wanderingcurls's reviews
483 reviews

dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

CWs: anorexia, eating disorder, anxiety, suicidal ideation, depression, fatphobia, inpatient therapy, diet culture, skin-picking, overdose

Thanks to @penguinteen and @netgalley for the eARC of Light Enough to Float. Seal’s debut novel-in-verse offers a compelling and heartfelt portrayal of her fictional character Evie’s time in inpatient therapy while getting support for her eating disorder, anxiety, and depression. Her powerful and descriptive imagery pulls a punch and can be hard to read at times, but this is a testament to the author's raw honesty and vulnerability and her lifelike characters. I found the development of Evie’s relationship with herself, her family, her therapist, Anna, and her fellow patient and friend, Marianne, over the course of the four months the novel takes place during heartwarming and healing.

I appreciated Seal’s inclusion of content warnings at the beginning of the book, which shows her concern for the well-being of her readers. It’s important for anyone dealing with similar challenges to approach Light Enough to Float gently and with self-compassion, as it can be triggering. I think it’s essential to read this powerful narrative at your own pace and ensure you’re in a good place emotionally.

Content Warnings

At the End of the River Styx by Michelle Kulwicki

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emotional reflective 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

Thanks to @pagestreetya and @netgalley for the ARC copy of At the End of the River Styx. As a fan of the romance genre and contemporary Greek mythology retellings, I was very interested in the premise of an Achillean paranormal romance between two teenage boys, one who is struggling with the guilt and grief of the recent loss of his mother and the other who is in the final year of his 500-year curse of working for the Ferryman of the River Styx. I found Bastian’s character to be compelling as he struggles to relate to his friends, schoolmates, and surviving family members and finds solace and escape with a dead teen boy, Zan. Kulwiki also handled Bastian’s experiences with panic attacks and PTSD with sensitivity and care. I also appreciated how she showed how two people can experience the same life-altering experience as Bastian and his twin brother, Dorian, do and not process grief the same way. I loved the connection between Bastian and Zan and how they could not fight the pull they felt toward each other despite all the drawbacks and consequences. This book was an emotional and poignant read.

I only wish the ending had been fairer for Zan, as my heart broke for him

Content Warnings

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

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dark emotional tense fast-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

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young

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emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Back to Me by Katie Duggan

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emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

I received an ARC of Back to Me from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this spicy contemporary sapphic romance! Back to Me is a beautiful celebration of found family and the kind of supportive, protective love that embraces you for precisely who you are. The alternating points of view between Hunter and Jo and the fact that each chapter began with a song title added a unique touch to the story! As someone with multiple disabilities, I also appreciated the authentic and positive disability representation (Type 1 diabetes, Major depressive disorder, ADHD). However, it should be noted those identities are not my own. Overall, Duggan and her romance novel skillfully balanced a humorous and light tone with deeper, weightier themes (ableism, emotional abuse, depression, religious bigotry, homophobia, fatphobia, diet culture, and family and religious trauma) with respect and without being preachy. #BacktoMeKatieDuggan #NetGalley

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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slow-paced

3.25

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced