sonygaystation's reviews
423 reviews

The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was kinda messy but in  way I enjoyed! The time jumps were a little jarring with the perspective changes but once I got the handle of it (I listened rather than read the book) I could go with the flow better. I think there could’ve been more room for character development with the side characters because I enjoyed them and would’ve liked to see them more. I think James literally just served as a love interest (which I don’t dislike because lorde knows so many writers dump women in their novels as side characters just to serve as the MC’s LI) and I wish his role in things was a little more prevalent. I did really enjoy Nora’s extracurricular scenes because I really liked Ruth! With Becca, there was one line Nora’s sister said where it was made pretty clear Becca isn’t seen as good for Nora and (alongside a convo with Nora’s mom) implied that Becca’s too overprotective of Nora to the point that keeps Nora from making other friends. That felt like a big theme to have but it didn’t really go anywhere? Like all we see of their relationship is from Nora’s perspective but she spends 80% of the book only referring to their falling out and we only hear about the good parts really as they were when they were kids so that felt off. But! I had a good time and I’d read it again for sure!! I’m also happy it ended the way it did because Nora deserved some good things coming her way 🫶

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Alcohol

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Alcohol

The Island by Natasha Preston

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, and Alcohol

Moderate: Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Blood, and Vomit

Glitterland by Alexis Hall

dark emotional funny reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Biphobia, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Katherine: The Classic Love Story of Medieval England by Anya Seton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 64%.

Hold at library was up and I couldn’t renew :(

My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Dementia, Car accident, and Death of parent

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

challenging dark mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Alcohol