Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Liz Buxbaum has always known that Wes Bennett was not boyfriend material. You would think that her next-door neighbour would be a prince candidate for her romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only proven himself to be a pain in the butt, ever since they were little. Wes was the kid who put a frog in her Barbie Dreamhouse, the monster who hid a lawn gnome’s severed head in her little homemade neighbourhood book exchange. Flash forward ten years from the Great Gnome Decapitation. It’s Liz’s senior year… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Alcohol consumption
  • Smoking
  • Emesis
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother in a car accident mentioned
  • Bullying
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The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

Three years ago, Madison Culver disappeared when her family was choosing a Christmas tree in Oregon’s Skookum National Forest. She would be eight years old now—if she has survived. Desperate to find their beloved daughter, certain someone took her, the Culvers turn to Naomi, a private investigator with an uncanny talent for locating the lost and missing. Known to the police and a select group of parents as “the Child Finder,” Naomi is their last hope. Naomi’s methodical search takes her deep into the icy, mysterious forest in the Pacific Northwest, and into her own fragmented past. She understands children like… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Antiziganism (g slur)
  • Incest (foster siblings)
  • Paedophilia, child sexual assault and rape (theme)
  • Child abuse and neglect
  • Foster care system experiences recounted
  • Amnesia and memory loss
  • Dissociation
  • Blood and gore depiction
  • Physical injuries mentioned, including the loss of an arm in an explosion while deployed
  • Death of a foster mother, off-page and discussed
  • Death of a wife from cancer mentioned
  • Death of a wife from suicide mentioned
  • Accidental infanticide
  • Murder by stabbing, on-page
  • Physical assault
  • Kidnapping and captivity of a child
  • Incarceration
  • Graphic animal death and hunting
  • Animal dead bodies and butchery, on-page

Context : The story follows a private investigator trying to find a missing child. The book is told from her POV, the missing child, and the predator who kidnapped and held the child captive. While there are no on-page scenes of sexual violence, it is clear that the captor sexually abuses and rapes the child. It is vaguely mentioned through metaphors and lyrical writing from the child’s perspective; as well as mentions of pain and blood on her legs. The predator was also raped by his captor as a child. Again, there are no on-page scenes of this.

A secondary character leaves her baby in their stroller on a bus that is parked in storage. It is unclear how the baby dies but the protagonist finds his body (off-page, no descriptions).

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Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody

Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—and her reputation—behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted. Frightened and alone, Enne has only one lead: the name Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—he’s a street lord and a con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unravelling investment scam, so he doesn’t have time to investigate… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Paedophilia
  • Gambling & mentions of past substance addiction
  • Blood & injury depiction including burns
  • Death of a mother
  • Death of a friend in a fire
  • Murder & regicide (on-page)
  • Torture
  • Physical assault
  • Poisoning
  • Bullying

Abel by Katee Robert

Abel by Katee Robert

Eight years ago, my family was betrayed by those closest to us. Now we’re back in Sabine Valley, staging our return during the feast of Lammas, where I step into the ring and ensure we’re given what we’re owed. Who we’re owed. Our enemies send their seven best warriors against me. With each victory, I win a Bride for each of my brothers. And for me? I’m saving the best for last. My Bride is Harlow, the woman claimed by the man I used to call friend—the one responsible for our exile. Eli. And if Eli has a problem with it? Well, then I’ll take him as my Bride, too. All the better to enact my revenge…and bring Sabine Valley to its knees.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Child abuse recounted
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Injury requiring surgery (gunshot wound)
  • Death of a mother from cancer mentioned
  • Murder of a father recounted
  • Gun violence
  • Mass death in an arson fire mentioned

The Little Wave by Pip Harry

The Little Wave by Pip Harry

When a Manly school sets out to bring a country class to the city for a beach visit, three very different kids find each other and themselves. Noah is fearless in the surf. Being at the beach makes him feel free. So where does his courage go when his best mate pushes him around? Lottie loves collecting facts about bugs, but she wishes her dad would stop filling their lonely house with junk. She doesn’t know what to do about it. Jack wants to be a cricket star, but first he has to get to school and look after his little sister. Especially if he wants to go on the class trip and see the ocean for the first time.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Parent with Hoarding Disorder
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother & wife recounted
  • Near-drowning recounted
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The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Yoko Tanaka

What if? Why not? Could it be? When a fortuneteller’s tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller’s mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Physical injury
  • Death of a mother in childbirth recounted
  • Death of a father during military service recounted
  • Explosion mentioned
  • Animal illness & injury
  • Animal attack
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Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia Manansala

Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

Things are heating up for Lila Macapagal. Not in her love life, which she insists on keeping nonexistent despite the attention of two very eligible bachelors. Or her professional life, since she can’t bring herself to open her new cafe after the unpleasantness that occurred a few months ago at her aunt’s Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie’s Kitchen. No, things are heating up quite literally, since summer, her least favourite season, has just started. Things are heating up for Lila Macapagal. Not in her love life, which she insists on keeping nonexistent despite the attention… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Fatmisia
  • Sexism
  • Coming out scene
  • Anxiety & panic attacks, on-page
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Dead body
  • Emesis
  • Death of a mother recounted
  • Murder
  • Hostage situation
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Hold Back the Tide by Melinda Salisbury

Hold Back the Tide by Melinda Salisbury

Everyone knows what happened to Alva’s mother, all those years ago. But when dark forces begin to stir in Ormscaula, Alva has to face a very different future – and question everything she thought she knew about her past…

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Death of a mother
  • Death of a friend
  • Gun violence
  • Animal death
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Thirsty by Mia Hopkins

Thirsty by Mia Hopkins

My name is Salvador Rosas. Back in the barrio, my past is written on the walls: ESHB. Short for East Side Hollenbeck, my father’s gang—my gang. Hell, it’s a family tradition, one that sent both my brothers away. They used to call me “Ghost” because I haunted people’s dreams. Now I’ve got nothing going for me except a hipster gringo mentoring me in a new career. An ex-con making craft beer? No names. Still, people in this neighbourhood look out for one another. That’s how I became Vanessa Velasco’s unwelcome tenant. Chiquita pero picosa. She’s little, but with curves so sweet they’re dangerous. I remember… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Recreational drug use
  • Blood & injury depiction
  • Hospital
  • Death of a mother in a car accident recounted
  • Death of a sister
  • Gang violence
  • Bombing
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Crossbones by Kimberly Vale

Crossbones by Kimberly Vale

The Blood Bell tolls, marking the death of the pirate king and the start of the Trials—a heart-stopping competition where the reward is the Bone Crown. Only one contender can claim the coveted island throne; each will gamble life and limb to win. Csilla Abado yearns to prove her strength to the seasoned pirates who balk at her youth and to her elder sister who has always craved Csilla’s captainship. She will risk everything to become the first pirate queen, no matter the cost. Kane Blackwater wants to leave… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother, on-page and recounted
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Eye trauma & loss of vision
  • Murder
  • Torture
  • Explosion
  • Drowning
  • Fire
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