sallenreads's reviews
101 reviews

Missing You by Phellip Willian

hopeful 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? No

4.0

This was a quick and adorable read dealing with grief and accepting change. The highlight for me was the illustrations -- the watercolors were absolutely gorgeous.

Thank you to Oni Press for providing a copy for review.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Grief, and Death of parent

Dream to Me by Megan Paasch

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

DREAM TO ME is a heartbreakingly raw story about grief and guilt, set against an atmospheric setting in a Pacific Northwest forest. Eva's pain and trauma were depicted sensitively, and the point she reaches with these feelings is realistic but still satisfying. Mystery readers should enjoy unraveling the Sylvan family secrets alongside Eva, and while there is romance, it doesn't overshadow the rest of the book.

Thank you to Macmillan for providing a review copy.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Bullying, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Breakup from Hell by Ann Dávila Cardinal

dark funny medium-paced

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

4.5

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

emotional sad fast-paced

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

emotional funny sad 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? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol

A Perfect View: Book 3 by Cori Doerrfeld

lighthearted fast-paced

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

Drawing the Vote: An Illustrated Guide to Voting in America by Tommy Jenkins

informative medium-paced

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism

In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial by Mona Chollet

challenging informative slow-paced

4.0

This was a fascinating book that took various facets of the archetypal witch of medieval and early modern Europe and made a compelling argument about how these qualities are still used to demonize women today.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for review.

The Cherished by Patricia Sarrafian Ward
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

While the premise of THE CHERISHED was interesting, I just couldn't get into it. The first third of the book is extremely slow, and not much has happened -- and reading other reviews, it sounds like pacing continues to be an issue. There is a lot of exposition and backstory, which bogged the story down a lot.

I also didn't like any of the characters, which isn't a problem in and of itself; the bigger issue is that none of them were interesting. Jo, the main character, has spent most of the book to this point either complaining about her mother (Abigail) and stepfather, or ruminating on family history. I think Jo has potential to be interesting, as one of the early chapters has her manipulating Abigail into taking her to the house. It would've been nice to see some more of that spark from Jo.

Thank you HarperTeen for providing a review copy.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping

Minor: Domestic abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I've inhaled many a YA mystery in the last couple years, and MISSING CLARISSA is a fresh take on the genre. Like SADIE, it's framed as a podcast, with excerpts interspersed throughout the book. What I loved was how the process of researching Clarissa's disappearance and creating the podcast was also a means to critique the true crime genre, whether through Cam and Blair thinking through what their motivations for telling Clarissa's story were, or secondary characters explicitly sharing their issues with true crime on the page. This critique was woven in with a well-plotted mystery, as well as Cam and Blair's character development. Overall, MISSING CLARISSA is a strong addition to the YA mystery fold.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing a copy for review.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail