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rosseshelf's reviews
313 reviews
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
Errr— I honestly didn’t get the moment and the issues in this book, I just felt things were weird even since the first chapter. Well, probably the author was trying to make the issues in the book unrevealed or trying to hit the twits, but nah. The story was too boring and bland for a mystery book, also had too many unnecessary topics to discuss.
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
❝ Everyone is faking it, all of them pretending to be something they’re not. The whole world is built on lies and deceit. ❞
Errr— I honestly didn’t get the moment and the issues in this book, I just felt things were weird even since the first chapter. Well, probably the author was trying to make the issues in the book unrevealed or trying to hit the twits, but nah. The story was too boring and bland for a mystery book, also had too many unnecessary topics to discuss.
Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones
I expected something more from this book, because I enjoyed the AGGTM series but turned out, that this book was a bit boring and just— OK. I can easily look over what will happen next, and what will be done next. Everything is easy to speculate. Although I agree that the plow in this book was committing but I still wish that this book was a tad longer to explore something so important because there are still plot holes even until I finished the book, even tho the last chapters were combusive. After all, Cam ( one of the MCs in this book. ) her outcome is something that I relish. Overall, will surely suggest this book for those who are inquisitive in the podcast-themed crime mystery genre, but still, if I can be honest, part of this story was missed for me.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
❝ Marginalized people. Poor people, Native people, Black people, brown people, immigrants, queer and trans people. That’s who goes to prison, because that’s who the system is designed to hurt. ❞
I expected something more from this book, because I enjoyed the AGGTM series but turned out, that this book was a bit boring and just— OK. I can easily look over what will happen next, and what will be done next. Everything is easy to speculate. Although I agree that the plow in this book was committing but I still wish that this book was a tad longer to explore something so important because there are still plot holes even until I finished the book, even tho the last chapters were combusive. After all, Cam ( one of the MCs in this book. ) her outcome is something that I relish. Overall, will surely suggest this book for those who are inquisitive in the podcast-themed crime mystery genre, but still, if I can be honest, part of this story was missed for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
I was stunned reading this book; reading every chapter; every short story in this book. I read a few books that are about short story collections, and I can guarantee, this one is my favourite. In total, there are ten short stories in this book. I won’t let out every story but my favourite was the Cursed Bunny. Not because this one has a similar title to the entire book but I love how in this story, they examine a family who made or created cursed things and how they dealt with a certain one of those things. But I can ensure, that all of the short stories in this book was so intriguing to read and it has made me curious to find out more about the author, also want to read more horror story like this book. Besides, this book has everything; magical realism, horror, and sci-fi. I am not tired and bored through this book. Plus, each story has its own feels. I mean, they lean to be on the creepier side in every shorty. Oh, I just want to say— shut up and read Cursed Bunny!!
dark
tense
fast-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
❝ Once you experience a terrible trauma and understand the world from an extreme perspective, it is difficult to overcome this perspective. Because your very survival depends on it. ❞
I was stunned reading this book; reading every chapter; every short story in this book. I read a few books that are about short story collections, and I can guarantee, this one is my favourite. In total, there are ten short stories in this book. I won’t let out every story but my favourite was the Cursed Bunny. Not because this one has a similar title to the entire book but I love how in this story, they examine a family who made or created cursed things and how they dealt with a certain one of those things. But I can ensure, that all of the short stories in this book was so intriguing to read and it has made me curious to find out more about the author, also want to read more horror story like this book. Besides, this book has everything; magical realism, horror, and sci-fi. I am not tired and bored through this book. Plus, each story has its own feels. I mean, they lean to be on the creepier side in every shorty. Oh, I just want to say— shut up and read Cursed Bunny!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Rape
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
As I started reading this book, the very first chapter creeped me out. However, I love the way the author wrote everything in this book so beautifully terrifying; the way she put the descriptions and mythical felt real, I can successfully felt the atmosphere went on all fours. Literally, this book shockeeeeeed me. Oh! The funny thing is, I can predict things in this book but it still shocked me and left me stunned. Well— such a good book but really wish we could’ve gotten more from the ending. Felt a bit rushed to me.
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
❝ I am the thing in the dark. ❞
As I started reading this book, the very first chapter creeped me out. However, I love the way the author wrote everything in this book so beautifully terrifying; the way she put the descriptions and mythical felt real, I can successfully felt the atmosphere went on all fours. Literally, this book shockeeeeeed me. Oh! The funny thing is, I can predict things in this book but it still shocked me and left me stunned. Well— such a good book but really wish we could’ve gotten more from the ending. Felt a bit rushed to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, and Murder
Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park
I didn’t read the blurb before I started reading this book, but when I read this book, it turned out to be a typical bittersweet book but still had a very good laugh through the process, also a good cry. I heard somewhere that South Korea is still a bit taboo with queerness but in this book, It’s such a revivified philosophy on South Korean society today that puts queerness in it. Even tho the story was a bit messy I tried to understand it because the story belongs to people who lived in the big city. The messy story, a messy life.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
❝ If obsession isn't love, I have never loved. ❞
I didn’t read the blurb before I started reading this book, but when I read this book, it turned out to be a typical bittersweet book but still had a very good laugh through the process, also a good cry. I heard somewhere that South Korea is still a bit taboo with queerness but in this book, It’s such a revivified philosophy on South Korean society today that puts queerness in it. Even tho the story was a bit messy I tried to understand it because the story belongs to people who lived in the big city. The messy story, a messy life.
A Mosque in the Jungle by Othman Wok
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It came out that this book was exploring ghost stories in three countries ( Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. ), and for me, personally, Asian ghost stories constantly creep me out. The stories in this book concoct a vivid image of the 1950s and 1960s when modernization was diverse with traditional spiritual ideas. And because it is a collection of short stories there are numerous stories in this book, for a total of 24 stories. The typical of an easy-read book that can make you instinctively read it, especially with a relatively short and evident story. Nonetheless, every story in this book can make me nostalgic when I read it.
Sambal dan Ranjang by Tenni Purwanti
Jujur, ketika pertama kali memutuskan untuk membaca buku “Sambal dan Ranjang” ini karena merasa tertarik dengan judul sekaligus blurb yang telah disajikan. Saat itu, dipikiran saya, “Apa yang dimaksud dengan judul tersebut?” Apalagi kata ‘sambal’ dan ‘ranjang’ bahkan tidak ada kaitannya sama sekali. Terlebih dengan genre dalam buku ini pun disebut sebagai “feminist fiction” jadi tentu saja kalau saya semakin tertarik. Banyak sekali buku fiksi maupun non-fiksi yang mengangkat isu feminist dalam bukunya, namun tidak banyak juga yang berakhir sia-sia. Namun, dalam buku ini, selama membaca saya dapat menyimpulkan bawa ceritanya telah dibentangkan dengan cukup baik.
Akhirnya, dapat disimpulkan bahwa kata “sambal” dalam judul buku ini lebih mengarah sebagai suatu kritik atau penilaian sang penulis terhadap konsep feminism yang diagungkan oleh setiap perempuan dalam kehidupan bersosial yang selalu ditentang hingga perempuan tidak bisa lepas dari cengkraman laku-laki. Sehingga, kritik tersebut dianggap pedas bagaikan sambal yang dibumbui dengan urgensi kemanusiaan seorang perempuan. Selain itu, kata “ranjang” merujuk terhadap bagaimana laki-laki selalu memandang perempuan hanya sebelah mata. Bagaimana pemikiran perempuan selalu tidak dihiraukan oleh laki-laki. Sungguh, saya menyukai bagaimana pemikiran penulis dalam buku ini.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
❝ Kita melawan dominasi laki-laki bukan untuk mengubahnya menjadi dominasi perempuan, tetapi untuk membuat lelaki dan perempuan di posisi setara sebagai sesama manusia. ❞
Jujur, ketika pertama kali memutuskan untuk membaca buku “Sambal dan Ranjang” ini karena merasa tertarik dengan judul sekaligus blurb yang telah disajikan. Saat itu, dipikiran saya, “Apa yang dimaksud dengan judul tersebut?” Apalagi kata ‘sambal’ dan ‘ranjang’ bahkan tidak ada kaitannya sama sekali. Terlebih dengan genre dalam buku ini pun disebut sebagai “feminist fiction” jadi tentu saja kalau saya semakin tertarik. Banyak sekali buku fiksi maupun non-fiksi yang mengangkat isu feminist dalam bukunya, namun tidak banyak juga yang berakhir sia-sia. Namun, dalam buku ini, selama membaca saya dapat menyimpulkan bawa ceritanya telah dibentangkan dengan cukup baik.
Akhirnya, dapat disimpulkan bahwa kata “sambal” dalam judul buku ini lebih mengarah sebagai suatu kritik atau penilaian sang penulis terhadap konsep feminism yang diagungkan oleh setiap perempuan dalam kehidupan bersosial yang selalu ditentang hingga perempuan tidak bisa lepas dari cengkraman laku-laki. Sehingga, kritik tersebut dianggap pedas bagaikan sambal yang dibumbui dengan urgensi kemanusiaan seorang perempuan. Selain itu, kata “ranjang” merujuk terhadap bagaimana laki-laki selalu memandang perempuan hanya sebelah mata. Bagaimana pemikiran perempuan selalu tidak dihiraukan oleh laki-laki. Sungguh, saya menyukai bagaimana pemikiran penulis dalam buku ini.
My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth
I didn’t expect the story of this book would be just— OK. The entire story felt so slow to the point it became sluggish, really. With Bel and Teo characteristics? This was too dull. I mean— OK, let’s say that I quite enjoyed this book but nothing much has happened in this book. I understand this book is just typical of YA’s coming-of-age story but I think it’d be better with detailed execution. I also, found the narrative felt a bit repetitive, duplicative, and slow at times. Even yet, I appreciate that the plot is mostly about engineering and robotics rather than romance.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
❝ There's no such thing as a mind for one subject or another. You have a mind that works, and works well. So use it. ❞
I didn’t expect the story of this book would be just— OK. The entire story felt so slow to the point it became sluggish, really. With Bel and Teo characteristics? This was too dull. I mean— OK, let’s say that I quite enjoyed this book but nothing much has happened in this book. I understand this book is just typical of YA’s coming-of-age story but I think it’d be better with detailed execution. I also, found the narrative felt a bit repetitive, duplicative, and slow at times. Even yet, I appreciate that the plot is mostly about engineering and robotics rather than romance.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
I always fall for Emily Henry’s books, like— always. And this one? I can’t believe that Emily Henry wrote Happy Place with her genius mind and she expected me to continue with my life as a normal human being. I cannot. I can safely say that Happy Place ( and Book Lovers ) hit too close to home for me, so it was really hard for me to continue reading this book ( I even finished it in two weeks ) even tho this book is sooooooo good. Congratulations on shattering my heart into a million infinitesimal chunks and glued back together again, because I feel so comforted by the entire story.
One thing of my favourite things about Emily Henry’s writing is she knows how to put in words that love heals without going too far in a very wonderful and thoughtful way. To observe how her characters deal with and get through their most severe traumas. Emily Henry made me believe that love is the most powerful healer, but you must be able and willing to change. Love is a healer, but no one person can make you whole. It doesn’t resolve any of the problems you are attempting to avoid. If anything, it makes it more difficult to flee because the things you are fleeing from are frequently the causes of your inability to fully commit to the person you want.
Although, I always despise the miscommunication in her books, but on the other flank, I always feel that it’s common in rom-com books or movies for characters to misscommunicate out of fear and misunderstanding. They hold secrets from both themselves and others, that’s totally normal. And it made her writing incredibly realistic because they are to these characters, the stakes feel particularly high. The battle they are currently in isn’t just about whether will they or won’t they of it all, but rather what hard truths people are ready to confront and overcome in order to be together. In this book, every setback feels so important and real. I’ll be forever Emily Henry’s fan.
I relate to Harriet at every level and my narcissistic self keeps convincing me that Emily Henry has written her books just for me. I love how far you’d go to make yourself whole for love that allowed you to feel secure enough to think that healing would be an option at some point. Through this book, I learned that in relationships, we aren’t supposed to try to fix each other but instead let the other one heal and love them through that process.
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
❝ I imagined them all thinking it was worth it. Telling me how much they loved me. All my life, when I thought of my future, that was what I pictured. Not a career. The things I thought would come with it. Happiness, love, safety. And that dream had been enough for a long time. What was school if not a chance to earn your worth? To prove, again and again, that you were measurably good. One more deal I struck with a disinterested universe: If I’m good enough, I’ll be happy. I’ll be loved. I’ll be safe. ❞
I always fall for Emily Henry’s books, like— always. And this one? I can’t believe that Emily Henry wrote Happy Place with her genius mind and she expected me to continue with my life as a normal human being. I cannot. I can safely say that Happy Place ( and Book Lovers ) hit too close to home for me, so it was really hard for me to continue reading this book ( I even finished it in two weeks ) even tho this book is sooooooo good. Congratulations on shattering my heart into a million infinitesimal chunks and glued back together again, because I feel so comforted by the entire story.
One thing of my favourite things about Emily Henry’s writing is she knows how to put in words that love heals without going too far in a very wonderful and thoughtful way. To observe how her characters deal with and get through their most severe traumas. Emily Henry made me believe that love is the most powerful healer, but you must be able and willing to change. Love is a healer, but no one person can make you whole. It doesn’t resolve any of the problems you are attempting to avoid. If anything, it makes it more difficult to flee because the things you are fleeing from are frequently the causes of your inability to fully commit to the person you want.
Although, I always despise the miscommunication in her books, but on the other flank, I always feel that it’s common in rom-com books or movies for characters to misscommunicate out of fear and misunderstanding. They hold secrets from both themselves and others, that’s totally normal. And it made her writing incredibly realistic because they are to these characters, the stakes feel particularly high. The battle they are currently in isn’t just about whether will they or won’t they of it all, but rather what hard truths people are ready to confront and overcome in order to be together. In this book, every setback feels so important and real. I’ll be forever Emily Henry’s fan.
I relate to Harriet at every level and my narcissistic self keeps convincing me that Emily Henry has written her books just for me. I love how far you’d go to make yourself whole for love that allowed you to feel secure enough to think that healing would be an option at some point. Through this book, I learned that in relationships, we aren’t supposed to try to fix each other but instead let the other one heal and love them through that process.
Diary of a Murderer: And Other Stories by Young-Ha Kim
I read somewhere that— ‘When dealing with them, you must imagine yourself as a suspect or murderer.’ as I read this book, everything on this book felt like I was reading someone else’s diary, a murderer’s diary, or even my diary, who knows? Well, the title of this book describes it perfectly and it suits the entire book. Yet the author of this book knows how to surprise the readers in an emotionally disturbing way. This book’s writing style is incredible; it reads like I’m reading someone’s personal diary, complete with dark comedy, poetry, and theoretical allusions.
Nonetheless, the author knows how to play with my emotions ( and probably other readers as well. ) because I was about to express empathy for the main character, but then I thought that empathy could not be freely shown. In this book, he’s not only playing a detective father, but he also has one more murder planned.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
❝ 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘵. ❞
I read somewhere that— ‘When dealing with them, you must imagine yourself as a suspect or murderer.’ as I read this book, everything on this book felt like I was reading someone else’s diary, a murderer’s diary, or even my diary, who knows? Well, the title of this book describes it perfectly and it suits the entire book. Yet the author of this book knows how to surprise the readers in an emotionally disturbing way. This book’s writing style is incredible; it reads like I’m reading someone’s personal diary, complete with dark comedy, poetry, and theoretical allusions.
Nonetheless, the author knows how to play with my emotions ( and probably other readers as well. ) because I was about to express empathy for the main character, but then I thought that empathy could not be freely shown. In this book, he’s not only playing a detective father, but he also has one more murder planned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder