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vailtoset10's reviews
37 reviews
The Adventure Zone: Petals to the Metal by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited! by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
I was given an ARC of this book and wow, it was such a beautiful, heartwarming book that made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think, and most importantly…I felt seen.
Pepper is an autistic woman who is hyperfixated on her late Grandma Lou’s flower farm, adorably named Thistle and Bloom. She wants her quiet routine, and she wants to live on her farm in peace…if only she could find Lou’s will.
Opal is an artsy girl who is working a dead end job and feels like she has no future. She has severe ADHD and I understood all of her decisions, I understood why she acted the way she did.
When Opal accidentally wins the lottery and buys the farm Pepper lives on, sapphic chaos ensues. I appreciate that the author played with the useless lesbian trope but they aren’t actually useless lesbians. They’re two neurodivergent girls who communicate and interact with the world in VASTLY different ways.
I very much enjoyed the twist of the U-Haul Lesbian as well. Opal moves in before she’s even met Pepper! It also was a nice way to really highlight just how different neurodivergent people are, and how despite having similar issues, can struggle with communication on a immense level that has severe consequences they can’t stop running into.
I loved seeing myself in these two characters. I loved seeing queer neurodivergent characters that use words like autism and ADHD, and the real implications of not learning ways to work with your abilities instead of against them can cause you a million problems such as Opal’s brush with drugs and struggle with not becoming an alcoholic.
The book is realistic, but it’s still a joyful read. It’s a gay romcom with neurodivergent disaster gays. This book was basically written for me. If you’re a gay/queer neurodivergent who’s been searching for a romcom that features you, you’ve come to the right place.
Pepper is an autistic woman who is hyperfixated on her late Grandma Lou’s flower farm, adorably named Thistle and Bloom. She wants her quiet routine, and she wants to live on her farm in peace…if only she could find Lou’s will.
Opal is an artsy girl who is working a dead end job and feels like she has no future. She has severe ADHD and I understood all of her decisions, I understood why she acted the way she did.
When Opal accidentally wins the lottery and buys the farm Pepper lives on, sapphic chaos ensues. I appreciate that the author played with the useless lesbian trope but they aren’t actually useless lesbians. They’re two neurodivergent girls who communicate and interact with the world in VASTLY different ways.
I very much enjoyed the twist of the U-Haul Lesbian as well. Opal moves in before she’s even met Pepper! It also was a nice way to really highlight just how different neurodivergent people are, and how despite having similar issues, can struggle with communication on a immense level that has severe consequences they can’t stop running into.
I loved seeing myself in these two characters. I loved seeing queer neurodivergent characters that use words like autism and ADHD, and the real implications of not learning ways to work with your abilities instead of against them can cause you a million problems such as Opal’s brush with drugs and struggle with not becoming an alcoholic.
The book is realistic, but it’s still a joyful read. It’s a gay romcom with neurodivergent disaster gays. This book was basically written for me. If you’re a gay/queer neurodivergent who’s been searching for a romcom that features you, you’ve come to the right place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I was given an advance readers copy of The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell and I'm so happy I was able to get an early copy because I could not put this book down.
The content of the book is extremely similar to her book Cultish, except this time she's discussing why our brains are the way they are. She talks about the different biases everyone is prone to and gives insight into how they come about. She also talks about how she herself has fallen trap to these biases, and how it led her to where she is today.
The thing I loved most about Magical Overthinking was that despite being about the fact that the way we think is a problem in society, and that even if the roots make complete sense it no longer makes sense today, she never comes across as judgmental. This feels like you sitting down with your grad student friend who's telling you about her thesis, what she's learned, and it's comforting. I never felt lectured or talked down to, rather, I felt like it was an old friend having a conversation with me.
So many portions of this book resonated with me. I could think of exact moments of what she was explaining from others or myself. If you enjoyed Cultish, you'll enjoy The Age of Magical Overthinking.
The content of the book is extremely similar to her book Cultish, except this time she's discussing why our brains are the way they are. She talks about the different biases everyone is prone to and gives insight into how they come about. She also talks about how she herself has fallen trap to these biases, and how it led her to where she is today.
The thing I loved most about Magical Overthinking was that despite being about the fact that the way we think is a problem in society, and that even if the roots make complete sense it no longer makes sense today, she never comes across as judgmental. This feels like you sitting down with your grad student friend who's telling you about her thesis, what she's learned, and it's comforting. I never felt lectured or talked down to, rather, I felt like it was an old friend having a conversation with me.
So many portions of this book resonated with me. I could think of exact moments of what she was explaining from others or myself. If you enjoyed Cultish, you'll enjoy The Age of Magical Overthinking.
The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
An hour into the book and absolutely nothing has happened. She went somewhere, she had dinner. That’s not enough action for an hour of my time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Sea Change by Gina Chung
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
It didn’t hook me at all and I was bored
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
For me this was a story that started off strongly but in the third half went completely off the rails. It felt like Abby forgot it was a romantic comedy, and the last third of the book suffers greatly for it. I completely hated a character I started off liking and ruined any affection I had for her.
I am well aware that trauma changes the brain. I’m a person who has faced their own trauma in life -but everything Brianna did in the last third is completely inexcusable. She was beyond cruel and quite frankly how Jacob handled the way she treated him has me worried for his wellbeing.
I’m so disappointed that this book ruined everything it had built and destroyed its own story. A single book should not manage to jump the shark like this.
I am well aware that trauma changes the brain. I’m a person who has faced their own trauma in life -but everything Brianna did in the last third is completely inexcusable. She was beyond cruel and quite frankly how Jacob handled the way she treated him has me worried for his wellbeing.
I’m so disappointed that this book ruined everything it had built and destroyed its own story. A single book should not manage to jump the shark like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Blood, Medical trauma, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Injury/Injury detail