lauraleafromthelibrary's reviews
165 reviews

Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad fast-paced

4.0

✦ why I gave this book 4 ☆
➳ I remember watching the Netflix series Maid in 2021 and being absolutely absorbed by it, even though I couldn’t really relate in any tangible way. I felt empathy for that character and her experiences; I later learned it was a real story, with a real person behind it. I knew I wanted to read Class as soon as I heard about it because I had never actually read Maid and was curious to know more.
  • With Class, I felt more judgemental as a reader, opposed to being empathetic. I think I “enjoyed” reading this book (that’s definitely not the best adjective) but became really confused with
    her having a second baby; not because she didn’t know the father, which was kinda cringe but because her situation was already so difficult. I don’t believe people should bring children into this world that they can’t support properly or afford financially.
  • The writing was very detailed and maybe a little chaotic (her life gave me anxiety just reading about it); but, maybe that’s what made it good. I can’t even begin to understand how American women survive in that shit-hole of a country. Throw in higher education, and it’s a circus. I do commend her for graduating with so many things moving against her. What an incredible story of survival and endurance.
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The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews

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adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring 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

4.0

✦ november 2023
  • more a 4.5 ⭐️ re-read
*I always give full star reviews tho

important moments —
  • the discussion on interracial relationships + marriage
  • British colonialism + a history of racism
  • women’s rights + their place in Victorian society
  • spiritualism: a movement
  • the equestrian theme; omg I loved every moment
  • a male dressmaker — again, an uncommon profession for the time period
  • the prejudice of the wealthy + their unrealistic standards
  • pressures placed on women, specifically to do with marriage

p.s. ahmad malik can make a dress for me any day — slay my dude, slay 😏
The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

I have so much love for these characters. They are the true heroes of this series — not the magical setting or atmospheric writing (even tho those don’t hurt either). 

Favourite moments:
  • The last 100ish pages.
  • Tes + her owl — what an amazing addition to this stunning cast of characters.
  • Kell + Lila, and the ring.
  • Alucard — swoon. <3
  • Ren Maresh; the animals — why? And who is she stepping into. The plot thickens.
A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers

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

4.0

Superb.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

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

3.0

Creepy but also reflective.
Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe

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

3.0

Not really my vibe — obviously not the target audience but still a fun time. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either.
Unfamiliar, Vol. 1 by Haley Newsome

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring 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

The writing is even better than the art — and the art is amazing. <3
Reykjavík: A Crime Story by Ragnar Jónasson, Katrín Jakobsdóttir

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

4.0

Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-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

1.0

Why I didn’t enjoy this book:
  • And I don’t believe in the snooze button — aggressive morning people make me sick
  • because making your bed every morning sets you up to conquer your day — who the fuck is this woman? The excessive optimism was too much.
  • I’m a farmer … I do my best work outside — talk about cringe dialogue (the w o r s t). That was also (horrible) sexual innuendo.
  • the fake shutter sounds from camera phones — I was pretty sure this writing duo are boomers but this right here confirmed it for me: EVERY PHONE HAS A CAMERA BITCH —what century are you living in? Also, the shutter sounds. GOD.
  • The fade-to-black closed door sex scenes were so pushy. Like bitch, we get it, you’re a feminist and talking about sex is bad. I want to block this book from my memory.
  • Emerson Wilde — what a shitty ass protagonist. The worst. Pushy, overly opinionated, high strung, aggressively feminist to the point that she won’t let anyone help her, god forbid it’s a dude. Lord have mercy. NEXT.
  • St. Cyprian — if I hear the name of this town one more time … iykyk 🤮
  • We saved the world guys — okay, think the Buffy scooby gang but they’re all witches instead and 100% more annoying. This bitch fights one battle and thinks she’s saved the world. Essentially, the climax was anti-climatic but I should have known from the “sex scenes” that this book was going to end with a splat, flop, and cringy marriage proposal.

P.S. I gave is one ⭐️ because I liked the animal familiars. Talking animals for the win.
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The Kraken's Sacrifice by Katee Robert

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

2.0

Tentacle porn. Aggressively so. 😂