loudgls89's reviews
723 reviews

A Death in the Parish by Richard Coles

challenging dark emotional 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

Christmas with the Lords by Hannah Langdon

emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

Lost For Words by Stephanie Butland

emotional relaxing sad 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

Parenting Hell: The Book of the No.1 Smash Hit Podcast by Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

I first came across Fern Brady when watching Taskmaster last year and I instantly loved her and the way she approached the tasks. I found out after the show that she was autistic and that the show had been a freeing and welcoming experience for her. 

What I didn’t realise until I listened to this book is how hard Fern’s life has been up to now. Her autobiography, narrated by herself in audiobook form, dives right into her life with no nice rosy filter applied. 

From her time at school in a secure unit, to her self harm and suicide attempts, to her time working in a strip club at university, Fern lets us into her life and how the world isn’t set up for autistic people, and specifically for autistic women, who find it particularly hard to be diagnosed. 

I wouldn’t say this was as easy read in any way, so you need to be prepared before going in, but it was enlightening and definitely worth reading/listening to, in order to get a perspective of how life can be so much harder for someone who is neurodiverse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Ten by Rylan Clark

emotional funny sad medium-paced

4.0

Like I assume a lot of people, I had initially judged Rylan by the persona he out on during the X factor, but over the years I have warmed to him and I really love his show on Radio 2. 

This book was an insight to the man behind the Rylan character- did you know his name is actually Ross?! 

He’s had a really tough couple of years and the book opens with his darkest times - he laid it all on the table making himself very vulnerable and I could feel every emotion - made more intense by Rylan reading the audio book himself. 

After a heavy start, it does get lighter and there are some really interesting stories from the last ten years of his career. 

I thought this was fab, a great insight into his life - there were just a couple of chapters that I found a bit meh which is why I haven’t given five stars. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success In Work and In Life, One Conversation At a Time by Susan Scott

challenging informative slow-paced

3.75

This book had lots of great tips about how to use conversation to make your work and personal life more successful. 

It was filled with personal anecdotes and real world examples of where the practices have been used which I appreciated. 

Some of the material didn’t feel as timely for me and I felt less engaged than in those parts but I can imagine needing them in the future and this being a book I might dip back into. 

Abraham: A Journey Through Lent by Meg Warner

challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

I’ve read genesis many times (in part due to my many failed attempts to read the bible in a year which always start at genesis).

However, I’ve never read Abraham’s story through the lens of lent and Easter and this book unlocked a lot of things that I’d never considered before. 

I loved the personal stories weaved through it and the constant encouragements to relate Abraham’s journey to your own personal journey and the reflection questions were great.