rkaufman13's reviews
514 reviews

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
Too "cozy" 
Digging Stars by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma

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

2.0

The first 20% of this book was a completely different book than the last 80%. Unfortunately I liked the first fifth a lot better.
Also the book was described as a blend of satire and drama (????) but satire is supposed to be funny. 
Borges and Me by Jay Parini

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funny reflective slow-paced

4.0

It starts real slow but gets better once the road trip begins. 
How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs

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adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

A Queen in Hiding by Sarah Kozloff

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 47%.
Poor writing, uninteresting characters, life's too short. Also I just realized the book blurb brags about the spine art, so I should have known 
A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

No notes. This was a freebie from Europa Editions, so no excuses not to read it either. 
The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

A surprisingly hamhanded letdown
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

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

4.5

The Book of Love by Kelly Link

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mysterious slow-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

2.5

Normally I do not have patience for people who say, "Oh, [mainstream author] wrote a fantasy book but the magic system is a mess." Normally, who cares? But wow, this mainstream author wrote a fantasy book and the magic system is a mess, and for a book that has a goddess, people turning into animals, and a 17th-century pirate girl who may or may not be real, a whole lot of nothing happens in this thing.
It's not the worst book I've ever read but I'm baffled by the overwhelmingly positive reviews.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

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Did not finish book.
Boring