Scan barcode
bea_reads_books's reviews
234 reviews
Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed this book, but there were some issues I had with it. For one, a lot of side characters and plot elements kind of get picked up when it’s convenient and then set back down again for an indefinite amount of time. Tripp’s mom, for example. She kind of just vanished two thirds of the way into the book even though she was part of the main conflict.
There's this reporter guy who’s supposedly trying to make it look like Tripp and his friends are guilty of murder, and the set up in the first half made it seem like this would be a much bigger issue. But then it just isn’t. Nothing happens at all.
Also, this author has her character profiles and just recycles them for new books, or at least it seems like that sometimes. She really likes the “deadbeat mom is back in town” trope too.
There's this reporter guy who’s supposedly trying to make it look like Tripp and his friends are guilty of murder, and the set up in the first half made it seem like this would be a much bigger issue. But then it just isn’t. Nothing happens at all.
Also, this author has her character profiles and just recycles them for new books, or at least it seems like that sometimes. She really likes the “deadbeat mom is back in town” trope too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Car accident
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Raising the Horseman by Serena Valentino
2.5
My low rating of this book is based purely on my enjoyment level and not the content of the book, because it was okay but just not for me.
I kind of spent the whole time waiting for something to happen, and then once it did the book was over. Idk. I was just bored.
The romance was cute though, and I liked that they had the main character dump her gaslighting jerk of a boyfriend.
I kind of spent the whole time waiting for something to happen, and then once it did the book was over. Idk. I was just bored.
The romance was cute though, and I liked that they had the main character dump her gaslighting jerk of a boyfriend.
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really loved this book. I will say though, it’s very dark and heavy. I’ve included as many comprehensive warnings as I can, but I’ll say it here too:
Sexual violence, coercive control, and mental illness are really big themes in this book. The main character and her love interest both experienced sexual assault from adults as minors, and the main character describes in detail exactly what her doctor did to her around 50% of the way through the book. There is no penetrative rape, but it is still hard to read. If sexual violence/harassment is a trigger for you, I would advise you to be extremely cautious about this book, and to take care of yourself if you do decide to read it.
Additionally, the main character is mentally ill. She has violent intrusive thoughts about self harm. She has an eating disorder and forces herself to vomit up everything she eats. She also experiences intense anxiety. As someone who also has anxiety and intrusive thoughts, this was hard for me to read, but also nice in a way. It’s good to know I’m not the only person in the world this happens to.
Aside from the hard parts, this was a well written book in my opinion. The pacing was good, the romance was okay, and the prose and worldbuilding were very compelling. I also liked how the author showed the many ways in which abuse can manifest in someone. The main character, Marlinchen, is one of three sisters. One of them became cruel, taking out her hurt and anger on her sisters because she couldn’t take it out on her father. The other became cunning and level-headed, always making herself seem like the sensible one while working behind her sisters’ backs to gain her father’s favor. And Marlinchen is constantly fielding insults about how she is nothing but a doormat, doing everything her father says without complaint to avoid angering him.
I think this story is a wonderful commentary on the ways in which an abuser can fully and completely f*ck up the lives of everyone around them, and how hard it is for their victims to heal afterward, all wrapped up in the guise of a fairytale retelling.I also really liked that two of the three abusers died (painfully) and the third went to prison.
Sexual violence, coercive control, and mental illness are really big themes in this book. The main character and her love interest both experienced sexual assault from adults as minors, and the main character describes in detail exactly what her doctor did to her around 50% of the way through the book. There is no penetrative rape, but it is still hard to read. If sexual violence/harassment is a trigger for you, I would advise you to be extremely cautious about this book, and to take care of yourself if you do decide to read it.
Additionally, the main character is mentally ill. She has violent intrusive thoughts about self harm. She has an eating disorder and forces herself to vomit up everything she eats. She also experiences intense anxiety. As someone who also has anxiety and intrusive thoughts, this was hard for me to read, but also nice in a way. It’s good to know I’m not the only person in the world this happens to.
Aside from the hard parts, this was a well written book in my opinion. The pacing was good, the romance was okay, and the prose and worldbuilding were very compelling. I also liked how the author showed the many ways in which abuse can manifest in someone. The main character, Marlinchen, is one of three sisters. One of them became cruel, taking out her hurt and anger on her sisters because she couldn’t take it out on her father. The other became cunning and level-headed, always making herself seem like the sensible one while working behind her sisters’ backs to gain her father’s favor. And Marlinchen is constantly fielding insults about how she is nothing but a doormat, doing everything her father says without complaint to avoid angering him.
I think this story is a wonderful commentary on the ways in which an abuser can fully and completely f*ck up the lives of everyone around them, and how hard it is for their victims to heal afterward, all wrapped up in the guise of a fairytale retelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
Wild Born by Brandon Mull
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5