ashs_ephemera's reviews
374 reviews

The Humans by Stephen Karam

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

A solid exploration of the human experience.
Love Poems for Anxious People by John Kenney

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funny fast-paced

2.0

Not what I expected, and not great, but not terrible. A quick read.
Educated by Tara Westover

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

Ain't Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds

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

3.0

Our Dining Table by Mita Ori

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

3.0

This book was adorable, but the romantic relationship between Yutaka and Minoru seemed to come out of nowhere and I wish it got to develop more.
Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey Vol. 1 by Akiko Higashimura

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inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

I LOVE books that follow “artists journeys” so I had high hopes for this one and it definitely met them all. Higashimura’s illustrations and storytelling come together beautifully to tell an engaging memoir!
Other Ever Afters: New Queer Fairy Tales by Melanie Gillman

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adventurous lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.0

I loved the intention of this book, but the endings of many of the stories felt incomplete. However, it is definitely one of my new favorite graphic novels—the illustrations are spectacular. I'd recommend.
The Sex Myth: The Gap Between Our Fantasies and Reality by Rachel Hills

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informative slow-paced

2.5

Meh. Mostly stated things that are obvious — “some people view sex as something they need to be doing to fit in,” etc etc. Well-researched but felt weak as a whole.
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

A solid three stars. Lacked real character development and was definitely more plot-focused, which isn't what I usually enjoy, but it was enjoyable in this novel. The science fiction aspect of it was entertaining and I found it immersive. Would recommend.
The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace

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fast-paced

1.5

Lovelace consistently proves her inability to write a poem longer than 10 lines. There were some better poems in this book, but on the whole they felt like single sentences in a different format.