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ottercorg's reviews
52 reviews
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
funny
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
Ali’s last book was what got me back into reading for pleasure, so I was very excited for this one to make its debut and to read it. And I enjoyed it a lot! Well written, steamy intimacy, and interesting subject matter. However…it was a little TOO predictable. I’m pretty oblivious; I don’t guess the ending often, or figure out plot twists until they are revealed. But I figured this one out immediately. Which was a bit of a bummer. Thankfully, there was still a wild plot twist that I didn’t consider even once! So…4 stars. Side note - Bee irritated me a lot. Because she’s oblivious, like me. It was excruciating at times. But I’m trying to be sympathetic to her trauma. Trying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I do not annotate works of fiction; I do not so much as underline a phrase. Until now. I found myself reaching for my pen and underlining or highlighting sentences and whole paragraphs, thinking, “this is so beautiful” or “this is so real.”
This is my third Ford read this year, and I’ve now read each of his published works. I thought this would become my new favorite, and while it didn’t quite take the prize over Love and Other Consolation Prizes, it still has settled comfortably into second.
Ford took a concept that fascinates him - and me as well - and ran with it. And I devoured it. It was a delight to try and track the pieces of each character that were passed on from generations before. Ford writes so beautifully I can hardly stand it. And this book is just as heart-wrenching as the rest, possibly even more so because there are a handful of “main characters” as opposed to just one.
Well done. I don’t often reread books, but I already see myself reading this one again someday and look forward to discovering what I missed this first time around.
This is my third Ford read this year, and I’ve now read each of his published works. I thought this would become my new favorite, and while it didn’t quite take the prize over Love and Other Consolation Prizes, it still has settled comfortably into second.
Ford took a concept that fascinates him - and me as well - and ran with it. And I devoured it. It was a delight to try and track the pieces of each character that were passed on from generations before. Ford writes so beautifully I can hardly stand it. And this book is just as heart-wrenching as the rest, possibly even more so because there are a handful of “main characters” as opposed to just one.
Well done. I don’t often reread books, but I already see myself reading this one again someday and look forward to discovering what I missed this first time around.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book took me just over two months to read; I simply couldn’t get into it. It just around so much, and while dates are provided to help you keep up, it’s still difficult. The characters were fine, as were all the plot lines, I just didn’t find any of them particularly interesting. I give this one two stars: one for Flagg’s writing style, and one for making me crave fried green tomatoes for two months straight.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Emily Henry can’t miss. She won’t! I particularly loved how effortlessly this one captured the sister relationship. It never felt unrealistic, cringey, or forced. Two lovable leads and no shortage of steamy (thank you, as always, Emily). Well DONE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Pregnancy
Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
The second book of Ford’s that I’ve read this year, and third of his overall - and now my favorite. A story full of vivid characters set in perfectly described scenes. Ford has such a gift. I felt for Ernest, Fahn, and Masie with each page turn, and the ending melted my little heart. Well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Dementia, and Grief
Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead
emotional
funny
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
3.0
This one was tough to get into - the only way I was able to buckle up and finish it was by bringing it on a plane as my only source of reading material. Winstead writes in a way that reminds me of the way I used to write when I thought I wanted to be the next great fiction romance novelist, but there’s a reason I never actually got published. Thankfully, it got better as the book went on. For the most part, Lee Stoner’s character is insufferable. I just wanted to grab her by the shoulders and yell at her to grow up. But perhaps that’s just because I’m a hopeless romantic - her polar opposite. This book also could’ve been a lot shorter, if the “will they won’t they” didn’t drag on like 4 separate times. All this aside, the three stars are for nods to Texas culture (which I’ve come to appreciate having lived here for just over a year), good sex scenes, and Bed Laderman.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Shameless: A Sexual Reformation by Nadia Bolz-Weber
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
This was not my first read through and I promise it will not be my last. Nadia’s words bring such comfort, such healing, such freedom. An easy read that I picked up for a second time after being unable to sleep because of the shame I was so needlessly feeling. This second reading, I chose to highlight my favorite lines - but truthfully I could’ve highlighted the entire book. It is powerful. It is necessary. It is holy. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to Nadia Bolz-Weber.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Reading this one after I wept reading The People We Meet on Vacation, I already figured I wouldn’t like it as much. And I was right! I often found January’s character frustrating - so often I just wanted to shake her by the shoulders and shout, “STOP! Just stop it!” But I realize it’s because I can’t relate to the main challenges she’s faced. I didn’t particularly love Gus either but hey, the steamy parts in this book were worth it - and even better than those in People We Meet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, and Death of parent
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Having grown up a very traditional, quite conservative Christian, I was hesitant to start reading this one, having been recommended it by a dear friend. It felt wrong, like some sort of blasphemy, as I still today profess to be a Christian. But I read it anyway, because I’ve turned away from a lot of what I was taught growing up.
I’m so glad I pushed away the guilt in reading this. What an incredible story, what beautiful words. I finished it about on the second Sunday of Lent, which made the whole story even more pertinent and poignant. The writing is powerful and eloquent, without going over my head or becoming too difficult to understand. I will be reflecting on it for some time.
I’m so glad I pushed away the guilt in reading this. What an incredible story, what beautiful words. I finished it about on the second Sunday of Lent, which made the whole story even more pertinent and poignant. The writing is powerful and eloquent, without going over my head or becoming too difficult to understand. I will be reflecting on it for some time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Rape
Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Jamie Ford has such a beautiful, incredible way of writing, and this book is no exception. The story brings with it so much heavy loss, darkness, and pain - and yet I was hooked. I needed to know what happened, so I kept returning for more and more and didn’t want it to end. This is one that will stick with me for years and years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Suicide
Moderate: Miscarriage and Abortion