m4rtt4's reviews
376 reviews

The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson

Go to review page

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

3.25

this was... okay, but a huge disappointment after the Truly Devious Trilogy.
Johnson made Stevie dream of being like Hercule Poirot, but the foreshadowing fell flat with the 'grand reveal'. The point of Agatha Christie's mysteries is that all of the information is available to the reader before Poirot reveals his solution, but since the solution depended on Sabrina's diary which was only revealed in the 'grand reveal' itself, there was no way the reader could have tried solving the mystery themselves and that automatically takes off half of the fun in reading murder mysteries. Also making the killer a literal Nazi is sooo unoriginal and overused — I am no Nazi sympathizer (!!) but I've seen this so many times in all types of American media that you just can't surprise me with that anymore.


I was mostly annoyed with how the mystery was executed, but as a cherry on top I couldn't care less about Stevie and David's relationship either — I don't see what they are supposed to see in each other, and in my opinion Stevie is perfectly capable of being a strong female YA protagonist without having a love interest.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

Brilliant, this was so unlike anything I've read before and kept me on edge the whole time. Took off 0.5 stars for the sluggish pace but overall the codependency was very well written, and though I could see many similarities with The Secret History, I'm a hoe for stories like this and it's ALWAYS a good thing to start the book with a crime even though the rest of the book is mostly just vibes and no plot.

It also took me a while to get used to the audiobook narrator, but once I was hooked, you couldn't have convinced me it wasn't Paul himself talking to me. I definitely do recommend the audiobook experience, as this book is mostly vibes and fits so well in the darkening autumn atmosphere!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Kaksoisolento by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Go to review page

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

3.25

smart and funny, but also quite predictable and that's why it became boring about halfway through. Dostoyevsky sure can write unreliable narrators, though, and his witty language was on point once again.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

THIS WAS SO GOOD, and my only wish is that I was a gamer — I mean, I already got so much out of this book, EFFING LOVED IT, but if  I was a gamer this probably would have opened some another level (pun intended).

I loved how all the characters were developed, and all their flaws were sometimes so unlovable yet understandable, human, they frustrated me so much yet I would have done anything for them. I also loved how just like in real life, there are no happily ever afters — human lives are a flow, and this book perfectly depicted that.

I'm also happy that Sam and Sadie never ended up dating (at least in the written story, who knows about their future?) — I wouldn't have been very against that either as I loved them both, but it was a fresh and realistic view to have them be just friends and fall out of touch for years. 

This book was so emotional, but what finally made me cry was Dong Hyun's funeral and how HE LEFT THE DONKEY KONG MACHINE FOR SADIE. I'm crying again just thinking about it.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Punainen erokirja by Pirkko Saisio

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

tää oli vähän latistava lopetus trilogialle, ei siis huono lainkaan mutta muihin osiin verrattuna ei yhtä hyvä?
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Vastavalo by Pirkko Saisio

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.25

Pienin yhteinen jaettava by Pirkko Saisio

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

just sitä mitä toivoinkin, ja äänikirja Saision itsensä lukemana saa vielä jonkin erityisen ulottuvuuden. lapsen näkökulma oli niiin hyvin kirjoitettu, ja siis ylipäätään tässä on sitä jotain — onneksi tätä on vielä kaksi kirjaa lisää <3
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Happy Place by Emily Henry

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

now I've read every novel of Emily Henry's (that's been published so far) and this was my first 4 star experience — I guess it was worth not giving up despite feeling like her other works were not my cuppa tea. I would have binge-read this in one sitting had I not started reading at 12am — I slept in the middle and then finished the book first thing when I woke up. Sooo I would recommend the book, the pining was especially well done :)
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Go to review page

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

4.0

an one-of-a-kind story, witty, entertaining and original. though I must say this felt like something that to this extent could only happen in the usa and felt a bit distant at times? also much of the critique (on the publishing industry, racism, cultural appropriation etc.) was handed to the reader on a silver platter, almost as if the author didn't trust the reader to form their own opinion themselves — I wish it hadn't been so blatantly obvious, because the points made were still good and important. the online discourse was relatable and probably my favourite part of the book. idk what else to say as this was such a diverse read in both its genres and topics, but I'm excited to read whatever R.F.Kuang decides to write next!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Punapakolaiset: Suomalaisnaisten elämä ja kohtalo Neuvosto-Karjalassa by Maria Lähteenmäki

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0