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phoebebrainrot's reviews
89 reviews
Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.0
not exactly the most riveting of books. definitely one you can put down and come back to, which is a good thing!! simple writing but not any less creative. colorful metaphors. such an interesting take on mother wounds and the complexity of a woman’s diet.
however, i don’t think it was a story that needed 100+ pages. could’ve been a short story and delivered strongly. think a lot of the detail was unnecessary and took away from the plot which felt lacking at times. was ben a necessary character? does her mother just fade into nothing? dunno. ending felt rushed and loose.
wasn’t a terrible read, though. had a perfectly weird MC that i loved. readers who loved “My Year of Rest & Relaxation” would enjoy this most.
however, i don’t think it was a story that needed 100+ pages. could’ve been a short story and delivered strongly. think a lot of the detail was unnecessary and took away from the plot which felt lacking at times. was ben a necessary character? does her mother just fade into nothing? dunno. ending felt rushed and loose.
wasn’t a terrible read, though. had a perfectly weird MC that i loved. readers who loved “My Year of Rest & Relaxation” would enjoy this most.
Strega by Johanne Lykke Holm
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
beautiful writing, i will say. a broken prose that strikes in unexpected ways.
however, the plot fell flat to me. almost 200 pages and i just kept waiting and waiting for something to happen. just for it to be left unresolved. and while the writing was beautiful, it often distracted from the story. reading it became tedious and i wish i was able to enjoy what others did of this story.
perhaps it’s my own misunderstandings. but i wish i’d had more than flowery imagery to cling to
however, the plot fell flat to me. almost 200 pages and i just kept waiting and waiting for something to happen. just for it to be left unresolved. and while the writing was beautiful, it often distracted from the story. reading it became tedious and i wish i was able to enjoy what others did of this story.
perhaps it’s my own misunderstandings. but i wish i’d had more than flowery imagery to cling to
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
definitely one of those books you’ll never forget reading. such strong imagery that’s like SEARED into my brain forever.
it was a little easy to get confused & lost in the imagery but clarity was easily found! definitely an interesting book i’ll be thinking about for the next two weeks yes
it was a little easy to get confused & lost in the imagery but clarity was easily found! definitely an interesting book i’ll be thinking about for the next two weeks yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.0
really was a joyful book. easy to love the main character even in all his set ways. beautifully written in a manner simple enough to strike where it matters.
do wish the ending had offered more, but i do like the open-ended question it leaves. definitely an easy read worth the time
do wish the ending had offered more, but i do like the open-ended question it leaves. definitely an easy read worth the time
My Husband by Maud Ventura
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wow….
i was not prepared for that ending omg….FREE YOU ARIANE MA HEART!
i was not prepared for that ending omg….FREE YOU ARIANE MA HEART!
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
perfectly morbid and weird!
pace is a bit slower than i’d have liked, made it difficult to keep reading till about halfway through. some descriptions of abby’s descent into madness felt like filler & couldve done without butttt made for an interesting read
pace is a bit slower than i’d have liked, made it difficult to keep reading till about halfway through. some descriptions of abby’s descent into madness felt like filler & couldve done without butttt made for an interesting read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Murder
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
very “killer” by phoebe bridgers coded. which makes it perfect in my eyes!
very poignant. not at all what i’d been expecting when i picked it up but i’m not at all disappointed
very poignant. not at all what i’d been expecting when i picked it up but i’m not at all disappointed
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
beautiful tone of voice, wish it had been used for something more entertaining. i did enjoy the occasional insight from the narrator.
nothing happens, essentially. a long, winded obsession that hardly feels like an obsession but instead, a passing interest. gets to a point where it feels like the story is dredging on. narrator is vain and i wish that’d been played up more than it was.
nothing happens, essentially. a long, winded obsession that hardly feels like an obsession but instead, a passing interest. gets to a point where it feels like the story is dredging on. narrator is vain and i wish that’d been played up more than it was.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, and Kidnapping
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
beautiful writing & fast paced enough that you don’t want to put it down!!
ending is a little lackluster, however. main character essentially continues to be a doormat for her sister, which is a frustrating detail throughout the story. an understandable detail? yes. but what becomes of Korede besides continuing to risk her well-being for a gallivanting sister? no pursuit for more in life? no desire to take action towards Ayoola’s overdue accountability?
i dunno. such is the way of life, i suppose. just wish the ending hadn’t been so unresolved. still!!! wonderful writing & perfectly paced, as mentioned.
ending is a little lackluster, however. main character essentially continues to be a doormat for her sister, which is a frustrating detail throughout the story. an understandable detail? yes. but what becomes of Korede besides continuing to risk her well-being for a gallivanting sister? no pursuit for more in life? no desire to take action towards Ayoola’s overdue accountability?
i dunno. such is the way of life, i suppose. just wish the ending hadn’t been so unresolved. still!!! wonderful writing & perfectly paced, as mentioned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
5.0
wow wow wow wow
such a poignant novel, you almost don’t have words. beautifully written and morbidly true. definitely worth a read. allow yourself to be uncomfortable
such a poignant novel, you almost don’t have words. beautifully written and morbidly true. definitely worth a read. allow yourself to be uncomfortable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism