Small Book Reviews

Reviews of books in 200 words or less!

[smallbookreviews]

Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn

Like Bridget Jones’s Diary without any of the endearing character traits. Also, it had some casual racial slurs. I like other books by this author, but this book did not stick with me.

[smallbookreviews]

A Small Revival

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. I’ve been in grad school the last two years, and I have not had much time for anything but my work. Now that I’m reaching the end of my program, I will start posting again, beginning with the backlog of small book reviews I recorded.

There won’t be a set schedule, so apologies in advance. Hope everyone is doing well! :) 

[smallbookreviews]

When the Moon was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

Very dramatic and a tad gruesome. A romance in two ways, both the lovey-dovey way and also in the romantic literature way. Written like a good adult book but meant for teens. Very satisfying.

[smallbookreviews]

Vanished by E.E. Cooper

The main character is a non-white teen girl with OCD, and the story is not about her mental illness! It's a mystery with lots of twists and turns, and the ending made me want to throw the book at a wall. Very well done.

[smallbookreviews]

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

The main character shows the effects of bipolar disorder in a real and accurate way. It throws intersex people under the bus at one point, and the pacing is weird, but the happy ending makes for a pretty solid book.

[smallbookreviews]

Due to recent health problems, I will be taking a break from my regular reading to reread some comfort books instead.

[smallbookreviews]

The Games by Ted Kosmatka

The book itself was well written and had an interesting premise. However, it had an autistic character solely for the purpose of throwing the "r*****" under the bus to further the plot. Gross.

[smallbookreviews]

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

This book is a gushy teen romance between two boys. It has a couple of lines that throw lesbian and bi women under the bus, and it doesn't quite pass the Bechdel test, but it was still an enjoyable read.

[smallbookreviews]

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

It was a solid book about overcoming challenges and learning about love, but it pulled the love-cures-everything card on a neurological disorder, which ticked me off.

[smallbookreviews]

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

Based on a Russian folk tale, it's a book about a girl that gets herself into a magical pickle. The main conflict of the book is the main character's fault, which I tend to dislike, but it's well written with a good lesson about love and family.

[smallbookreviews]

Empress of the World by Sara Ryan

Two girl teens end up in a romance. The characters don't feel very deep, and it's hard to get excited for characters you can't connect to. Some coarse language.

[smallbookreviews]

Lord and Lady Bunny--Almost Royalty! by Polly Horvath

Just as funny as the first book but with lots more social goofs. It gave me second hand anxiety!

[smallbookreviews]

Being Emily by Rachel Gold

The book is about a transgender teenage girl going through the coming out process. The writing is okay, but the main character flippantly talks about suicide as a viable option when the trans community is one that has an incredibly high rate of suicide.

[smallbookreviews]

The Crazy School by Cornelia Read

Finally, a horror book where the horror is the institutional abuse of mentally ill people instead of the schizophrenic teens themselves. Lots of swearing. Written like an adult book.

[smallbookreviews]

Paperweight by Meg Haston

An intense and graphic book about the realities of suicidal ideation, eating disorders, and recovery. Very triggering, but very well written.

[smallbookreviews]

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

About a teen girl completing a list of things to do written by her missing best friend. A really good example of a codependent friendship. It was refreshing to see the main character come into her own.

[smallbookreviews]

The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy

Boring in a way that you don't want to put down. A slice of life book about two girls who have separate but similar struggles.