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natreadthat's reviews
396 reviews
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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
A historical, Korean whodunit, complete with a mysterious serial killer, a brimming coup, and some romance of course.
Iseul will do anything to stop the ruthless King Yeonsan, who has kidnapped thousands of women for his own pleasure, including Iseul’s sister. On her journey through the forbidden territory into the capital, Iseul crosses paths with Prince Daehyun, the bastard little brother of the tyrant king, who numbingly despises his brother. Together, will they be successful in overthrowing the crown?
Hur masterfully wove fiction into the true historical events of the dark, 1500s Joseon era. Slow burn romance, questionable characters at every turn, a serial killer on the loose, the fatherly-figure found in an investigator, a cold and calculated prince. I loved how the author explains what really happened in the author’s note, but I loved the storytelling even more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“Sometimes I don’t think we know what we’re made of until the worst moment possible happens. Then we must decide who we truly are and what is most important to us. I think we’re often surprised by what we become.”
The duology of Iris and Roman, their enchanted love, and the war between magical gods continues on. In this second installment, we learn more about Dacre and Enva, the relentless gods the war started between. Their backstories unfold as it weaves itself into Roman and Iris’s tender, yet excruciating love story.
I didn’t enjoy Ruthless Vows as much as Divine Rivals, but it still gave me action, romantasy, war, world/backstory building, and complex characters. Rebecca’s writing was beautiful throughout this duology and that was enough for me to love it.
The duology of Iris and Roman, their enchanted love, and the war between magical gods continues on. In this second installment, we learn more about Dacre and Enva, the relentless gods the war started between. Their backstories unfold as it weaves itself into Roman and Iris’s tender, yet excruciating love story.
I didn’t enjoy Ruthless Vows as much as Divine Rivals, but it still gave me action, romantasy, war, world/backstory building, and complex characters. Rebecca’s writing was beautiful throughout this duology and that was enough for me to love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Grief, War
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn’t love this one. I can’t decide if it was the incredibly self-loathing main character (which reminds me that I rarely read MMCs) or the plot never really going anywhere. I do know that if I wasn’t stuck on an airplane while reading it, I probably would’ve DNF’d.
Andy just got dumped by the love of his life. As we go along for the ride through the stages of grief, we are eye witnesses to the hot mess of his life.
What I liked: the emphasis on masculinity in today’s society, the redeeming ex-girlfriend’s POV, how realistic the break up woes were, Andy’s mom, and Andy’s personal trainer
What I didn’t like: how drawn out the story was, the whining and lack of main character development, and not being able to relate to Andy
Alderton did a great job of portraying how much break ups suck. Perhaps I needed to be in a different mindset to enjoy it more.
Andy just got dumped by the love of his life. As we go along for the ride through the stages of grief, we are eye witnesses to the hot mess of his life.
What I liked: the emphasis on masculinity in today’s society, the redeeming ex-girlfriend’s POV, how realistic the break up woes were, Andy’s mom, and Andy’s personal trainer
What I didn’t like: how drawn out the story was, the whining and lack of main character development, and not being able to relate to Andy
Alderton did a great job of portraying how much break ups suck. Perhaps I needed to be in a different mindset to enjoy it more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Alcohol
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A stark memoir on what happens after death, straight from a mortician.
The majority of people don’t really talk about what happens to their bodies after they die. It’s a bit taboo, isn’t it? That’s exactly Caitlin Doughty’s point.
In this lively exploration of death, Doughty shares pointblank what happens in the crematories of the western world: how a body gets picked up, is stored in a fridge, cleaned, fluids removed, embalmed and perfected for presentation, then cremated. With dark humor, this book challenges our cultural aversion to morality and begs us to invite death into our door. By examining death rituals from around the world, both past and present, Doughty’s goal is to desensitize the average human from death. Thus, encouraging people to have more open and honest conversations about death and the wishes people and their loved ones have for after death.
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes is an unflinchingly, honest read. It invites readers to embrace the inevitability of death, positivity change their relationship with mortality, and challenge the current widespread views of it. It definitely did so for me. But be aware, it is not for the faint of heart.
Shout out to Walker for recommending this and letting me hold onto it for literal years. The recommendation sure did stand the test of time. Cheers who friends who read together (albeit at different times) and cheers to a good death!
The majority of people don’t really talk about what happens to their bodies after they die. It’s a bit taboo, isn’t it? That’s exactly Caitlin Doughty’s point.
In this lively exploration of death, Doughty shares pointblank what happens in the crematories of the western world: how a body gets picked up, is stored in a fridge, cleaned, fluids removed, embalmed and perfected for presentation, then cremated. With dark humor, this book challenges our cultural aversion to morality and begs us to invite death into our door. By examining death rituals from around the world, both past and present, Doughty’s goal is to desensitize the average human from death. Thus, encouraging people to have more open and honest conversations about death and the wishes people and their loved ones have for after death.
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes is an unflinchingly, honest read. It invites readers to embrace the inevitability of death, positivity change their relationship with mortality, and challenge the current widespread views of it. It definitely did so for me. But be aware, it is not for the faint of heart.
Shout out to Walker for recommending this and letting me hold onto it for literal years. The recommendation sure did stand the test of time. Cheers who friends who read together (albeit at different times) and cheers to a good death!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide
We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
An immigrant child. A wounded veteran. A recent divorcee. A recent divorcee’s son. Four different stories intertwine in one deadly split-second.
Honestly, this story was tragic with a tiny smidge of hope mixed in. It’s a good reminder to be kind to people despite not knowing what they’re going through. McBride did a great job showcasing how the lives of ordinary people can weave into others in surprising ways. The characters are explored deeply and it’s done well, to the point where you’re rooting for them. But do take note that there are many pieces that are often heavy, full of triggers, and quite sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, War
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Police brutality, Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism
The Girl Who Reads on the Métro by Christine Féret-Fleury
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
Juliette lives a safe albeit boring life. She grew up with put together parents, got her degree, and now works at a real estate office. On the metro to and from work she watches those around her read books day after day, creating stories about them in her head. Until one day she finds herself on a different route to work.
It’s quite obvious that the author loves all things literature, books, and reading. She did a good job showing how cozy it can be to be a book lover. Unfortunately, I spent a good portion of this book confused about what was actually happening. I wish the ending had been expanded on, that’s when I really started to enjoy the book. I think I enjoyed the idea of the plot, but not the actual story. Perhaps a bit was lost in translation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Suicide
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
emotional
mysterious
- 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
3.5
“What they heard as frenzied abandonment was the sound of his rage. Their joyous release was his escape, his chance to outrun the memories that stalked him. Jazz was freedom, but grief was his fuel. It was that simple, and that terrible.”
Ricki is the outcast of her wealthy, perfect family. Ezra is the mysterious hottie on the block, with an aura Ricki can’t quite stay away from. What plays out is a love song one hundred years in the making, one leap day at a time.
I went into this mostly blind, it was available immediately from Libby and I was most definitely intrigued by the beautiful cover. I stayed for the Harlem-era journey, genre-bending between romance and magical realism, musical landscape, and sassy characters. I especially loved the minor characters and their stories. What didn’t quite stick for me was the romance, it felt rushed and a bit shallow. That said, I enjoyed it as a quick summer read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Murder
Minor: Addiction
This Ordinary Stardust: A Scientist's Path from Grief to Wonder by Alan Townsend
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
“Please find a way to make our story help someone else.”
Through the lens of a scientist, Alan Townsend’s memoir walks through the nearly impossible odds of both his daughter and wife getting diagnosed with unrelated, rare brain cancers. Forced to tread through the most harrowing moments of his life, Townsend does so—at times—with grace, science as his friend, and other times wading through near-total darkness, science seemingly against him.
The memoir itself is a courageous, deeply vulnerable look at the joy, suffering, sickness, and health we’re all guaranteed in life. It weaves science, faith, love, and grief together. Devastatingly beautiful.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted copy. 💌
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Grief
Moderate: Death, Medical content
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Elizabeth Zott is your average housewife.
Wait, no, she most definitely is not. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist, plagued with the need to do her work despite constantly battling sexism, misogyny, judgment, and stolen work to do so.
Set in the 1960s, the story portrays the difficulties women face working outside of the home. Sound familiar? Despite those hardships, Lessons in Chemistry is a book about science, resilience, feminism, passion, love, and loss.
I knew I had to read this when I saw Bonnie sharing how men often talked over her and stole her ideas to the point where she got fed up and wrote the first chapter. I love a strong female character, and this book did not disappoint. When Elizabeth takes a job cooking on live TV, her show is as much about chemistry as it is cooking. She is unyielding in reminding her audience, mostly stay at home moms, about what it means to be a woman. If you’re into STEM, love a badass feminist, a quiet love story, or feel like you don’t quite fit in, this one’s for you.
“Despite what Elizabeth Zott will tell you, Supper at Six is not just an introduction to chemistry, he wrote that day on the plane. It’s a thirty-minute, five-day-a-week lesson in life. And not in who we are or what we’re made of, but rather, who we’re capable of becoming.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood
Minor: Suicide
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
“Even when the world seems to stop, threatening to crumble, and the hour feels dark as the siren rings… it isn’t a crime to feel joy.”
Iris is devastated when her brother goes off to war and begins writing him letters, slipping them into her wardrobe. Unbeknownst to her, the wardrobe is enchanted and just so happens to deliver them to her rival: Roman. Roman, a pompous rich kid, is vying for the same coveted columnist position Iris is going for. As they go head-to-head, the gods have risen from their slumber and soon a war rages on around them.
With a little bit of everything—academic rivals to lovers, magical type writers, vengeful gods—this isn’t your typical enemies to lovers trope. As Iris and Roman’s mysterious connection is forged, we vicariously grow with them through their letters. It was such a unique way to bring this book to life.
I really enjoyed it—except for that cliff-hanger ending!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, War
Minor: Abandonment