall book. No matter the genre or the genders. If he writes it, I'm going to read it. So, yes, I was very excited to read an eARC of Pansies, especially because I loved For Real and Glitterland, other books in this Spires series.

And Pansies had all the things I enjoyed about those books: quirky Britishisms, snarky banter, hilarious almost slapstick comedic moments. 

And like with those other books, there was unexpected depth to Pansies. Poor Fen's heartbreak was palpable and Alfie's internal battles about who he was and where he had come from were very relatable. 

I also want to give a special mention to the Prologue which was one of the loveliest openings to a book I've ever read.