Disability Reads Challenge Reviews

Reviews

LizzieBennet thumbnail

LEXOPHILE DOSTS

Posted: 1 months ago
#1

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Hello everyone!

Here's where you'll be logging your pages and posting your reviews for Disability themed books. If you log 500 pages of Disability themed fiction, you are eligible for the Disability Reads Participation Badge!


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Image Only books read from July 1, 2025 to July 31, 2025 will count.

Image Post your reviews following this template:

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

  • Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.

  • Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

Image You can include a star rating, format, additional information about the book etc if you wish to but it's not mandatory. For online fiction and FFs, please provide a link (do not post the link here, you can PM me or your team's captain or add it to the excel sheet)

Image Everyone is welcome to participate, even if you are not part of July's Reading Challenge.

Image For those who are participating in the Reading Challenge, note that these page counts will count towards your totals and also your team totals so make sure you include the log in both.

Image Please NO CHATTING on this thread. If you wish to discuss a book or a review, please do so in your team thread or in the main Reading Challenge thread. Keep this thread clutter-free so it's easy for us to verify badge eligibility.

Image Make ONLY ONE post and keep editing your post to add more reviews/ pages.

Image Please update your Disability Reads Challenge logs in the excel sheet below (make sure you choose the appropriate sheet)

Image DNF pages are allowed provided you complete at least 60 pages in the book or 25% of the book, whichever is more. You will still need to write a themed review and include 2 quotes.


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VchL7TjKaw0ykhqclPIMnvMMZtdiuRWpt4k5iGZ5-T8/edit?usp=drivesdk

If you have any questions please ask on the main July 2025 Reading Challenge thread! Hope you enjoy your themed reading for July!

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ssttuuttii thumbnail

LEXOPHILE DOSTS

Posted: 1 months ago
#2

ssttuuttii Page Log for July 2025 - Disability theme


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author : Total Stark Darkness - TheShadowsOnTheWall & trvlystxrk 🔵🔵1/2

  • Page Count : 76

  • Review :

Peter faces an attack that not only brings him close to death but also damages his sight. Tony helps him get better and take down the people who did this to him. Didn't like how it nerfs down Spider-man and Iron-man while making the villain illogically powerful.
Disability theme - One of the lead characters is temporarily blinded due to an attack where he is doused in sulphuric acid. The only reason it is temporary is because of his superhuman healing powers. Nevertheless, he spends most of the fic suffering from his blindness. The description of him going from complete blindness to regaining light sensitivity first, then blurry shapes and colors, before finally recovering entirely near the end of the story shows us the various kinds of blindness (even when it is not complete) and how they can hinder normal activities in day to day life.

  • Quotes from the book :

“Why can't I see anything? Is the power out? Is it night?”

Tony pauses.

“All the lights are on…”


“You’re very antsy, aren’t you? or in this case, Spidery?”


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author : Daredevil in: The MCU - Internal_Turmoil 🟤🟤🟤🟤

  • Page Count : 196

  • Review :

As the name says, this story is centered around Daredevil as he meets the Avengers and slowly becomes a part of the team. I like how the author writes DD's perspective keeping in mind his blindness but also how his other enhanced senses compensate for it. His interactions with everyone as both Matt and Daredevil are very well written and despite there being hardly any plot, the story doesn't feel boring. Recommended to fans of Netflix era DD.
Disability theme - While his heightened senses allow him to understand his surroundings and recognize people, he still faces a problem with technology (screens or holograms), written papers, hand signs / symbols, etc where he has to either rely on someone friendly to help him out or try to get by with context clues. The story also features many other disabled superheros like Clint Barton / Hawkeye who is deaf and uses hearing aids, Colonel James Rhodes / War Machine who is paralyzed from waist down and uses mechanical leg braces to compensate, etc.

  • Quotes from the series :

“I know it wasn’t easy, but you don’t strike me as a man that only goes after what is easy. People need you.”

- Daredevil in: Age of Ultron


“Don’t say that. You are a good person, and you deserve good people in your life too.”

- Daredevil in: New Allies


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author :
    So I’m Dating Spider-Man’s Aunt - xelaalex 🟡🟡1/2
    Until It Fades - xelaalex 🟢🟢🟢
    Above the Noise - happyaspie 🔵🔵🔵1/2
    Interrupt Me Anytime - TheShadowsOnTheWall 🟣🟣🟣

  • Page Count : 89

  • Review :

"So I'm Dating Spider-Man's Aunt" - Matt is unknowingly dating Peter's aunt and it all comes to a head when they meet for dinner as their civilian selves. The premise was interesting but the story was a little too long and repetitive. Could have done with a much crisper editing.
Disability theme - One of the lead characters is blind.

"Until It Fades" - Matt has severe migraines due to sensory overloads and Peter helps him when one gets too bad. Suffers from the same prob as this author's other work, it can get repetitive sometimes. Nevertheless, the concept is interesting.
Disability theme - One of the leads is blind and faces severe migraines from his other senses trying to compensate for the same.

"Above the Noise" - Both Peter and MJ can't sleep, which leads to them meeting and sharing some time together late at night. The story is short and sweet... hitting just the right feels.
Disability theme - Both the leads are suffering from sleep disorders (Insomnia or otherwise unspecified).

"Interrupt Me Anytime" - Peter suffers from a severe allergic reaction and has to call upon Tony for help. While a common trope, this story was a good one.
Disability theme - The main focus of the fic is on one of the leads suffering from an allergic reaction that leads to him asphyxiating and eventually passing out. The fact that it happens from something as commonplace as an air freshener really drives home the point that allergies can also be life-threatening and must be taken seriously.

  • Quotes from the book : Taking one quote each from two of the four mentioned FFs.

“Grief doesn’t go away just because time passes,” Matt continued. “It makes space, maybe. But that ache? That uncertainty? It sticks around. Especially when someone you love starts moving forward and you’re still figuring out what that means for you.”

- So I'm Dating Spider-Man's Aunt


“Where are we going?”

“To find some peace”

- Above the Noise


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author : Fractured but not Broken (NON EXPLICIT VERSION) - cheeekyCharChar 🟡🟡🟡1/2

  • Page Count : 140

  • Review :

A continuation from Moon Knight TV show that goes slightly AU as it tries to integrate that story with Avengers and the MCU at large. The main characters were well written but the treatment of some side characters seemed off. The plot on the whole was well derived albeit a little overdramatic and full on cliches. Nevertheless, it was a good read, especially for its handling of mental disorders.
Disability theme - The main character suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder and the whole story is mostly focused on how the main personality learns to live alongside his alternate personalities.

  • Quotes from the book : Sharing quotes that specifically highlight how different the personalities are from each other and how each of them wishes to live their own individual lives but have to compromise because of sharing the same body.

"And I know you love Marc. He's the man you married. And I know he loves you deeply. I just.. I think I finally understand just how different Marc and I truly are. The different lives we have led. It doesn't matter that we're trapped in the same body. I understand now. I'm not your husband. And.. I never will be..."


But how could he refuse such a simple request? Like Steven, Jake was his own person and he deserved as much time in the light as they did. But with a three way split, Marc is hit with the weight of his own mortality. His life was already half lived. How much time did he actually have left? And to only be able to live the rest of it as a passenger shared between two others didn't give him as much time as he had hoped to live.


Other disability reads :

  1. are you ready yet? - webss312 - 140 pages [chp 21-23] Repressed trauma / PTSD, Survivor's guilt 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴
  2. Pockets of belonging - Bergen - 98 pages [chp 14-19] Eating disorder, Childhood trauma 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴
  3. The ways we are the same (I wish we were different.) - Manwiththemagic - 18 pages [chp 7] Blindness 🔴🔴🔴
  4. That's why his hair's so big, it's full of secrets - Bonfirefly - 86 pages Blindness, Pychosis / Schizophrenia 🔴🔴1/2


Total = 843 pages read (501 pages reviewed)

Edited by ssttuuttii - 24 days ago
LizzieBennet thumbnail

LEXOPHILE DOSTS

Posted: 1 months ago
#3

Total number of pages: 2212


#1

Book and Author: Change of Pace - Kayla Grosse

Page count : 357

Disability Rep: Kawasaki Disease with ICD implant; ADHD

Review: This one was like badly written fanfiction minus the fanfiction part. Kawasaki disease seems to be important to the author to highlight (since they are a survivor) and I'm all for supporting Indie writers but the MMC and FMC have zero personality in this one. Asher is such a convenient bf for Jesse, he's okay with everything she wants and wants nothing except her. Boring. Plus his ADHD doesn't even make an appearance to be believable. Jesse is the KD survivor, she has a ICD implant and is plus sized and is reluctant for a long term commitment. Asher has all but decided to marry her the moment he meets her (wtf). The conflict existed for the sake of the 3rd act breakup which wasn't even that. Such a disappointment.

Quotes:

My entire life, I’ve been fat. And since my heart attacks, I’ve focused more on learning to love myself and be proud of my body for being strong and helping me survive. But the trauma from a lifetime of living in a bigger body in a society that tells you it’s wrong doesn’t go away overnight.


“Standing up for yourself will generally come with a reaction from the other party because they’re afraid, too. But you can’t control how they react, and sometimes you have to say something that other people won’t like.”


#2

Book and Author: Knot my type - Evie Mitchell

Page Count: 240

Disability Rep: FMC in wheelchair; MMC has trauma

Review: This was good but it still fell short. After they got together Jay behaved like a 5 year old. Frankie was the one on the wheelchair but the focus was more on Jay and his issues that I wish that wasn't the case. Wanted more of Frankie's backstory. And maybe Jay's childhood abandonment issues instead of his fboi issues. Could have been better but it was short and fast paced - so that saved it from a lower rating. Also from their professions and the title itself I thought this would have much more of the rope kink than it did smiley36

Quotes:

"Safe spaces are great but brave spaces are where it's at for me. And brave spaces mean inviting people in and building connections that might not otherwise exist. They're all about constructive discomfort."


"Thank you, Jay. Without you, I'd have never experienced how empowering it is to trust someone enough to give over to them."


"Pain and joy aren't mutually exclusive. I can feel one while experiencing the other."


#3

Book and Author: Baking me crazy - Karla Sorenson

Page Count: 258 pages

Disability Rep: FMC in wheelchair - transverse myelitis

Review: I really thought the disability rep was well done in this book. I felt Joss's struggles and the author managed to lay out exactly what being a person in a wheelchair looks like not just for them but for the others in their life. Levi Buchanan is boyfriend goals. He's literally perfect, there was a moment where I felt that being in love in Joss for all those years and pining away felt creepy but then felt ashamed of myself for going there because Levi's love was so pure and patient. He did everything for Joss. Given that it did feel Joss did not reciprocate enough. Also it felt weird how easily she moved from her crush on Andy to Levi. We don't get enough insight on her thoughts on how she made that transition or if she was secretly in love with Levi too without her even realizing it. That part is what made me take off a star.

Quotes:

Whatever my own soul was comprised of, that intangible thing residing in my body that made me me met its match the day I met Jocelyn. And trying to make someone else fit was one massive exercise in frustration.


I didn't feel like there was anything about me worth admiring, other than that I was living, like everyone else. We all had shit we dealt with—things that made life hard sometimes—and mine was just simply more visible to the naked eye because I sat in it every single day. I think that was what made it seem bigger to people. Because you couldn't not be aware of it.

Be the thermostat, not the thermometer. Set the bar for your reaction instead of allowing outside circumstances to tell you what the temp was.

The quiet was patience. The quiet was persistence. The quiet was constancy. Humility. A composure that one of us was severely lacking. The quiet was absolutely f**king terrifying.



#4

Book and Author: Pen Pal - J.T. Geissinger

Page Count: 353 pages

Disability Rep: I'm just gonna say mental illness here because any more specifics might be spoilers

Review: Ok this book was gripping and I would have given it 4 stars but the ending kinda left me feeling underwhelmed. I mean, it was twisty but still it felt disappointing. So I had to knock off .25 points and give it slightly less than Perfect Strangers whose twisty end I absolutely loved. The smut seemed OTT and totally cheesy (lol) and had zero relevance to the plot. And there were a lot of plot holes that went unexplained (honestly this is the case with most thrillers that are trying so hard to be twisty that they forget about logic) Still a very entertaining and gripping book, I couldn't put it down. Mental illness is a big part of the plot but I can't say what and why and who cos that would be a HUUUGGE spoiler

Quotes:

Funny thing, isn’t it, hindsight? It’s memory, but with new understanding tacked on, so that the past means something different than it did before.


It’s incredible how many different people one body can hold. We all walk around with a thousand strangers inside us, slumbering quietly until someone else wakes them up.


Chaos isn’t outside us. It’s always within, even if we perceive it to be otherwise. You’re the chaos. You’re the storm. You’re the one creating the high winds and choppy seas you have to navigate. You’re the source of everything that’s happening.


Mental illness isn’t something you do to yourself. It’s not a choice. Your brain gets sabotaged by chemicals that are beyond your control.


Pain is the cost of love. And the deeper your love goes, so too goes the pain. You can never have one without the other.


Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come. (Original quote by Rabindranath Tagore)


What we call memory is the intersection between imagination and fact. Memories are the stories we tell ourselves about the important events in our lives. In the telling, some details get lost, others embellished, until truth is closer to fiction.


#5

Book and Author: How to walk away - Katharine Center

Page count : 308

Disability Rep: Paraplegia as a result of spinal cord injury

Review: This was the book that represented this theme perfectly for me. It wasn't a romance (which was a sub plot at best) but an insight into a life altering accident and all the heartbreaking, grueling, excruciating reality the FMC faces after it. It showcases the resilience and grace of human spirit. It paints a picture of how the world views someone who is disabled - sometimes with pity, sometimes with schadenfraude but never usually with the understanding and empathy that they need. I have read Katharine Center before and I did not think she was capable to writing something with such depth. The writing really resonated, and parts of it made me tear up and really feel. It was agonizing to read Margaret's struggle but also you just want to keep rooting for her. Ian was great, I loved the grand gesture even if the 3rd act breakup made me want to hit him on the head with a saucepan. Still it made sense, I could see why he did what he did. The side characters were all wonderful - Margaret's mom included, her dick of an ex excluded (may he always have acne and bunions and insomnia for the rest of his miserable life!). I'm so glad I read this for Disability month!

Quotes:

“Dying is easy. It’s not dying that’s hard.”


You can only reach out so many times before you stop trying. After a while, just the fact that somebody is mad at you can make you feel mad at them.


If I had to make a list of things I wanted to see right now, old friends who would pity, judge, and gossip about me would be the last things on it. I didn’t want anyone else thinking the things I was thinking. I didn’t want anyone else privy to the specific horrors of my new situation. I did not want to be the topic of anyone’s phone chats, or get-togethers, or status updates. I didn’t want to be the reason other people counted their blessings.


Exhaustion is a friend to the grieving.


Then he said, “Whether you walk again or not, I’m going to tell you the one thing I know for certain.” I blinked. “What’s that?” He took a deep breath. “It’s the trying that heals you. That’s all you have to do. Just try.”


So much of life is just grinding through. So many moments just exist to deliver you to the ones that follow. But this moment was a destination in itself.


“Thank you for telling me about your troubles,” I said after a while. “It wasn’t very professional of me.” “Professional is overrated.”


Bare minimum struck me as deeply insulting. Spoken like a person who had no idea what it was like for the bare minimum to be your own personal ultimate maximum.


Sorrow can make things funnier. Endure enough hardship, and you start really needing a good laugh.


Needing to find reasons to live had forced me to build a life worth living. I would never say the accident was a good thing. I would never, ever claim that everything happens for a reason. Like all tragedies, it was senseless. But I knew one thing for sure: The greater our capacity for sorrow becomes, the greater our capacity for joy. So I went on, “That’s the thing you don’t know—that you can’t know until life has genuinely beaten the crap out of you: I am better for it all. I am better for being broken.”


#6

Book and Author: Every summer after - Carley Fortune

Page count : 320

Disability Rep: Anxiety, panic attacks, cancer (side character)

Review: So much hype around this book and it was a cheating book! Boo! Plus Sam and Percy were both idiots. Granted they were young, but still they will dumb af. There isn't much to the story and you pretty much know it's all building up to some big reveal and when it happens I just wanted to headdesk so hard. I did enjoy all the Canadian references in the book though. The writing was easy. But the story and the plot - meh. There's a bit of mental health rep with Percy's anxiety and panic attacks.

Quotes:

“Betrayals don’t cancel each other out. They just hurt more.”


“Some people are lucky like that. They meet their best friend, the love of their life, and are wise enough to never let go.”


“I don't take things for granted anymore. I don't take people for granted. And I know time is not infinite.”


#7

Book and Author: Take a hint, Dani Brown - Talia Hibbert

Page count : 376

Disability Rep: Anxiety disorder (MMC) and possibly on the spectrum (FMC)

Review: The last book left in the Brown Sisters trilogy which is actually Book 2, and Talia's writing is just as delightful and her characters are so rootable. Especially Zaf. He has anxiety disorder and is also dealing with the loss of loved ones. Dani is possibly on the spectrum since her lack of social awareness is brought up a few times but it's not explicitly stated. Still this one left me wanting. I remember loving Eve's book and liking Chloe's book too, but this one fell short possibly because I did not get enough depth about Zaf or Dani. We're told Zaf has anxiety but there's not enough about him overcoming it, or even about Dani helping him through it (except for one panic attack). I do wish we'd gotten more. But it was still good.

Quotes:

“The thing about mental health was, you couldn’t take a course of antibiotics and be magically healed. Some people’s brains just thought too much or felt too much or hurt too much, and you had to stay on top of that.”


“Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done.”


“People shouldn't be changed - but perhaps they should grow.”


“Hurting a loved one was like running over someone’s foot; you rarely meant to do it, but the bones still broke.”


“You'd never tell an athlete to just get over a sprain; you'd give them time to recover, physical therapy, whatever they needed. Why are mental health conditions any different?”


“I know I didn’t have to do this, Zaf. I never have to do anything with you. But you make me want to. You make me feel like myself, and you make me feel like I’m enough, and you even make me feel like I would be just fine without you. The thing is, I don’t want to be without you, and so I don’t ever plan on it."


“Feeling is always worth it”

Edited by LizzieBennet - 22 days ago
Bee222 thumbnail

BOOKAHOLIC YAARS

Posted: 1 months ago
#4

Bee's Disability Reads July 2025

#1

Title and Author: Always Only You by Chloe Liese

Page count: 370 (paperback)

Review:

Frankie, the FL is autistic and also suffers from Rheumatoid arthritis. Both her autism and RA struggles were strongly represented. The ML's younger sister is also autistic and I liked how Frankie became a support system for her.

Ren, the ML, is a total cinnamon roll (that concussion scene is the cutest thing I've read in a while! ❤️) — he's warm, sensitive and genuine. Just an adorable dork who kept giving me giant teddy bear vibes. I love how he took care of Frankie. It was never "fragile, handle with care" treatment; he was just thoughtful and sensitive and it showed in all the little things he noticed and did.

I loved seeing these two lose their shit over each othersmiley36 but I do wish the falling in love phase was stretched out a bit more? They didn't have enough of a heart connection, I felt. The FL was sorta jolted into unboxing her feelings. But from the ML who'd been pining forever, I needed to know more about what he loved about her, what made him fall in the first place. I liked the characters — Frankie was a hard relate at times — but I do think the author's writing style fell a bit flat overall. I still plan to check out the other books in the series, though.

Quotes:

What if the life I’ve built, the one that was supposed to free me, has turned into a prison after all?


This happens sometimes. I ask a question, and people hear… more than a question. They hear criticism or judgment or teasing. I’ve given up trying to explain that my brain isn’t wired for that subtlety, that I couldn’t imply those kinds of layers of meaning if I wanted to.


“You okay?”

“I’m not crying,” she says immediately.

I squeeze her hand, rubbing my thumb in a gentle circle across her palm. “Of course not.”

“It’s windy,” she says.

“Very windy.”


What is it that’s so sensual about the simple touching of hands? How can sharing the barest contact feel so intimate?


“Clearly, you haven’t read Sense and f*cking Sensibility.”

“Huh. I didn’t know the title included such profanity. Must be the unabridged version.”


Books help me feel a bit more connected to a world that often is hard to make sense of. Books are patient with me. They don’t laugh at me instead of with me. They don’t ask why I’m “always” frowning, or why I can’t sit still. Books welcome me—weirdness and all—and take me exactly as I am.


I stare at him, as my heart bangs against my ribs, an inmate shaking its prison bars.

Let me out. Please. Just this once.


#2

Title and Author: Forget My Name by J S Monroe

Page count: 498 (audiobook)

Review:

Fast paced thriller, suspenseful and with interesting characterisations. The story starts off with one of the MCs having amnesia, with no clue about who she is. One of the other MCs suffers from anxiety and paranoia. Can't say much without spoiling, but amnesia and memories do form an important part of the story. I also liked the references to Buddhism and India.

Quotes:

The brain is a frightening thing. Capable of remembering so much of what we wanted to forget, and forgetting the one thing that we most wanted to remember.


"Do you think you have kids?"

I pause to consider. "I'm not sure how I'd know."

"Tits heading south and a 24/7 state of tiredness and guilt," she offers.


Unable to discuss my own past, I seem to be obsessed with other people's.


When our minds are quiet, old memories rise to the surface. We forget things when our souls are troubled.


#3

Title and Author: My Husband the Stranger by Rebecca Done

Page count: 400 (paperback)

Review:

Oh god this story. So much to feel 🥺 Alex, the ML, has a TBI which leads to permanent brain damage. His ability to feel and show emotion has suffered, along with various other symptoms like loss of smell and taste, social unawareness, lack of focus, bouts of anger, tendency to get easily triggered or overstimulated, etc. And while I empathised with his condition, the way he treated Molly (FL) sometimes was... difficult to watch. The various hardships of being a caregiver were brilliantly portrayed.

I just wish we got more of Alex's present POVs too, bcz we never really know how he views Molly after the accident. Does he even understand when he's being rude and hurtful? Does he do it unknowingly or does he realise but can't help it? Does he regret it later? We see a few gestures at some points, but I really wanted his direct thoughts. Esp bcz we do get past Alex's POV, who was so desperately in love with Molly (which ofc just makes the present situation more tragic in its contrast).

But Molly... this woman with her endless patience, empathy and understanding... her love for Alex was just unstoppable. It just kept flowing, even when I (and a lot of others around her) felt like she should cork it up a bit, not let herself run dry. But she could never stop rooting for him — for them — and I couldn't stop rooting for her. My heart was practically blooming when her efforts started to pay off, and I did like that ending, but like I said, I would've liked more from Alex's POV. And I definitely would've liked more details, esp in the epilogue. There was also a minor subplot which I wish wasn't there — bcz this is a book that could've easily just focused on the main couple and not needed anything else for the story — but it was wrapped up nicely so I didn't have much qualms after that.

Quotes:

I know it is partly my fault – pretending each day when I open my eyes that the old Alex is back. That game can never be a fun one, and I’m always going to lose.


But she still doesn’t know how it truly feels to have Alex almost look through me some days, as if he’s wondering who I am and why I am there. The spark in his green eyes, the connection between us, is gone. That unspoken something has left the room, and I know it will never return.


When someone has a life-changing accident, cultural boundaries around family become somewhat flexible. Our marriage doesn’t just involve me and Alex any more. It involves me, Alex and all the other people who love him.


It’s frustrating to watch and I know it upsets Alex more than anyone else in the world. He finds it impossible to understand why his mind won’t let him do what needs to be done.


The most patient man in the world has now turned into the most impatient. Someone who would never have spoken rudely to anyone – least of all a person he didn’t know – now has the capacity to be vicious to strangers, and it makes me nervous.


They don’t truly understand. They think I’m weak, that I’ve lost my ambition, my drive, my sense of self. And it’s true – I have lost all those things, but it’s not because I’m weak. It’s because when I’m trying every day to be strong for Alex, I have no strength left for me.


There must be new dreams out there waiting for us – it’s just down to me to conjure them up. That’s my job; my end of the deal.


I suppose that is the very nature of commitment: you put your life and happiness in the hands of another. You relinquish responsibility. You say, Here is my heart. Do with it what you will – but please just try not to break it.


#4

Title and Author: Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Page count: 403 (ebook)

Review:

This book features an FL who gets heavily scarred on her face when she's very young. This affects her own self image and gives her a non-existent social life, since most of the village sees her as cursed or a bad omen. The ML also has a limp but it was bad representation, conveniently forgotten for most of the book.

Honestly, this was a complete borefest. It seemed to drag on and on, yet somehow the romance was still under-developed. It's supposed to be a B&tB retelling and initially I thought this was gonna be like a cozy, whimsical version bcz of the setting — but nope, it decided to tack on a lame quest and an even lamer climax scene. None of the side relationships were fleshed out properly — the dad, the brother, the best friend — what were they even for? The FL certainly didn't care about them (only when she wanted to cry or feel resentful), she only cared about the ML and I still don't know what exactly brought on that love. All she did was keep making promises to help everyone and then doing absolutely nothing except frolicking with her loversmiley44

The entire first half could've been halved without any problem. The second half had slightly better pacing. I did love the concept of the book mirrors and the worlds within! I so wish they had done more with it 😭 There was a cool final twist but at that point I was just waiting for the book to end.

Quotes:

In the old tales of magic the wicked were always ugly and scarred, the good beautiful; I was not beautiful, but I wanted to be good, and after a while I couldn’t bear to read those stories anymore.


"What is the oldest magic?”

“Love. That is what created the universe, and that is what will destroy it, in the end.”


I wept in the snow and crumbled to ash, for I was only pages in a book, burned and lost and gone forever.


His blue eyes locked on mine, suddenly serious. “Must you always know a story ends happily before you feel equal to beginning it?”


“Take my story back with you. Give it a happy ending.”

He smiles, and reaches out one brown finger to graze my cheek. “I will give it the happiest of all endings."


#5

Title and Author: With You Forever by Chloe Liese

Page count: 384 (paperback)

Review:

I liked this one a lot more than Always Only You. It had the proper heart-to-heart connection b/w the leads that was kinda lacking there. Alex, the ML here, was very neurodivergent coded in AOY, and this book confirms that he's autistic. I think Chloe Liese has done great in portraying the diversity within the spectrum, bcz this is my second read from this series but I've already met three autistic characters, who — although they share similar traits — are quite different from one another.

Roonie, the FL, has ulcerative colitis, which gives her chronic GI issues that she feels ashamed to discuss with anyone. She's also a bit of a people-pleaser, and hesitates to mention her strict dietary restrictions. I love how Axel took her illness as it is and supported her through it, while Roonie was always patient with Alex and gave him time to communicate what he wanted. They were each other's safe spaces and I always love that in a couple

Quotes:

Relationships are so…illogical, and their subjectivity is where I’ve been hurt. Those gray, messy spaces have taught me you can be loved and yet left, wanted yet regretted.


It feels good to be accepted, to be not only told but shown that I’m safe to be not just smiley Rooney or happy Rooney, but all-of-me Rooney. Even the one who’s really f*cking sick sometimes.


And that’s the best kind of friendship, isn’t it? Friendship that lets laughter and tears hold hands, where grief and gratitude can be friends, not enemies.


#6

Title and Author: Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Page count: 320 (audiobook)

Review:

My first read from Alice Feeney and I'm happily planning to read more. The MMC of this thriller, Adam, has prosopagnosia aka face blindness. Honestly, this could've been a very average story but the author's writing style elevated it quite a bit — just the way she presents it is very interesting. Even when I was sure I had the twists figured out, I was hooked and quickly turning pages. In the end, although I did end up mostly right in my guesses, this turned out to be a very satisfying read. There are several little tidbits to speculate over, even after the end... I love when thrillers do that 😍 And I definitely loved that ending ❤️

Quotes:

My husband might not know my face, but there are other ways he has learned to recognise me: the smell of my perfume, the sound of my voice, the feel of my hand in his when he still used to hold it.


'But if there’s one thing I have learned from life as well as fiction, it’s that nobody is ever just a hero or just a villain. We all have it in us to be both.’


My husband doesn’t cheat on me with other women, or men, he has love affairs with their words.


Sometimes the thoughts we hide in the margins of our minds are the most honest, because they are ours alone, and we think nobody else will see them.


Maybe all marriages have secrets, and maybe the only way to stay married is to keep them.


#7

Title and Author: We All Fall Down by Natalie D Richards

Page count: 368 (paperback)

Review:

This was supposed to be a paranormal thriller, and while there was paranormal, the thrill was... pretty unsatisfactory. The MMC had ADHD and ODD, while the FMC had anxiety. Initially it was interesting how their own unstable minds added to the uncertainty of the situation, but it got too boring too fast. Literally the whole plot is about one (1) single incident. The rest of it is just "oh we're so bad for each other, we should stay away, but we can't stay away and we're overdramatic little shits, so how about we just keep whining about it every chapter and annoying the crap out of the reader" 🙄🙄

Honestly, this was a bit like a teen diary, with everything blown out of proportion. That one (1) incident wasn't even so bad, and I don't even know why they were so "bad" for each other. I love drama and pining and angst, but this was nauseating even for me. There were some semi-interesting bits like the FMC gaslighting her friend, but the ending also left many unexplained gaps.

Quotes:

“Well, for the record, I am medicated—today, yesterday, and every day. Thanks so much for asking. Maybe you’d like to talk about my broken childhood next?”


This would be a whole lot easier if she’d stop texting for five minutes so I could attempt to flirt with her.


I know I’ve had enough of this bridge for one night. What I don’t know is that the bridge hasn’t had nearly enough of me.


She’s slipping into her anxious place, where she imagines shadows around every corner. Except this time, she’s right. There are shadows waiting for her. Waiting for both of us.


Is that possible? Can you go to the darkest imaginable places with a person and still walk with them in the light?


We’re both tainted water, but Theo’s bubbles up on the surface like an oil spill. Mine is invisible. Arsenic hiding in plain sight.

(I really liked this quote)


#8

Title and Author: The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid

Page count: 432 (paperback)

Review:

I thought Echo North was gonna be my most boring read of the month, but this book proved me wrong. I enjoyed the writing style initially but the entire plot was a whole bunch of NOTHING. Almost the entire first half could've been scrapped off and made no difference to the book. After that it just got progressively worse. There were a lot of interesting plotlines that I wish the author had taken the time to explore properly, instead of giving us this confused mess. The pacing was off too. Things were dragging one moment, too rushed in the next. There were also some serious plot discrepancies. This book really needed a better editor.

The ML had a missing eye and a missing finger but the disability rep wasn't really done well, partly bcz of the FL's thoughts and actions. I kinda hated the FL, but I also didn't care about the ML, so whatever.

In hindsight, I should've DNFed this book early on. Towards the end, I was so numb I was just turning the pages like a robot. The only interesting part was the worldbuilding — the folklore, magic and religious tensions. Oh, and the FL's father I guess.

Quotes:

In this way, it became the world as we know—a world where growth could easily become rot, where peace could easily become pain. A world that had a word for happiness, because now there was a word for despair.


Yet now, as he surveyed the beautiful thing he had created, he was not angry or heartbroken. He was at peace, and that is the only time when you can make a sacrifice that works.


Survival is not a battle that you win only once. You must fight it again every day.


I'd rather die with a blade in my hand, or at least with fire in my heart, than live as the shadow of the shadow.


'But you followed me here.’ My own voice is a whisper. ‘What a foolish thing for a pious prince to do.’

A breath comes out of him. ‘You’ve made me a fool many times over.'


#9

Title and Author: 1222 by Anne Holt

Page count:

Review:

The protagonist is an ex-policewoman who is wheelchair-bound (paralysed from the waist down) and hard of hearing — consequences of a bullet wound she suffered prior to this book. As for the story... well, the plot was flat, the protag was flat, none of the reasonings/deductions were explained (she just magically knew things — I hate when mysteries do this). I kept waiting for something to happen, but nope. Where was the "race against time" I was promised?? Where were the high stakes? No one was ever in any actual danger. And they had the gall to compare it to "And Then There Were None" in the blurb 🙄🙄 Very blah read.

Quotes:

He placed his hands on his hips and looked down his nose at me. That look from those who are standing up, the tall ones, the ones whose bodies work perfectly.


I am interested in people, but I don’t want people to be interested in me.


Even the black, loose clothes around her bony figure seemed greyer now, and made her look like a pencil mark that someone had tried hard to erase.

It suddenly occurred to me that that person was me.


#10

Title and Author: A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Page count: 506 (ebook)

Review:

This is probably my favourite B&tB retelling. There's emotion, plot and wonderful characters, there's a ruthless beast and a cunning evil, and there's never a moment of boredom. Harper, the FL, has cerebral palsy which makes her walk with a limp. But boy does she ever let her define her! This FL is bold and brave (I love how everyone keeps underestimating her, only to be proven wrong xD), and she's genuinely... good. Throughout the book she always took a stand for the right thing, even when it seemed like an impossible risk. And despite her reckless decisions, she never came across as stupid. She had a heart and a brain, and with that indomitable spirit — it was honestly very easy to root for her.

The ML, Rhen, was easy to root for too. He was courteous but charming — exactly like a prince — but I loved his brain the most, the one that knew how to handle pressure and strategise. Every time he took charge and made plans and knew what to do, he grew a bit sexier in my eyes 🔥 After reading Serpent and Dove last month, I desperately needed more of that wild unhinged FL/restrained honorable ML dynamic. And while these two weren't exactly that, they had a close enough vibe to soothe my hunger.

I also loved Grey SO much, it's been a while since I've claimed a book boyfriend but this guy is mine now 🤣 He was just... the best person anyone could ever hope to have in their lives. Loyal, patient, calm, dependable and totally kickass 🔥 I absolutely loved his scenes with Harper ❤️❤️ And I also loved the scenes when he and Rhen talked, esp when Grey gave out his unfiltered thoughts and biting opinions. I so wish he did that more — Rhen did too. I really hope the next books build on their friendship coz there is so. much. potential here! ❤️

The book had a kinda love trianglesque vibe at times, but it was just the right amount to be perfect. And it only added to the story, never took away from it. I also loved the sibling dynamic between Harper and Jacob, that slight line between protective and overprotective that gets crossed so often by elder brothers. Very realistic ❤️

I hope this quality carries over to the second book. This one ended in a sort-of cliffhanger, where the main plot is resolved so I can stop, but I'm also very curious and eager to read ahead. But I've been burned by so many series atp that book #2s always feel like a huge leap of faith.

Quotes:

Harper moves close to Freya. “It’s okay,” she says gently. “We’ll figure something out.”

Her censorious eyes shift to me.

Clearly, I am to figure this out.


Her expression is some mixture of amused and perplexed. “What’s wrong with you? Hasn’t anyone ever given you a hug?”

I feel so off balance. “Not—not in recent memory.”


You sat by the fire and wouldn’t even speak to me.

For that to matter, she would have to care, at least a small amount.


Desperate, I look to Rhen for help.

He’s watching me with a kind of bemused wonder. “My lady." He gives me a bow. “I, too, offer you my gratitude.”

I am going to punch him.


"The choices we face may not be the choices we want, but they are choices nonetheless.”


#11

Title and Author: A Heart so Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

Page count: 460 (ebook)

Review:

Aaand I'm burned again by a letdown sequel. This is the book manifestation of "be careful what you wish for". I loved Grey, I wanted more of him, now I got him and I don't like it 😐 But in my defence, this is not the Grey I fell in love with. That guy was tough and pragmatic; great at doing what needed to be done. This Grey 2.0... idek who he was, but I liked him less and less as the book went on. Also, too little Rhen and Harper! The freaking MCs! Book 1 worked bcz of these 3 and their inter-dynamics. Book 2 introduces new characters, who I initially liked, but after watching them take over the entire space and Rhen and Harper barely getting any — I can't stand them anymore. Especially Lia Mara (who is basically a blander version of Harper 🙄).

Also, in ACSDAL both Grey and Rhen were flawed, morally grey characters — that's what made them interesting. Rhen was the perfect prince and Grey was the perfect commander — and the author was brilliant in showing why they were perfect for their roles. But this book sorta goes about glorifying Grey and vilifying Rhen and I'm not here for that. And fiery, righteous Harper who was always taking a stand is barely doing anything in this book, pushed to the shadows to make way for the oh-so-great Lia Mara.

"You can't make Rhen change his mind," says Grey to Harper — when she spent sm of book 1 doing exactly that. Multiple times. 🙄 Honestly, the only reason I didn't DNF were the two brilliant chapters in the middle that kept me hoping for more. Sigh.

Quotes:

“You said I couldn’t stab him while he was unconscious. Can I stab him now?”

“No.


“Look at me,” Rhen finally says.

If the words were spoken in anger or given like an order, I might have obeyed. But his voice is quiet, undercut with betrayal.

I cannot look at him. I feel as though I have betrayed him.


This is a man who endured the enchantress’s torture, season after season, to spare me. A man who gave up his life to save the people of Emberfall. This is the man who will be king.


“You trusted me once,” he says. “What have I done to lose it?”


#12

Title and Author: Behooved by M Stevenson

Page count: 353 (ebook)

Review:

Decent, breezy fantasy standalone — one I wish hadn't been this breezy. It was an interesting world with a lot of characters — but instead of diving deep and truly exploring any of it, the author took the simplistic, superficial route. I liked the main couple and the romance, but I wanted more. The conclusion wasn't very satisfying either.

The FMC had chronic illness — it was never specified exactly what it was, but the A/N revealed it was a representation of Celiac disease that the author suffers from herself. The condition was a crucial part of the FMC's self-image and her character arc.

Quotes:

One could admire a thing of beauty without loving it, after all.


-What do you think I look like? A chicken?- the horse demanded.


"I would never assassinate my spouse in my bedchamber. Even one who forced me to marry them. It would ruin the sheets."


"Strength isn’t about what your body can do," Aric went on. "It’s about how you respond to adversity."


Marya turned a pastry in her fingers. Judging by her expression, she was considering its potential uses as a weapon.


"Caring means you’re strong. It means you’re brave enough to let yourself feel, even though it puts your heart at risk.”


#13

Title and Author: Forestborn by Elayne Audrey Becker

Page count: 368 (paperback)

Review:

The entire kingdom — including the MC's best friend — was being afflicted by a magical illness that started in physical disability, and eventually led to insanity and death. So the MC, Rora, embarked on a quest to bring back the cure. Honestly, the writing style made reading this feel like experiencing a folktale in real time. There was such a quaint, cozy vibe in the first half, even through the sombriety. It was definitely grittier in the second half, though.

I loved the deceptions of the magic forest, loved how well fleshed the characters were and the development Rora went through. I also loved the strong sibling bond between Rora and her brother, and the friendship between her and Finley. I also enjoyed the shapeshifter aspect, and how the different animal forms gave her different advantages and disadvantages to work with.

The one thing I hated, though, was the pacing. It was frustratingly slow at times. I got so close to giving up, but I don't regret persisting with this one. There was so much it got right. I might even read the sequel.

Quotes:

“Rora.” Spoken like an offering.

“Helos.” Spoken like an accusation.


“What if I told you I could have you beheaded for calling me an idiot?”

“I’d call you a liar, too,” I reply.


It’s wrong. So wrong. Helos is the good one. Helos is hope. And here he is, transforming himself into a weapon.


Rora, I want to say. My name is Rora. It’s one of the only things I know to be true, a certainty I cling to in a life shaped by unpredictability.


We stare at each other for the span of several heartbeats. I can tell he’s trying to convince me that he’s not worth it, and I’m trying to convey to him that he’s always worth it, that we’re a pair, that we don’t separate.


#14

Title and Author: Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young

Page count: 368 (paperback)

Review:

One of the rare romance novels that delivers on everything but the romance 🤦‍♀️ FMC's newborn sister was born premature with foetal alcohol syndrome which damaged her heart; MMC's little brother was deaf. Their living together was a mutually beneficial system arranged by Child Protective Services, which meant there were huge stakes to them getting together. Yet these two pretty much threw caution to the wind, ignored the consequences and started making out like horny teenagers, ffs 🤦‍♀️ I also didn't like the MMC's characterisation initially, his constant hot and cold was annoying, and whenever he showed interest he gave off fboi vibes 😐

However, in their non-horny moments when they shared and talked and supported each other, I did enjoy their partnership and intimacy. Imo they should've had more of that before giving in to the attraction. I also enjoyed the portrayal of strained family bonds and flawed parents, as well as the people-pleasing psyche that comes from being abandoned. There were a lot of satisfying moments, esp in the second half.

Quotes:

Sober or not, my mother has always looked like herself—warm, familiar, like me. Now, I’m perhaps the only version of who my mother used to be that’s left in this world.


Warren isn’t even a little embarrassed, and I’m a teeny bit disappointed. Where does all his confidence come from? Can I get some of it?


I try to decide whether to work, eat, nap or do laundry. Option E, scrolling on my phone, seems like the obvious choice.


"I’m not going anywhere.”

Does he know how long I have wanted to hear someone say that to me? To feel in my bones that they mean it?


“I’m peace to you?” I ask.

He nods, pulling his lips into his mouth with a creased brow.

“Well, you’re my home.”


#15

Title and Author: A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Page count: 228 (ebook) - unfinished

Review:

There's something so cozy and beautiful about this book. It's a regency romantasy with a magic element. I went into this blind — like most of my books these days — expecting a lighthearted romcom. I wasn't prepared for the amount of depth and nuance I'd find in the prose and characters. The subtle digs at classism and homophobia. So far, it seems like every character has a story to tell. I'm only about halfway through, so idk if the author will rise up to the expectations that she's set for herself. The pacing is definitely on the slower side, but I haven't minded so far.

The FMC has chronic illness.

Quotes:

"We all die. You and I are dying right now, but we are also alive."


"Your existence alone is enough. And if you believe you’ve made no difference at all to anyone, you’re even more clueless than I thought."


She had always believed life was what slipped through her fingers while she was idle. That life was something she wasted, not something she had. But now, she understood how wrong she'd been. Her heart beat. Her lungs swelled with air. Life was here, right in front of her.


#14

Title and Author: The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

Page count:

Review:


Quotes:

Edited by Bee222 - 22 days ago
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LEXOPHILE DOSTS

Posted: 1 months ago
#5

HB's July 2025 Page Log (Disability Themed)

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

All The Dangerous Things - Jenika Snow

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

90

  • Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.

Both of the MCs have a past truma of their own, Tatiana has faced an attempted assault during the fight night where Gio saved her and they met for the first time.smiley42 Gio has faced child abuse from his own father, and his body is covered with tattoos to hide his physical scars. It's evident that they both are fighting their own emotional battle but their love is so strong and healing. They are enough for each other.smiley27 The romance and spice was great, but there wasn't enough plot for my enjoyment. They only kept talking about the past trauma and the possessiveness of Tatiana's brothers (who gave her no privacy whatsoever), but apart from that there was not much of a story. From this series, I liked Claudia's story the most, and this one was probably the weakest for me, hence I gave 3 stars.

  • Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

smiley27I may be the devil from deep within the pits of hell, but you're my queen, and that'll never change.smiley27

smiley27I'll protect you with my life. I'll make sure you and our children never want for anything and are never afraid a day in your lives.smiley27

smiley27I'm not an easy man to love, but you're in my heart, sweetheart. So this proposal isn't a request. It's a demand, and it's a vow that I'll never let you go.smiley27


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

72

Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.

The Mistletoe Mystery is a short novella that’s easy to read—perhaps the easiest read in the series so far. Compared to the full-length novels, this one felt more accessible and digestible, thanks in large part to its brevity and smooth pacing. However, despite being part of a mystery/thriller series, this installment falls noticeably short on both fronts.

To be honest, I was left wondering—where was the mystery? Where was the thrill? The plot was so light on suspense that it felt more like reading a cozy holiday romance than a crime story. While the other books in the series were slow-paced at times, they at least delivered genuine intrigue and mystery. This one didn’t. It felt like a departure from the genre entirely, and it’s hard to understand how this fits into a series that's billed as thrillers.

That said, the strongest aspect of this novella is the character development, especially the deepening bond between Molly and Juan. Their relationship is tender and heartwarming, and it was nice to see more of their personal lives explored. Molly, as always, is a beautifully written character. Her perspective as an autistic woman continues to be portrayed with care and depth. She may process the world differently and more slowly at times, but her intelligence, empathy, and observational skills shine through. I genuinely sympathize with her and appreciate how others’ reactions to her are depicted—sometimes kind, sometimes dismissive, but always realistic.

In the end, it was the strong character work and short length that kept me engaged, not the plot. If you’re reading this expecting a twisty mystery or thrilling whodunit, you’ll likely be disappointed. But if you’re here for more time with Molly and a softer, quieter story, it may still be worth the read.

Final rating: 3 stars.


Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

I came across some good quotes in this book, here are some of themsmiley36

You belong where you're loved.

When you assume, you make an A-S-S out of U and ME.

The good thing about bad times is that they pass.

Getting lost is the first step to being found.


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

Are You The One by Kuang Shang Jia Kuang

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

63 pages

  • Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.

Still reading, it's my first Chinese novel ever, and Chinese novels are never ending.smiley36 The FMC in this one had some sort of accident and suffered from serious physical injuries and weakness, including amnesia. Not much has been revealed about her past yet, but apparently the man she is living with might not be her real husband. I'm finding the pace incredibly slow and dull, I don't think I'll be picking up another Chinese novel after this unless this one gets better as it progresses. .

  • Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

-The ancients said one shouldn’t judge people by appearances, lest they incur divine punishment.-

-However, even great beauty would fade one day. How long could one rely on looks alone? As the future principal wife, she should be more broad-minded and not short-sighted like her mother.-


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

The King by Eris Belmont

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

284

  • Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.3 stars

Poor Annalise has been tortured in every way by the king leading to her trauma.smiley19 Physically, emotionally, mentally, sexually.smiley18 This book is not for the faintest of hearts - there is a lot of noncon and graphic violence described in detailed. The first half focuses more on Cyrus and Annalise story while there is not much romance in the second half and it ends on a cliffhanger which is continued in the next book (its a trilogy). I started getting bored in the second half, but the good thing is that this book is plot driven and not just smut. I hope the second book gets more interesting.

  • Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

“You will be the only woman to have the heart and body of the king, Annalise. Freedom is not an option for you. It never has been. Not from the moment I had you.”

“Because I own him, Cyrus. I own his mind. I own his body. I own every part of him. Men are much harder to break than women. They have these ideas in their heads. These years of strength and endurance have made them into hard, strong beings. But once you break them, there is no fixing them back. Dimitri is broken. Beyond broken, if there is a term. And he will never be able to function unless I am giving him purpose. That is how I know I have his loyalty.”

“I don’t want to be here when humanity takes over. I’ve seen their ways of ruling. I am not impressed.”



  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

327

  • Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.

4.5 stars -

She did it again—Freida McFadden had me hooked from the very first chapter! I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know what would happen next. Every chapter ended with a little jolt, keeping me on edge and anticipating the next twist.

One of the things I loved most was how every single character in this story felt suspicious at some point. From Rosalie and Claudia to Rob and Quinn, everyone had their secrets—and thanks to the alternating POVs, we got to peek into their minds and lives. But what made things even more intense was how Nick and Greta remained silent throughout. We never got chapters from their perspectives, which made them the most mysterious and unpredictable characters until the very end.

Trying to figure out who was truly at fault was almost impossible. With each new chapter, my suspicions shifted. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, McFadden would throw in another twist. I especially liked how the Christina Marsh murder mystery was held back until the final stretch—it completely blew my mind when the truth was revealed!

Rosalie’s character surprised me the most. Despite her physical limitations and seeming innocence due to her MS, I kept thinking there had to be more to her story. Her vulnerability made me wary, and I half-expected her to be far more dangerous than she appeared. That tension added so much to the narrative.

While everything did fall into place by the end, I will say that I started to piece together the real culprit just before the final reveal. It didn’t lessen the experience for me, but it did make the ending slightly more predictable than I’d hoped. That said, Do Not Disturb still had me completely gripped from start to finish. It’s a solid 4.5-star read in my book. If I had to compare, I’d say I still liked The Boyfriend a bit better—but this one is definitely a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

  • Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

“When I was younger, before I met Derek, I would hear stories about women stuck in abusive relationships. I never understood why any of them stayed. I thought they were foolish or weak. It never made sense to me until it became my life.”

“I love mirrors,” Greta tells me. “Mirrors are the barrier between the conscious and unconscious mind. Everyone has an inner concept of themselves, but mirrors are reality. What you see right now—that is the truth that everyone else sees.”

“Think about it, Rosalie,” she says. “I can only show you the right path. You must choose to walk it.”


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

108 pages

  • Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.

Not quite done with this book yet, but it's not bad. The FMC hit her head during gym class and forgot 10 crucial years of her life - including her marriage and kids! But instead of the usual serious tone, this story is written in a witty style and it takes a while to get used to it, but I guess it's enjoyable once you do.

  • Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

Alice thought, I could not be mother to a child and not know his name. This is simply not possible. It is beyond the realms of possibility.

I’m too much of a control freak to have other people falling about laughing while they describe my own actions to me.


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

369 pages

  • Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.

3.5 stars

When I picked up Before I Go to Sleep, I was immediately drawn in by its premise. A woman suffering from amnesia wakes up every morning with no memory of who she is or what has happened in her life. Sounds gripping, right? And to be fair, it does start off with a lot of promise — mysterious, unsettling, and deeply intriguing.

But as I kept reading, my excitement started to fizzle out. The book is structured almost entirely through Christine’s journal entries, and after a while, it felt like I was reading the same thing over and over in a slightly different form. It was like the entire story unfolded in flashback, and that took away a lot of the tension for me. I wanted to know what was happening in the present, to feel that urgency and suspense as events unfolded in real time. Instead, I had to wait until the very last chapter to get a true sense of what was going on in the now.

Honestly, I wish the author had taken a different approach. If we’d seen Christine writing the journal entries — struggling to piece things together day by day — and then been brought back into the present to see the consequences or the next puzzle piece falling into place, the narrative could’ve been much more engaging. That constant return to the journal entries made the pacing feel stagnant at times.

That said, the concept itself is definitely interesting. Christine’s unique case of amnesia — brought on by past trauma — gives the story emotional weight and complexity. The twist near the end wasn’t bad (not mind-blowing either), and while it didn’t shock me, it did bring a layer of suspense that helped carry the final stretch of the novel. But then… the book ends on an open note. And that left me frustrated. I wanted answers. Does Christine recover? Does she finally regain control of her life? We’ll never know — and that kind of ambiguous ending just didn’t sit well with me.

I also can’t help but wonder: how did this book become so popular? I mean, it’s not a bad book by any means, but I’m sure there are other thrillers out there with similar themes — and better execution. Maybe it hit a nerve when it was released, but for me, it didn’t quite live up to the hype.

Final Thoughts:
Before I Go to Sleep has an incredibly intriguing premise, and Christine’s condition makes for a compelling psychological exploration. But the repetitive format, slow pacing, and open ending took away from what could have been a truly unforgettable thriller. It’s worth a read if you're curious — just go in knowing that the storytelling style might not be for everyone.


  • Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

"Is it possible to both want and not want something at the same time? For desire to ride with fear?”

“And there it was; my cue to tell him that I loved him too. Men always say I love you as a question.”

“What are we, if not an accumulation of our memories? ”


  • Book (or FF) Title and Author

Reverse by Kate Stewart

  • Page Count (Use Amazon page counts and for FFs use word count divided by 300)

199 pages

  • Review (can be short but it has to highlight how the book/ FF related to the Disability theme.

I am only halfway through the book, but I'm not really enjoying it. In fact, I found the first book overrated too. I only decided to read this one because it's a continuation of that story. Reverse revolves around Natalie, the daughter of Nate, and Easton, the son of Stella and Reid. Their parents were the main characters of Drive, and now the kids are dealing with the trauma of their parents past. Natalie and Easton are falling in love but it's complicated because they are set out to find what happened in the past and why Stella didn't marry Nate. So far the pacing is really slow but I do like the chemistry shared between Easton and Natalie.

  • Quotes from the book (a minimum of 2 quotes)

Another book with some good quotes, it was hard to pick smiley36

“Easton Crowne is not some budding star. He’s a supernova.”

“You’re a little more villain than you think.”

“At this point, I’d settle for watching her watch the world around us or watching her watch me.”

“I am my father’s daughter.

I’m his legacy, and his legacy is my future.”


Total pages = 1512



Edited by heavenlybliss - 22 days ago
WildestDreams thumbnail

PAGETURNER BHIDUS

Posted: 1 months ago
#6

WildestDreams’s July 2025 Page Log (Disability Themed)


1 📖- Death by M. Heard


💟 Page Count 280

💟 Review

Ciara went through unimaginable trauma as she was kidnapped and endured months of abuse and sexual assault before finally escaping and finding safety with Santiago. He was exactly what she needed in those first moments: patient, gentle, and supportive as she began to heal from PTSD,SA trauma.


But what didn’t work for me was how completely attached she became to him during the process. The plot never gave her the space to rediscover herself on her own terms. I would’ve liked to see her take time away from Santiago, not because he wasn’t good for her, but because healing is also about personal growth and finding strength within yourself. Her journey felt too tied to him, and it took away from what could’ve been a more empowering arc.

💟 Quotes from the book

He loved me back to life when I was just an empty shell.


I only want to feel safe, and right now, I actually do


2 📖-Under your scars by Ariel N. anderson


💟 Page Count 480


💟 Review

Without revealing much, read the trigger for this one. From mental illness, to PTSD, to self harm, to suicide thoughts, to SA…there is everything in the mix. It’s a dark tragedy, not romance


💟 Quotes from the book


“ You are my religion and my whole life is dedicated to loving you. That’s what the most loyal disciples do, right? Dedicate their lives to their divine savior.If you never find it in your heart to trust me again—if you never believe another word I say—believe that I love you. My love isn’t perfect, and it isn’t beautiful. It’s broken and scarred and ugly, but all of it is yours. I will always be yours. ”


“You’d start a war for love?”

“For Elena? I wouldn’t just start a war. I’d win it.”


3 📖-Ghost by A. Zavarelli


💟 Page Count 288


💟 Review

ML is deaf which is a big bomb dropped in the book because author doesn’t give any hint of this until it mentioned.

FL Talia is sold into sexual slavery, she suffered unimaginable horrors until she is sold to ML. Mention of suicide, self harm, PTSD, rape.

Ending is so rushed, there isn’t a proper convo between the leads after everything that happens🙃


💟 Quotes from the book


“People cope in different ways.”


“It’s strange,” I tell him honestly.

“What is?” he asks.

“That you can’t hear,” I answer. “And yet, you are the only person who has ever really listened to me.”


4 📖- La solitudine dei numeri primi by Paolo Giordano (Italian)


💟 Page Count 283


💟 Review

Mattia the ML is a self-destructive genius plagued by guilt after leaving his handicapped sister in a park to go to a party.

Alice the FL is anorexic and has a limp after a ski accident when she was a kid.


The thing is, up until the middle, the story wasn't even that bad, but then it never really moved forward, it sort of stopped, and nothing new happened. And this was really evident in the ending, which isn't a real ending and leaves the story incomplete.


💟 Quotes from the book (translated in English)


Mattia thought that he and Alice were like that, twin primes, alone and lost, close but not close enough to really touch each other. He had never told her that. When he imagined confessing these things to her, the thin layer of sweat on his hands evaporated completely and for a good ten minutes he was no longer capable of touching anything


His scars were hidden and safe in her hands


5 📖- Archer’s Voice by Sheridan


💟 Page Count 338


💟 Review

Re-read after ages and still one of my fav book of all time. Man, Archer Hale has my whole heart. A complicated, sad story. A person so alone suddenly finds himself the center of attention of a sweet and bubbly girl like Bree. I felt so sad for Archer; I could have walked into the book and hugged him, comforted him, and said, "I'm here, I'm your friend."



💟 Quotes from the book


“the loudest words are the ones we live.” My WA status since I read the book the first time.


"And sometimes, that's all it takes-one person who's willing to listen to your heart, to the sound no one else has ever tried to hear."


6 📖- Out on a limb by Hannah Bonam- Young


💟 Page Count 408


💟 Review

I was amazed by how the author managed to construct a sweet romance in which the love between the two grew linearly and without sudden accelerations.

Win is a woman who has had to struggle her entire life with her diversity and the challenges that entails. She knows what it means to fight to prove she can live up to the low expectations the world has for her, and despite this, she ultimately succeeded (with some ups and downs) thanks also to the love and support of her mother, her best friend/cousin/sister Sarah, and Marcie.

Bo, on the other hand, is a man who, with his affable and caring smile, has faced the blows life has dealt him over the years, but despite everything, his smile has not faded and his kindness has not been dented. A very sweet story of growth, acceptance and believing in yourself.


💟 Quotes from the book

It’s so much easier to communicate insecurities when you don’t need to communicate them at all. Isn’t that all we ever want? To be seen and heard? Validated, even when we’re not able to ask for it.


I stopped hiding parts of myself away.



7/8 📖- Figlia della cenere and Madre d’ossa by Ilaria Tuti


💟 Page Count 363 and 382


💟 Review


The two books A wonderful book, which delves into Teresa's life and opens our eyes to her fragilities and her way of being. commissioner Teresa has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I found the time jumps a bit excessive, even if interesting in the first book.


💟 Quotes from book


To feel the pain of others, sometimes you have to bring your own back to life, like a ghost that still has the power to wrinkle the skin.


We are all victims of someone, and at least once in our lives, we have all been someone’s executioner. Some manage to save themselves, or find someone to save them. Others succumb.



9 📖- Vanquish by Pam Godwin


💟 Page Count 359


💟 Review


FL Amber has agoraphobia,OCD, with eating disorder. Van is the cold, messed up, sadistic ML. Together they help each other in ways that are far from conventional.


💟 Quotes from book


He was a cold-hearted *** with an appetite for blood, come, and tears. And he had the perfect girl to feed it.



’He was her mirror in a way. They both carried a million cracks beneath the skin. Even under the stark light of the fluorescents, it was hard to see which of them was more broken. But for the first time, she felt like she had to vanquish her mental illness not for herself but for someone else. Because she was broken with him, and if she fixed herself, maybe she could make him a little less broken, too.’


Edited by WildestDreams - 22 days ago
missFiesty_69 thumbnail

BOOKAHOLIC YAARS

Posted: 1 months ago
#7

missFiesty_69's July '25 page logs

( Disability themed )

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Book Title / Author : Tameron - Nora Phoenix

Page Count : 306

Review:

One of the MMCs is deaf due to a blast from an explosion during his military service. He’s having a hard time adjusting to learning ASL and transitioning from someone who could hear to someone who has to depend on sign language for the rest of his life.

Tameron’s behavior gets under your skin sometimes because he is unnecessarily rude to Dayton, with a lot of preconceived notions. I felt most of it was unwarranted, especially since Dayton is incredibly patient and understanding. Honestly, Dayton is an amazing guy, and at times it felt like he deserved a better partner—someone who truly appreciated his kind nature.

The pacing is slow, but the book explores in depth how difficult it is for someone to accept a disability after having had full use of their body. It’s not just about romance; it’s about loss, acceptance, and the struggle to rebuild your life after everything changes.

Quotes from the Book :

"You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love. You just have to be.”

“He hadn’t known silence could be kind, but in his presence, it was.”

"You're not perfect, Tam, but neither am I. We're perfect for each other."

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Book Title / Author: A Lady For a Duke - Alexis Hall

Page Count : 481 pages

Review :

This is a brilliant book, honestly. It explores disability through Gracewood, one of the MCs, who is an amputee from the war and suffers from PTSD. But it also goes deeper—into what it means to find yourself after being lost to the world. Viola, a trans woman, struggles with impostor syndrome and the need to belong in a world that doesn’t always make space for her.

What struck me most is how well-written both the main characters are. I genuinely loved them both. Viola is not your everyday heroine—she’s forthright, complex, and sometimes stubborn to a fault. Her dynamic with Gracewood (the Duke) is slow, aching, and so incredibly real. He’s grieving what he thinks he lost, while slowly beginning to see who Viola has become—and realizing he’s loved her all along.

One of my favourite parts of the book was Gracewood’s emotional growth. No one had to explain Viola to him. He loved her enough to put himself in her position and, through that, came to understand her choices. That level of empathy hit hard.

The book is full of hard conversations—about gender, grief, disability, trauma, and love—and Alexis Hall doesn’t shy away from any of it. It’s also worth noting that Viola takes the lead in physical intimacy, which could be a trigger point for some readers. But for me, it was empowering to see her take agency on her own terms.

This is one of the best historical romances I’ve ever read—not just for the romance, but for how deeply human it is.

Quotes from the Book :

“You are not a ghost of someone I once knew. You are the woman I have always loved, even before I understood.”

“It is not kindness to pretend someone does not exist simply because it makes the world easier for you to understand.”

“Love isn’t diminished by change. It is tested by it. And if it’s true—it endures.”

“You are not difficult to love. You are difficult to unlove.”

“There is no honour in denying yourself happiness. Only loneliness.”

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Book Title / Author : The Year We Fell Down - Sarina Bowen

Pages : 274 pages

Review :

It's an okay-ish kind of book. Corey, the FMC, has recently become disabled due to a hockey injury. Hartley, the MMC, has suffered fractures in two places, so he's currently using crutches. Their camaraderie, banter, and friendship are fun, not gonna lie. I would have preferred less self-deprecating humor, though—definitely less use of the term "gimp." I'm not a fan of the whole fooling around with someone despite having a girlfriend, no matter how awful the relationship may be. The story is about Corey adapting to her new "normal." Hartley doesn’t baby her and encourages her, which I liked. The supporting characters were also lovely. One of the good things about the story is that it doesn’t minimize her independence or her identity as a young woman with ambition and a healthy sense of sexuality. A one-time read.

Quotes from the Book :

“I didn’t need legs to stand tall.”

“People don’t change who they are at their core, even if they’ve had a life-altering accident.”

“Maybe the things that hurt us most are also the things that make us who we are.”

“I didn’t want to be someone’s ‘brave choice.’ I wanted to be their first choice.”

“But hope is tricky. She sneaks up on you even in unpredictable locations.”

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Book Title / Author : Act your age, Eve Brown - Talia Hilbert

Pages : 403 pages

Review :

This book is what we call a true rom-com, pure sunshine and chaos personified. One thing I love is, the story, nor anyone is trying to fix her. She makes her own mould, and it was refreshing to read. She is fiercely kind and chaotic, a total contrast to Jacob's personality. He's a grump, a serious guy and she brings total chaos to his order. Their enemies-to-lovers banter is hilarious to read, but it is also aww-worthy, sometimes soft. The way their relationship builds is so satisfying—slow, awkward, intense, and then completely swoon-worthy. It is messy, awkward yet lovable. I love how Talia represented Eve's neuro-divergence here, like she's not broken or some one who needs to be fixed or conformed to a mould. She is just different than the rest and the story allows her to be herself. Adorable, hilarious, and sneakily profound. I loved every page.

Quotes from the Book :

You are extraordinarily aggravating and wholly wonderful.”
“She was chaos in motion. And he loved her for it.”

“Being loved by you feels like being wrapped in sunlight.”

“She didn’t need to change herself. She just needed someone who saw her clearly.”

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Book Title / Author : Always Only You by Chloe Liese

Pages : 383 pages

Review :

Frankie, the FMC is autistic and suffers from chronic rheumatoid arthritis. There's a switch which is refreshing because its a cinnamon roll MMC vs a sharp, guarded FMC. She is strong and resilient, he is soft and patient, and just about madly smitten. The disability and neuro-divergence is explored sensitively and it does not feel like a plot device most of the times. The pacing seemed a bit dragged, I felt the falling in love could have been a little more, and sometimes Ren feels too good to be true but nevertheless, the story is emotional and romantic, most importantly does not try to fix the characters, or at any point wants you to pity them. Frankie's emotional upheavels, her need for space is explored sensitively. A good read all in all!

Quotes from the Book :

“I am not broken. I am different. And different isn’t a flaw.”

“You deserve someone who doesn’t flinch when you show them the cracks.”

“When the world feels like too much, you’re my quiet.”

“He didn’t want to fix me. He just wanted to stand beside me.”

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Book Title / Author : The Blue Monsoon by Damyanti Biswas

Pages : 394 pages

Review : The book's main character's wife, Tara is disabled because of a bullet lodged in her spine. The primary focus of the book is mystery/ thriller and poltics at play but it mentions Tara's challenges in trying to adapt to her conditions.

Quotes from the book :

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Book Title / Author : The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

Pages : 480 pages

Review :

The MMC suffers from PTSD and survivor guilt. Ella gets her brother Ryan's letter after his death. It's basically a tragedy fest though some parts of the book makes you feel it's worth it, namely Beckett and Ella's relationship. The tail end of the book gives you a shock, and not of the good variety. It could have been a decent read save for that one

Quotes from the Book :

We can either breathe through the pain or we can let it shape us.

Love – when it was right – was enough to save you. Beckett taught me that every single day. And ours was more than enough. And so was I.

You’re free to choose, but you’re not free of the consequences of your choice.

Sometimes you have to leave so you can know what it is you left. You don’t really value something until you’ve lost it.

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Book Title / Author : Soul Deep by Pamela Clare

Pages : 210

Review :

Janet, the FMC suffered from a sniper's bullet & has mobility issues, PTSD and chronic pain.

This is one book that gets representation of disablity right. Jack doesn't see her as "broken" but rather as a strong woman who has been through a traumatic experience. A significant part of the book goes in Janet adapting to her new normal and Jack helping her, including her sexuality ( her pelvis, vaginal muscles are also affected because of the bullet ). The story shows her struggle, her vulnerability, and her incredible strength in a realistic way, with Jack's support being a key element of her healing process. There's a huge gap between the leads & it's a like a second shot at romance. Both the leads are people you would root for, so it's a good read.

Quotes from the Book :

What I’m saying is that you’ll find a man who loves you like that—a man who loves and respects you because of your courage, not despite your injury and the physical challenges you face.”

Sliding off the highway was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” “You didn’t know it, angel, but you were coming home.

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Book Title / Author : Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young

Pages : 408 pages

Review :

Winifred, the FMC has limb difference ( hands ).

I absolutely loved this book! It has everything—humor, banter, chemistry, and romance. Win is a strong, independent, and witty character. She's faced challenges her whole life and knows what it feels like to be different. Bo is an absolute sweetheart. He’s been through a lot, seen many lows, but none of it has made him disillusioned. He’s always ready with a smile and is incredibly sweet! Honestly, he’s one of the best MMCs I’ve read about. He’s incredibly supportive and never views Winnie’s disability as something to be pitied or seen as a limitation, nor does he coddle her. It’s not that he pretends it doesn’t exist; rather, he loves her for who she is, and that’s truly refreshing.

It’s a total slow burn. He respects her boundaries and gives the time and space needed for their feelings to develop. The other characters in the book are just as charming. Sarah, Caleb, Bo's dad, and the support group members are all lovely and add to the story. It would have been a 6-star read for me, barring one thing that didn’t quite sit right with me. I understand that financial independence is important, but it shouldn’t be an estimation of a person’s worth or character. Win’s need for financial independence was clear, but I felt it could have been written more thoughtfully. There's no such thing as a "kept woman." At one point, Bo retires to be a full-time dad, and that doesn’t make him useless. That aspect struck me the wrong way.

Barring this one minor issue, it’s an amazing book, and I’m glad I read it for Disability Awareness Month.

Quotes from the Book :

You are my soul’s purpose, Win. To know you, to love you, to build a family with you, to spend every day taking care of you, to watch you shine and get all the good things you deserve out of this life.

It’s so much easier to communicate insecurities when you don’t need to communicate them at all. Isn’t that all we ever want? To be seen and heard? Validated, even when we’re not able to ask for it.

Perhaps that’s all Bo and I are. Two people leaving behind the worst, looking forward to the good to come.

You can’t change anything by hiding it. You’ll just look back on memories and realise you tried to erase yourself. And how sad that would be.

I, like most women my age, have learned to hate myself just enough to appease others.

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Edited by missFiesty_69 - 21 days ago
oh_nakhrewaali thumbnail
Posted: 1 months ago
#8

Book #1

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author: How the Grinch Stole My Heart ---- Annabelle Costa

  • Page Count: 307

  • Review: The book is about Jeremy who suffers from a stroke and hiss right side is paralyzed falling in love with his neighbour. It's cute, kinda funny and with a good flow. The struggles, emotional, physical that Jeremy has to go through feel real because the author really did a good job writing a disabled character seeking love and not just him being her token lead who always needs to be the victim and can't be a jerk that strays from the narrative.

  • Quotes from the book:

"That’s the problem with essentially being a shut-in—I don’t know my neighbors. Actually, it’s less of a problem and more of a fringe benefit."

"I’ll see you around. In the elevator. The mailroom. Incinerator room."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Book #2

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author: Always Only You (Bergman Brothers, #2) ---- Chloe Liese

  • Page Count : 383

  • Review: It's a sweet, hot story about a autistic woman with from arthritis in an office forbidden romance with her colleagues. The book feels real because the story is derived from the author's friends, but sometimes it feels a drag. But still, a good read for a slow day. I kinda liked that the author gave the ML some experience with people on the spectrum and had a war veteran with an injury (and hence needed prosthetic) who was vocal of dreaming a ""normal"" life

  • Quotes from the book

"Books are patient with me. They don’t laugh at me instead of with me."

"Show people who you really are, and you get the absolute thrill of knowing they love you for you."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Book #3

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author: The Time Traveler’s Boyfriend ---- Annabelle Costa

  • Page Count: 330

  • Review: It's a good, fast paced, fun read about Claudia dating an inventor who is paralyzed waist down and wants to fix the accident that caused the paralysis. While his disability isnt the center of the story, it still has its effects on the two relationships in Adam's lives that are basically the plot of the book.

  • Quotes from the book:

"When you’re in love with someone, they could be pretty much talking about anything and you’d be fascinated"

"I can just see us at seventy years old, me still bringing him my futuristic computer when I’ve got a virus and he needs to get rid of it. And then I fix the buttons on his shirt with one of my arthritic hands, and bat away the hot young forty-year-olds with the other."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Book #4

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author: Blind Spot ---- Laura Ellen
  • Page Count: 336
  • Review: The book is about Roz, a teenager who is legally blind. Through her, the story explores the offhanded way people can be rude to disability and her own issues while accepting and dealing with her condition. The thriller part of was meh, too ITVish and half the time Roz herself was the most annoying character of the story because she left red flags fly.
  • Quotes from the book:

"Self-sufficient, however, does not mean doing everything by yourself. To succeed, you must stand up for yourself, and that includes asking for help when you need it"

"Truth is like that too. It isn’t necessarily universal. Sometimes what we see, what seems real, isn’t real at all."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Book #5

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author: Out on a limb ---- Hannah Bonam-Young ---- 408

  • Page Count: 307

  • Review: Win, who has a limb difference, gets pregnant with Bo who wears prosthesis on one leg. The best ok is a cute, sometimes hot read with funny dialogues. But sometimes it can get a little patience testing or maybe it's for someone who is very much into romcom, fluff.

  • Quotes from the book:

"I, like most women my age, have learned to hate myself just enough to appease others. If you’re too fond of how you look, you’re told you’ll be unlikeable. Labelled as self-involved, egotistical, or stuck-up. But it’s purposeful—pinning us against one another. Consumerism demands we remain unsatisfied with our appearance. If we all liked ourselves, dozens of industries would crumble like Babylon. We have to want a solution to whatever or however many problems plague us in order to keep those factories running. To keep money in men’s pockets."

"Maybe what we lack in limbs, we make up for in enthusiasm and wits."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Book #6

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author: The Blue Monsoon (Blue Mumbai Thriller Book 2) ---- Damyanti Biswas

  • Page Count : 394

  • Review: The book mainly revolves around murders and the two officers investigating them, but Tara, one of the officer's wife, also gets focus and is the third main character. She is wheelchair bound and pregnant, and through her, the author explores how sometimes people with disability can feel a sense of incompleteness. It's a good murder mystery with focus of people from lower castes, women, transgenders, people with disability suffering in India and glimpses of how system fails them.

  • Quotes from the book

"Humans could be the most kind creatures, and also the most cruel."

"She got into her jeep and drove off into the brilliant afternoon—her mind a blank other than the determination to find her own path. As a woman, and a police officer."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Book #6

  • Book (or FF) Title and Author: The Cutting Edge (Lincoln Rhyme, #14) ---- Jeffery Deaver ---- 449

  • Page Count : 449

  • Review: The story follows Lincon Rhyme, a quadriplegic NYPD consultant and his wife Amelia as they solve a robbery and a triple murder. Though there are some glimpses of how the disability has affected his and his mates' work-life, the story is more about the case. I don't know why, but this book felt hella long, even though it's a good story. Maybe it's for someone with a little more patience, but I feel the author sometimes lost himself in his own creation and it's kinda annoying.

  • Quotes from the book:

"You can never trust anybody when they answer a question with a question."

"But funny how subjective tragedy is, of course."

Edited by oh_nakhrewaali - 22 days ago
Minionite thumbnail

Thriller Titans

Posted: 1 months ago
#9

The Cutting Edge | Jeffery Deaver | 541 pages

Overall a mystery themed novel with a quadriplegic former forensic specialist as the main character solving a brutal triple murder. The novel is good, but slow at some points. Overall, it could have been a bit shorter to keep the suspense factor.

Rating - 3 out of 5

"Rhyme was presently watching Mel Cooper process the jacket discarded by Unsub 47 in the storm drains in Queens."

"But Lincoln Rhyme was used to being challenged by smart perps. He thought about the most brilliant one he'd been up against: Charles Vespasian Hale, known by the nickname "the Watchmaker".


One Foot in the Grave | Peter Dickinson | 377 pages

A little slow but it was a shorter read so I still went through it. This is a highly rated book but I didn't really see it.

Rating - 3 out of 5

"Unable to perform the mind swap into the preferable horrors of delirium, Pibble refused to contemplate these dreary truths."

"With Jenny pushing the empty chair, they moved slowly, slantwise along the path across the shallow slope of lawn that spread down from the front of the house to the ha-ha."

Edited by Minionite - 1 months ago
GumnaamHaiKoii thumbnail

LEXOPHILE DOSTS

Posted: 1 months ago
#10

1. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Page Count: 320 pages
Review:
It’s an easy, accessible read with genuine moments of warmth, but it doesn’t always dig as deep as it could emotionally, especially considering the weight of its subject. But it’s understandable, given that it’s aimed at a younger audience and can’t go too dark. I liked it; it’s emotionally engaging, especially because of Auggie’s voice, which is so innocent, self-aware, and quietly courageous. The inclusion of other POVs surprisingly didn’t undermine the story but instead added value and gave a fuller picture of how Auggie impacts those around him. Overall, a good read if you're looking for a lighter, heartfelt starting point for the theme.

Quotes:

“The things we do outlast our mortality. The things we do are like monuments that people build to honor heroes after they've died. They're like the pyramids that the Egyptians built to honor the pharaohs. Only instead of being made of stone, they're made out of the memories people have of you.”

“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”


2. Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

Page Count: 336 pages
Review:
The book starts strong with Parker’s distinct voice and setup, but the pacing lags in the middle. It occasionally shifts into typical high school drama without clear narrative momentum. At times, it felt a bit aimless — possibly because several supporting characters (especially classmates and romantic interests) feel underdeveloped, and the second-chance romance was pretty rushed.


Quotes :

“That's what love is, Marissa. It's not magic or voodoo. It's real. You can explain it. I can tell you exactly why I love Sarah”

I don’t want your pity, I want your honesty. I want you to say the truth, that it’s awkward sometimes, and that’s okay.”

"I realize now that being different isn’t what makes you special. It’s the way you see the world. And the way you see the world makes all the difference in how you live in it."

“I’m not stupid. I just can't read."





3. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Page count:

Review :This is a touching, well-written book about a young girl’s journey toward self-acceptance. While it might feel a bit predictable for adult readers and has some clichés like the typical mean girl classmates, it’s a perfect fit for middle-grade readers or anyone looking for a lighter, heartfelt story about dyslexia. It’s similar to Wonder by Palacio, but I liked this book’s flow better, maybe because it’s not juggling multiple POVs. Nonetheless, I got some serious Taare Zameen Parvibes from it! It was a great read for me, especially since I wasn’t in the mood for something too heavy this month — this book hit just right. Plus, the young girl’s struggles and growth were surprisingly relatable, sometimes even tapping into that inner child of mine.

Quotes :

“Well… alone is a way to be. …But being lonely is never a choice. …the worst kind of lonely is when you’re in a room full of people, but you’re still alone.”



“People act like the words 'slow reader' tell them everything that’s inside. Like I’m a can of soup and they can just read the list of ingredients and know everything about me… There’s got to be more to me than just a kid who can’t read well.”

“Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is ask for help.”


Edited by GumnaamHaiKoii - 21 days ago

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