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lilacsandliterature's reviews
319 reviews
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
A Play for the End of the World by Jai Chakrabarti
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Murder
The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Thank you Gallery books for the gifted advanced copy!
Here it is. My top book of the year so far. It’ll be hard as hell to find one that will top this but it’ll be exciting to try. This book wrecked me and threw me around and then picked up the pieces and sewed them carefully back together. If you’re a fan of Where the Heart Is, or any found family story then this book is for you.
I absolutely loved April and following her through heartache after heartache before she could let herself be loved. She runs from everything she’s ever known and doesn’t think she deserves anything good in life until a culmination of events leads her to her truth.
This book was equally heart breaking and beautiful and reminded me exactly why I love to read, and how being immersed in a story and forgetting the world around you is the perfect escape. I knew this was a 5 star read from the early pages and I was absolutely not disappointed.
I know this is a #cryingaccount but the truth is I very rarely cry when I read books - I can maybe count on one hand the number of times it’s happened. This one had the tears flowing for sure. Such a beautifully written story and it deserves alllllll the stars! You don’t want to miss this one!
Here it is. My top book of the year so far. It’ll be hard as hell to find one that will top this but it’ll be exciting to try. This book wrecked me and threw me around and then picked up the pieces and sewed them carefully back together. If you’re a fan of Where the Heart Is, or any found family story then this book is for you.
I absolutely loved April and following her through heartache after heartache before she could let herself be loved. She runs from everything she’s ever known and doesn’t think she deserves anything good in life until a culmination of events leads her to her truth.
This book was equally heart breaking and beautiful and reminded me exactly why I love to read, and how being immersed in a story and forgetting the world around you is the perfect escape. I knew this was a 5 star read from the early pages and I was absolutely not disappointed.
I know this is a #cryingaccount but the truth is I very rarely cry when I read books - I can maybe count on one hand the number of times it’s happened. This one had the tears flowing for sure. Such a beautifully written story and it deserves alllllll the stars! You don’t want to miss this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Abandonment
Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Blood
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Animal by Lisa Taddeo
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? Yes
4.5
Thank you to Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for the gifted advanced copy!
TRIGGER WARNINGS: this book is full of graphic descriptions of rape and miscarriage so please be warned
Wow. This book is incredibly dark but equally as compelling and I couldn’t put it down until the last pages. It’s hard to express enjoying such dark subject matter but it was written in such a way that I can’t deny its power. The story of Joan, the daughter of parents who have made many decisions that will effect her life forever, is one that will stay with me for a while. Joan goes on a mission to find a woman she’s never met before but who changes the course of her life without even knowing she exists. Joan is an incredibly complex character who seems to let herself be treated poorly in order to punish her child self.
This book could not be more graphic and disturbing but so well written. I recommend to fans of books like Luster and The Push.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: this book is full of graphic descriptions of rape and miscarriage so please be warned
Wow. This book is incredibly dark but equally as compelling and I couldn’t put it down until the last pages. It’s hard to express enjoying such dark subject matter but it was written in such a way that I can’t deny its power. The story of Joan, the daughter of parents who have made many decisions that will effect her life forever, is one that will stay with me for a while. Joan goes on a mission to find a woman she’s never met before but who changes the course of her life without even knowing she exists. Joan is an incredibly complex character who seems to let herself be treated poorly in order to punish her child self.
This book could not be more graphic and disturbing but so well written. I recommend to fans of books like Luster and The Push.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, and Rape
Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, and Suicide
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Child death and Gun violence