Some really valid points and ideas, and I enjoyed listening to the interviews with different neurodivergent individuals about their lived experiences.Some really valid points and ideas, and I enjoyed listening to the interviews with different neurodivergent individuals about their lived experiences. The main issue I had was that the majority of the book is the author's opinions and there weren't a lot of references to scientific research and existing studies to back them up/validate them....more
The two main characters playing cupid was fun, and I liked the honest discussions around mental health, but this just didn't quite hit for me in the sThe two main characters playing cupid was fun, and I liked the honest discussions around mental health, but this just didn't quite hit for me in the same way that The Ex Talk did....more
What a fun, lovely ending to a thoroughly enjoyable series. I particularly liked the fact that Iris and Stevie grew closer while acting in Much Ado, wWhat a fun, lovely ending to a thoroughly enjoyable series. I particularly liked the fact that Iris and Stevie grew closer while acting in Much Ado, which is probably my favourite of Shakespeare's plays. ...more
Fun and light-hearted with a feel-good ending. I found the characters a little grating at first, but warmed up to them as the story progressed, thoughFun and light-hearted with a feel-good ending. I found the characters a little grating at first, but warmed up to them as the story progressed, though I do prefer Talia Hibbert's adult novels on the whole. ...more
There were parts of this novel I really enjoyed, like the discussions around bisexuality and gatekeeping within the community, Gina's rediscovery of hThere were parts of this novel I really enjoyed, like the discussions around bisexuality and gatekeeping within the community, Gina's rediscovery of her love of piano, and George's experimentation with her queer visual identity. But there were also parts I found too chaotic, particularly towards the end.
Georgina is the epitome of a "messy" protagonist and I don't mind messy characters at all, but when the plot starts to slide out of control and become messy too it feels like the story has lost its groundwork. It was also frustrating to watch the Georgina constantly lie to the people she cared about and treat them poorly; even when opportunities arose for her to tell the truth, she didn't take them. I guessed quite a few of the twists before they happened, but I did enjoy one particular thing (a date) that happened (and I'd been rooting for) right at the end. ...more
Gosh, this was good. I keep saying that I don't read much sci-fi these days and then picking up sci-fi books and being blown away by them, so maybe thGosh, this was good. I keep saying that I don't read much sci-fi these days and then picking up sci-fi books and being blown away by them, so maybe that needs to change. Dark, tense, and violent, with a brilliant main character, this was completely compelling from start to finish.
Content warnings for violence, blood, gore, medical operations, transphobia, homophobia, rape, assault, racism. ...more
Thanks to Libro FM for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for a review .
This was such a compelling story with great writing and so much heThanks to Libro FM for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for a review .
This was such a compelling story with great writing and so much heart. I really liked Maddie, she felt so realistically flawed and nuanced and you could tell from the author's writing how much they care about her as a character. Even though she made mistakes and poor decisions, I couldn't help but root for her, and I was so pleased when she finally stood up for herself and spoke candidly to her mother and brother about their absentee behavior.
Content warnings for death of a parent, grief, abandonment, racism, emotional manipulation....more
A dark, humorous story about one woman's divorce and subsequent breakdown as she tries to figure out who she is without her husband. Maggie is at timeA dark, humorous story about one woman's divorce and subsequent breakdown as she tries to figure out who she is without her husband. Maggie is at times frustrating and annoying, and very much an unreliable narrator. We spend a lot of the novel wishing she would have more confidence in herself as an individual, and that she would treat her friends better, but the ending provides an uplifting message about the importance of friendship and self-love.
Content warnings for stalking and obsession, toxic relationship, mental health problems including depression, feelings of abandonment....more
This is a fun and very spicy adult romance about a figure skater and a competitive hockey player who are thrown together when they have to share a rinThis is a fun and very spicy adult romance about a figure skater and a competitive hockey player who are thrown together when they have to share a rink for practice. I think the synopsis is a little misleading for the book because it implies that Nate and Anastasia have to work together for a lot of the story and learn how to be on the ice together, but in actuality the forced proximity only lasts for about 5 chapters.
The rivals-to-lovers element is also over very quickly, which I didn't really mind, but if you're coming here for a long, drawn out, slow-burn rivals-to-lovers dynamic, then you might be disappointed. I appreciated the discussions of mental health and the focus on how much of a positive impact therapy can have, but I found the ending disappointing. It also took me a while to get used to the nickname of "Stassie" because in the audiobook it sounds like "Stasi" and, well...that has some very specific historical connotations that I imagine the author might not want to be associated with this book.
Content warnings for alcohol consumption, parental abandonment, body shaming, fatphobia, discussions of eating disorders, emotional abuse, gaslighting, discussions of mental health, sexual content, toxic friendship, violence, kissing without consent....more
This was a delightfully fun, entertaining enemies-to-lovers holiday romance with an Achillean romance, anxiety rep and messagesBuddy read with Lauren.
This was a delightfully fun, entertaining enemies-to-lovers holiday romance with an Achillean romance, anxiety rep and messages about the importance of family. ...more
I'm into long-distance running and have been considering training for a marathon, so this was an interesting read to see how someone with no previous I'm into long-distance running and have been considering training for a marathon, so this was an interesting read to see how someone with no previous running experience began doing ultra-marathons. I found it a little repetitive at times and thought the narrative style could have been varied up a bit more. (The author spends a lot of time describing being cold and wet in winter, but the parts about the people she met and countryside she got to see were far more engaging.)
I also thought there was a bit of an imbalance between how much focus was placed on the south and Wales compared to Scotland and the east coast. The first 70% of the book seems to be taken up by the south and west coast, then we only get to hear about the north and east for the last 30%.
Reading this also made me wish Downing had planned a bit more of the journey, as a lot of her overnight stays weren't organised and much of her route wasn't planned, which gave the book a haphazard feel at times (even she says that she could have improved her experience with more of a (metaphorical) roadmap). She does, however, understand her privilege in being able to do something like this and recognises that she wouldn't have been able to complete the trip without her parents financial assistance, which is a valuable thing to acknowledge and understand.
On the whole, this was an interesting read and made me more seriously consider marathon or ultra-marathon running myself, but I didn't find it quite as inspiring as I'd hoped....more
Content warnings for death of a parent, emotionally abuse and manipulative parenting, eating disorders, substance abuse, mental health issues, use of Content warnings for death of a parent, emotionally abuse and manipulative parenting, eating disorders, substance abuse, mental health issues, use of r-slur, breast cancer, OCD....more
This cut my heart in two and then gently put it back together again. Some scenes were so sad, but the overall volume Read for Graphic Novelathon 2022.
This cut my heart in two and then gently put it back together again. Some scenes were so sad, but the overall volume shows a character actively seeking help and therapy for a MH disorder and that was wonderful to see.
Also, Nick and Charlie working out how and when to say 'I love you' to each other?? So sweet, so beautiful. I've ascended. Honestly, not to be dramatic, but I'd yeet myself into the ocean for the two of them.
Content warnings for eating disorders and self harm, a character going to a psychiatric in-patient unit, OCD, depression, discussions of mental health, homophobia. ...more
Thanks to Libro FM for providing me with an advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is a raw, hard-hitting memoir about Erika SánchezThanks to Libro FM for providing me with an advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is a raw, hard-hitting memoir about Erika Sánchez's life as a Mexican American poet and someone with mental health problems. Sánchez candidly discusses her struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, her abortion, her art and poetry, and her diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
I really appreciated the author's open honesty when discussing her mental and physical health, especially when there's still so much stigma around certain MH issues. I think this book has the potential to help a lot of people who have had similar experiences to Sánchez, but might not have ever read about them on-page. Although there are some humorous and light-hearted moments, this book is quite an intense read, so be aware of the content warnings going in.
Content warnings for depression, voluntary institutionalisation, suicidal thoughts and suicide ideation, abortion, pregnancy, body shaming, fatphobia, infidelity, rape, religious bigotry, bullying, sexual harassment, racism and xenophobia....more
I'm so happy I finally read this one, as I'd been looking to get a physical copy of it for ages (ty Helen for my birthday present). The beginning was I'm so happy I finally read this one, as I'd been looking to get a physical copy of it for ages (ty Helen for my birthday present). The beginning was much sadder than I expected (the main character is bullied by fellow high school students because they think he's gay) but the found family elements and lovely, hopeful, messages about self-acceptance made the ending of this really uplifting. Looking forward to getting volume 2!
Content warnings for bullying, homophobia, suicidal thoughts and suicide ideation....more
Kate (Reading Through Infinity)
>
Books:
mh-rep
(62)
Loading...
