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grumpyreading's reviews
1019 reviews
The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill
emotional
reflective
fast-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
📚 Review: Damn. This was incredible. It hit really really hard. This book discussed such important things so beautifully. Like how it is no small thing to let people in to who you really are and the things that make you that way. And the importance of representation in allowing yourself to exist as who you are. It also talked about the feeling of rejection from those you love most, and how being queer and trans can add an extra layer of that feeling because you wonder if you’re being rejected because of these identities. Again - this hit HARD. I cried many times. I’ve been Darby. A teenager in oversized clothes, reading to distract myself from who I didn’t yet know I was, wondering if I felt so alone because of my identity. And I’ve been adult Darby - getting to learn so much about myself and my place and where I belong and how amazing (and sometimes painful it is to be queer and find other people like you. This book was so special. The detail in the writing also made me feel so immersed and I had such a clear picture in my head while I read it. I can’t wait to read this over again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, Grief, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell
dark
emotional
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
3.5
📚 Review: This book was sweet! I feel like there was a lot of care put into the topics discussed, and into the characters. While not all of them were likeable, I liked most of them anyways. And I love a book with old gays 🙌. I did feel like the pacing was kind of slow and off and clunky, but overall I enjoyed the book and the writing. There were some sentences I had to stop and read multiple times because they hit hard. There was a lot of personality in this book and I’m glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
📚 Review: I picked this up at a thrift store because I really loved The Overnight Guest by this author. This book was fast paced, but definitely a bit predictable. I enjoyed the premise but didn’t feel a ton of suspense as I read. Overall I think it was a decent thriller and worth the read. Please check the content warnings though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0
This book is so cute and so authentic. (Not so) Patiently waiting for volume 6!
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
✨ Book Review! ✨
📕Book: Lily And The Octopus
📘 Genre: Fiction
📖 Synopsis: Ted Flask loves nothing more than Lily, his 12 year old dog. This is a story about how fiercely he loves her, how difficult it is to let go, and how we fight for those he loves.
📚 Review: ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ This was so sad and heartwarming. I love Steven Rowley and have been waiting to read this book for so long. It was funny, sad, and so so beautiful.
💫 Rating: 4/5
Full review with content breakdown and content warnings on my StoryGraph!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
The Monocle Guide to Building Better Cities by Monocle
informative
fast-paced
5.0
I loved this! Great little stories and insights into some great city building.
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Fast-paced, short, and very dark. Can’t get on board with the animal stuff. :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, and Blood
Pucking Sweet by Emily Rath
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.5
Pucking Sweet - Overall I enjoyed this one but I think it’s my least favourite in the series so far. It felt rushed and like there were a lot of storylines happening, which I think is due to the fact that it had to work to tie in with the other books in the series, so the timeline had to align. I enjoyed Poppy and am excited for the next book. 3.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises by Fredrik Backman
emotional
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
3.75
This was sweet and had the same sweet characters and writing I’ve come to love from Backman. I did feel it was kind of slow and not a ton happened, but I loved the writing regardless.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, and Death
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
tense
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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I read this series for the first time last year and it was nice to return to it before the new book comes out.
It was definitely intense and at times the pacing was a bit slow but I liked being back in this world and enjoyed the reading experience overall.
It was definitely intense and at times the pacing was a bit slow but I liked being back in this world and enjoyed the reading experience overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Classism