pickledpotato1021's reviews
184 reviews

“I’ll deal with whatever ruin I have to call down upon us. On me. I suppose I deserve it anyway.”

Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story
TW/CW: Attempted drowning; Violence; Blood; Death; Dead animals

When Skye’s sister goes missing, she must unlock her deepest secrets and face the reality of her toxic sisterhood in order to save herself. I love that the author wasn’t afraid to give us unlikable characters while also having us still feel something for them besides just hatred. I didn’t enjoy how much fluff and filler information there was, I feel the book could have been 50 pages shorter and a star better. I think there’s a lot of Deirdre’s in the world, who are misunderstood and just looking for love and attention.

“It was late summer, already harvest season, and the fields shuddered in the wind, the grains full and heavy as though fed blood.”
Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story.
TW/CW: Sexual abuse; False allegations

Three siblings return to their hometown, haunted by the past and perhaps something more. This was short and spooky. I didn’t really understand the point. Maybe it was just too complex for me.

“If you can’t feel, what’s the point?”

Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story
TW/CW: Death of a child; Drowning; Blood; War (brief mention, not an ongoing conflict)

Jonas lives his perfect life in his perfect community, but when he receives his job assignment as receiver of memories he learns the truth about the world around him. The Giver is just such an easy read. I love how the story is simple and evolves smoothly as it goes on. I used to feel the ending was too open and left too many questions, until I learned there are actually three more books to this story. I’m glad I found this book again, and even happier I found the other three books as well.

“Invisible meant free.”

Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story
TW/CW: Racism; False imprisonment

A brown man is stopped in the airport by homeland security. This is a really good story for people to hear, but it really just dragged on and on and on. It was 14 pages, but it was still too long.

“We both knew that wasn’t what I meant, and I could see you weren’t sorry at all."

Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story
TW/CW: Murder; Infidelity; Death of a parent

Mr. and Mrs. Wright go on vacation in an attempt to save their marriage, but someone doesn’t want them to have a happily ever after. Everything starts off very foggy, and slowly it all comes together until the final light bulb goes off. The ending really made me rage, however it was still my favorite book of the month. The chapter set up is AMAZING.

“‘This is the real world,’ Jolie said, ‘and bad girls always win.’”

Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story
TW/CW: Mentions but no detailed description of past rape; Murder; Suicide, Victim blaming; Violence; Underage drinking; Blood; Eating disorder; Substance abuse

Ten teenagers are blackmailed into coming to the broken down carnival on Portgrave Pier. How far will they go to hide their secrets from each other? I love the idea of this story, and how each character evolves in the story however I didn’t like the paranormal aspect of this story at all. If I had realized this was a paranormal book going in, I would have enjoyed it much more. Props for the TW in the beginning of the book.

“The two of us sit there in the grass in silence for a long time, trying to see if one of us can recognize the melody.”

Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story
TW/CW: Death of a loved one; Car crash

Julie’s boyfriend Sam passed away in a car crash that she blames herself for, and one day she calls his phone to hear his voicemail one more time only for Sam to pick up the phone. Everything about this book was amazing. The journey through Julie’s grief felt real and raw, not everything she did people would agree with but that’s how grief is especially at a young age. The epilogue felt really empty, I personally don’t think it was needed but it didn't change how I feel about the story. This book ripped my heart out, blended it to bits, and gave it back to me in a Christmas Starbucks cup with extra whip. It made me want to grab my partner and dance in the kitchen to Sweater Weather.

“Be normal now, she said. Right now, she said. Because you are. Because you can be.”

Trigger/content warnings may be seen as spoilers for certain themes or twits in the story.
TW/CW: Death of pets; Fire; Head injury; Death of loved one(s); Abuse of medication

The Sinclair family are liars. This story was beautifully heartbreaking and I will reread it for years and years. E. Lockhart’s writing style will always be my favorite part of her books.

“‘Drink before the coffee gets cold.’”

Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story
TW/CW: Death; Alzheimer’s Disease

Four people’s journeys through time at a café in Tokyo, however the trip can only last until the coffee gets cold. I enjoy how there’s more than one person's story of time travel instead of just focusing on one person. I love how the perspective is simply the café.

“Because just like back home, people think different means less. Less capable. Less competent.”

Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story
TW/CW: Death of parent(s); Casual use of “niggas”; Themes of police brutality/neglect; Gangs; Drug abuse; Gun violence; Brief mention of child neglect; Use of racial slur; Themes of colonization; Racism

Rue, a half-human half-god, is taken from her home to a place called Ghizon after her mother is murdered; except in Ghizon her existence is a crime in more ways than one. And in Ghizon an evil is brewing, the same evil that threatens the streets she once called home. I loved so many things about this book: The non-formal writing, Rue’s character development, the serious themes hidden in this fantasy world. I’m so happy to see a character that looks like me, that grew up in a place other than Happily Ever After Land, that views the world in something other than rose colored lenses. The twists were done in a way that all the hints were there, and some you could put together, and others hit you like a walrus from the sky in the middle of the city.