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natreadthat's reviews
389 reviews
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
It’s common knowledge that the general public has gotten a little obsessed with true crime. Bodie Kane is no different.
Bodie is a forty something year-old femicide podcaster heading back to teach a class at her prestigious former New England boarding school. When one of her students decides to podcast about the two decades old murder of Thalia Keith, who just so happens to have been Bodie’s junior year roommate, the case gets more attention than expected. And Bodie can’t seem to stop herself from diving in the deep end of it all.
This was a slow, slow, slooooow burn with themes surrounding misogyny, racism, #metoo, privilege, class, justice (or lack there of), and the public unofficially taking the role of quasi investigators and judges. If you’re a fan of mysteries, messy endings, internal conflict, and cultural fixations, this one’s for you.
Bodie is a forty something year-old femicide podcaster heading back to teach a class at her prestigious former New England boarding school. When one of her students decides to podcast about the two decades old murder of Thalia Keith, who just so happens to have been Bodie’s junior year roommate, the case gets more attention than expected. And Bodie can’t seem to stop herself from diving in the deep end of it all.
This was a slow, slow, slooooow burn with themes surrounding misogyny, racism, #metoo, privilege, class, justice (or lack there of), and the public unofficially taking the role of quasi investigators and judges. If you’re a fan of mysteries, messy endings, internal conflict, and cultural fixations, this one’s for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, and Murder
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
challenging
dark
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? No
4.0
After surviving a plane crash that killed every other passenger, including his family, twelve year-old Edward Adler has to learn how to cope with losing everything and starting completely over.
This is a coming of age story, but with total devastation as the backdrop. It really tugs at the heartstrings. Not only do we get to witness the blossoming relationship of Edward and his neighbor, we also learn about the lives of the other passengers on the plane. What a whirlwind of emotions.
“And it was possible that they were all crying a little.” Me too, Edward. Me too.
This is a coming of age story, but with total devastation as the backdrop. It really tugs at the heartstrings. Not only do we get to witness the blossoming relationship of Edward and his neighbor, we also learn about the lives of the other passengers on the plane. What a whirlwind of emotions.
“And it was possible that they were all crying a little.” Me too, Edward. Me too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
I was definitely more engaged for this book than the previous one. All of that war and destruction really keeps the pace going strong.
A lot happened in this one—world building (yes, more of it), war, the desperation of freeing a heartmate, lust, love, and the ongoing battle between mother and daughter. Not only did we get to see POVs from Poppy and Casteel, which was a nice switch up, we also got to see a whole lot more.
Count me in for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Grief
The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
Reading the first three of the #fbaa series back to back has definitely made them run together, but what can you do?
It feels like Poppy went from the sheltered, hidden-away Maiden to a fierce, warrior princess real quick. 🤔 I continued to enjoy the banter between characters, introductions of new folks, and the deeper relationships continuing to be built up. But something in this one felt a bit off. I found myself taking longer and longer breaks between reading sessions. Maybe it has something to do with the truth bombs and shocking revelations Poppy was constantly going through. Who knows. What I do know is the ending definitely left me gearing up for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Take two with Poppy, the gang, and their world of gods and magic. While this was probably 100 pages too long, a bit full of info dumps, and a metric fvckton of angst, I still couldn’t put it down.
Poppy is held against her will by the Dark One himself, Casteel Da’Neer, and has to decide her fate after learning that much of what she’s always believed to be true is not. This book is full of dark secrets, two kingdoms going to head to head against each other, and the enemies-to-lovers trope going strong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
Coming off of SJM’s series, I knew I had to keep chasing that fantasy high. And while it wasn’t ACOTAR, I still enjoyed it.
Poppy is the Maiden, chosen by the gods. Her destiny is to live a life of solitary and service to her kingdom, but that doesn’t stop her from pushing the boundaries whenever and however she can. This book is a swirl of emotions, a touch of spice, a hefty vengeance, and a seemingly never ending lack of freedom as Poppy yearns to love her own life.
It was a bit predictable but in the best way possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Physical abuse and Death of parent
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Let me put it this way: this book did not need to be 800 pages. It simply didn’t. But the absolute cliffhanger at the end made it worth getting through all of the fluff.
Bryce and Hunt return…with all the twists, turns, danger, and detective work that they’re known for. And that’s about all I can say without spoiling anything!
If you read it, pleaaasseeee message me so we can discuss everything that happened and the theories of future books. This book had an ungodly amount of information packed into it, no doubt clues of what’s to come next. And now I have to wait who knows how long for the next book to come out.
*dramatic sigh*
🌙
Bryce and Hunt return…with all the twists, turns, danger, and detective work that they’re known for. And that’s about all I can say without spoiling anything!
If you read it, pleaaasseeee message me so we can discuss everything that happened and the theories of future books. This book had an ungodly amount of information packed into it, no doubt clues of what’s to come next. And now I have to wait who knows how long for the next book to come out.
*dramatic sigh*
🌙
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Death Watch by Stona Fitch
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Can a watch define who someone is? Sure it can show off your wealth, style, and status, but can it exude bravery? Fearlessness? Cassius Seven, better known as Death Watch, can.
Built into its luxurious band are seven deadly knives that will sever the wearer’s artery and cause, you guessed it, death. It’s the watch that tells time and stops it. And all Coe Vessel has to do is convince people to buy it.
Death Watch isn’t typically what I go for and probably not something I would pick on my own, but it did keep me engaged. It’s a look at consumer culture going awry that’s part thriller, part mystery, and definitely a slow burn. The characters were built up well and the plot kept moving along. So I guess that begs the question, are you brave enough—or maybe crass enough—to put on the Death Watch?
Death Watch is available March 7th, 2023. Thank you to Wunderkind PR for the #arc! ⌚️🔪
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Blood
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Contrary to the hype, I found this book to be good in a quiet way. Perhaps my expectations were too high or maybe I’m in a fantasy genre hangover. Whatever the reason, there were parts I liked and parts not so much, but I didn’t love it like I expected to.
As children, Sadie and Sam bonded over Mario Cart at the hospital. They grew together, and then apart, and then together, and then apart…and so on. As the story weaves through this lifelong bond built on video games, we learn the in and outs of gaming, life, loss, love, running a company, and everything in between.
I appreciated the prose-like writing, nods to Shakespeare, and the programming pieces, but sadly the melancholy tone kinda brought me down a bit.
As children, Sadie and Sam bonded over Mario Cart at the hospital. They grew together, and then apart, and then together, and then apart…and so on. As the story weaves through this lifelong bond built on video games, we learn the in and outs of gaming, life, loss, love, running a company, and everything in between.
I appreciated the prose-like writing, nods to Shakespeare, and the programming pieces, but sadly the melancholy tone kinda brought me down a bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Medical content, Grief, and Car accident
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
t appears #SJM still has a hold over me. I just binged #ACOTAR over the past couple of days and it was a nice refresher on the series, especially as a few friends read it for the first time. Gotta be able to discuss those intimate details! Will I be listening to the second book instead of picking up something new? Probably.