booksonmars's reviews
530 reviews

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

emotional hopeful reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

womanhood and all it entails: grief, yearning, anxiety, passion, creativity, loss and love. 

i do wish there was a conclusion for some particular characters though. 

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

liked the candanian landscape but kinda meh, maybe i’ll pick it up again later on 

The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye

challenging informative

3.0

The Raven King by Nora Sakavic

challenging dark emotional sad

5.0

The Appointment by Katharina Volckmer

funny reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

4.5

one of the best monologues i’ve read. witty and ruminating and lewd, the narrator has such an intriguing thought train.

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

a stunning sequel. an expansion on the characters from the first book which i really enjoyed, particularly learning more about turner, as well as alex's relationship with mercy and dawes. leigh bardugo uses the presence in absence tool better than anyone else for this series; darlington haunts the pages, the main characters, and eventually the reader too. there's just more: more character work, more discoveries on the secret societies and lethe's interactions with them, more on new haven and how magic and history steeps its past. one motif in this book how each character is grappling with a fairytale ideal of magic in comparison to the grim reality of the way it interacts with the world, and observing each character come to terms with this was interesting to read. a bit of a lacklustre ending after a rather tension packed four hundred pages, but i'm really looking forward to the next one, particularly because we get to see darlington's relationship in real time to the people around him, and the power play between him and ale. 

in alex stern we trust!! 

One Day by David Nicholls

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

DAVID NICHOLLS OWES ME THERAPY

so glad i read this despite having already watched the movie and tv show. there's so much more, not just in terms of scenes but character work too: you're in dexter and emma's head, stitched in the very fabric of their lives and how they weave together. their relationship is raw and messy and tender and real and so so heartbreaking. would i read it again despite it giving me the feeling of my heart being put in a blender? absolutely. 

Just as You Are by Camille Kellogg

emotional hopeful informative lighthearted

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

4.0

picked this up on a whim and i really enjoyed it! i didn't realise this was a pride and prejudice retelling until about three chapters in, and the references to the source book were fun to find. although i wasn't too sold on the romance, i felt that the only reason the characters were together was because they were the elizabeth and darcy counterparts. the jane and bailey relationship was more believable if i'm being honest. the plot and characters were lovely and i could lose myself in them. having the bennett sisters as this queer found family of roommates/coworkers and the setting being a queer magazine was really ingenuitive and heartwarming, i really enjoyed liz's relationship to each of her sibling counterparts, particularly jane. there was exploration on identity and relationships (both platonic and romantic), and conversations around lesbian identity were very insightful and tender. i actually liked that liz didn't really find an answer at the end of the book, i think it depicted the realness of the character.

aside from the social media aspect (i hate social media in books) this was a thoroughly enjoyable novel and perfect for a bit of light reading.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

dark emotional sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

never felt so much visceral anger towards men as i had when reading this 

The Parisian by Isabella Hammad

informative reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

an insightful and beautiful read. the beginning, set in paris, is painted in such a dreamy light, which i think is intentional compared to the stark reality of the events that occur in and around nablus later on in the book. the book follows not only midhat but a few key characters in his life, which in turn weave a story of identity as well as duty to family and country. i learned a lot about the way life was like in palestine before the nakba, and it was heartbreaking to read the buildup to that tragic event. i'm really excited to read isabella hammad's most recent book as it was nominated for a booker prize.

free palestine.