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peachythi_books's reviews
88 reviews
Night of the Witch by Beth Revis, Sara Raasch
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
3.75
I was lucky enough to get a signed Arc at the 2023 YALLWEST book festival. I was definitely intrigued by the witchcraft element of the book and I definitely was convinced by the enemies to lovers witch x hunter vibes. Although, the romance felt a little sudden I fell in love with the relationship of Otto and Fritzi and they definitely became one of the most compelling aspects of the book for me. I did struggle to get compelled by the overall threat of the book because of the fast pacing. I think is such a fun witchy fantasy book with fun characters and an amazing romantic plotline. I would also say that although the book is advertised as YA it is definitely more of a NA book or maybe even an Adult book. There is smut but not super explicit smut and sexual tension.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Sexual content
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
adventurous
dark
funny
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
5.0
Wtf the dude?!?
The more thriller aspects of the book are more prevalent in the later half of the book then they are in the first half. But I actually think that worked well for the story. It is completely disarming when you actually get to the thriller-ish portion.
The two main characters Fern and Rose have two very distinct voices and interesting perspectives and they piece together a mystery bit by bit every chapter with their POVS.
Fern one of our MCs is heavily implied to be Autistic and so is the male love interest Wally. Her perspective was so interesting and compelling. She is such an easy character to love and her chapters were by far my favorite.
The more thriller aspects of the book are more prevalent in the later half of the book then they are in the first half. But I actually think that worked well for the story. It is completely disarming when you actually get to the thriller-ish portion.
The two main characters Fern and Rose have two very distinct voices and interesting perspectives and they piece together a mystery bit by bit every chapter with their POVS.
Fern one of our MCs is heavily implied to be Autistic and so is the male love interest Wally. Her perspective was so interesting and compelling. She is such an easy character to love and her chapters were by far my favorite.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.0
The book is such a fun read. Its so easy to just enjoy and the characters are all so silly. The book has such a satirical take on the usual fairytale fantasy tropes too and I adore it. You are introduced to these characters and these events like they are these one-dimensional forms but then are hit with these genuinely complex people.
Evie and [Redacted] have such a fun relationship with each other. It is charming and silly and gives me the same fun feelings I had when I watched the author’s roleplay series The Morally Gray Fantasy Villain’s Personal Assistant on tiktok.
But what the book does that the series doesn’t is give us an even greater look into the inner workings of these characters. Which is the best part (in my opinion).
Evie and [Redacted] have such a fun relationship with each other. It is charming and silly and gives me the same fun feelings I had when I watched the author’s roleplay series The Morally Gray Fantasy Villain’s Personal Assistant on tiktok.
But what the book does that the series doesn’t is give us an even greater look into the inner workings of these characters. Which is the best part (in my opinion).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
I love this book so much, it’s so emotional and explores grief, death, acceptance, choice, identity, and humanity in such a beautiful; soft way. Wallace Price is such a fucking asshole but he is human and capable of very human feelings and we get to watch him explore that vulnerability. His bond with the main cast of characters is so wholesome and found family I love it. The book is comedic and lighthearted but then it sucker-punches you with these hard hitting moments of grief. All of the characters are so intriguing and fun to learn about. I loved every second of this book.
I love this book so much, it’s so emotional and explores grief, death, acceptance, choice, identity, and humanity in such a beautiful; soft way. Wallace Price is such a fucking asshole but he is human and capable of very human feelings and we get to watch him explore that vulnerability. His bond with the main cast of characters is so wholesome and found family I love it. The book is comedic and lighthearted but then it sucker-punches you with these hard hitting moments of grief. All of the characters are so intriguing and fun to learn about. I loved every second of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Murder
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
The book itself is not linear in its story telling. As the quote on the book says “ It is a series of personal essays.” Trevor Noah’s life is so much more complicated and fascinating then I could have ever imagined. His ideas on race, gender, and hierarchical systems are incredible. He has such nuanced thoughts and ideas and he manages to write about his mother in such a beautiful way I actually cried. I would so I was shocked that such a hilarious person had such a difficult and traumatic childhood but that is probably the reason why he is so funny. His life has given him such a complex outlook on the world and loved reading more on his personal thoughts in this novel. It is exciting, and moving, and addresses so many cultural and social issues that he has personally come across. It is also extremely gritty, and honest. I love the fact that his comedy career and eventual rise to fame was not at all a subject of this book. Barely even a passing comment. They truly are stories of a South African Childhood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal death and Sexism
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
This book brings on a whole new level of nuance and symbolism to THG and Panem as a world. The original trilogy was already so disturbing and the Capitol was corrupt. But in this book we get to see the corruption on a deeper level. Snow in this book is so deeply flawed and wholly unforgivable for his action in THG and in TBOSBAS. Yet his humanity is so clearly explored in this book that you can’t help but be so invested and intrigued in his character. Not lovable or even easily understood but vexing. If you are a fan of THG then this book will only make the entire series more enjoyable. Lucy Gray Baird is everything Katniss is not and vice versa. She is this charismatic performer who sees the good in everyone and easily came to trust Snow. Yet she remains eyes open to his actions and such as the title implies she uses music and songs as her own small act of Rebellion. And I adore her for it. Lucy so pure of heart and ready to rebell and poor struggling Snow who has every potential to be a better human but ultimately succumbs to the wickedness of the systems he eventually exploits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Circe by Madeline Miller
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Madeline Miller has this way with words that reflects emotions in such a guttural, powerful way. Circe is like an experience. And Reading it was like going through the process of the feminine experience and listening to the world in a raw, emotional way. No, Circe is not romantic and flowery in the way The Song of Achilles was but it’s prose was still beautiful and poetic. And the stagnant setting of the book did not at all deter the excitement that occurred in Circe’s life. Every step she took felt like a path to growth and healing. It felt healing. Because her pain never destroys her. She grows alongside it, she embodies it in the way women do. Circe has a very special place in my heart.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.0
The finale to the Hunger Games trilogy somehow manages to enforce an even darker feeling throughout the book. Katniss takes hit after hit after hit in this book. The small moments of reprieve we would usually have seen are often overtaken by another moment of utter pain. And it works. Because this book encapsulates the pain the districts go through more thoroughly than the other two books. The show-biz of The Hunger Games is no more. Welcome to the revolution.
Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0