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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let’s make it clear: I loved this with my whole heart. There is just something about Johnson’s writing that… gets me? I don’t know what it is, but it seems like her words hit me in a different way, like they get a different meaning in the way she forms her phrases. It’s a very weird and partial feeling, but one that also made me feel like coming home when I didn’t expect it. I will devour everything she writes and she is without doubt one of my favourite writers. This book just confirmed the fact that I was already having those feelings after YSSMIAC.
The Black teen rom com we NEEDED! Leah Johnson already stole my heart with You Should see me in a Crown, and kept me glued to my seat with Rise to the Sun. This was so light hearted and just the escape I needed for a camping weekend. The details she gave about the stolen looks, the hesitations…….all so adorable. I can’t wait for the next one! I’m definitely hitting up my next music concert just because of this book!
Full review on Nerds & Beyond: https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2021/07/06/rise-to-the-sun-review-leah-johnson/
Leah Johnson's sophomore novel does not disappoint! She writes beautiful heartfelt queer Black girl YA romances that deserve a place in every high school library. The dedication says it all, "To the Black girls who have been told they're too much and to the ones who don't believe they're enough: You are the world's most beautiful song."
While it wasn't You Should See Me In A Crown, I still thought this book was wonderful and I loved the two protagonists. I understand others' critiques, but they overall didn't bother me. Maybe because I might relate a little too much with Olivia
"Some people are the ones who get left, and some people are the ones who do the leaving."
I absolutely adore Leah's writing and enjoyed this book as much as her last one, You Should See Me in a Crown. Leah is easily an auto-buy author of mine!
If there's one thing that Leah is superior at, it's creating fantastic character arcs and development. While I love the characters on their own, watching the growth they go through is always a journey full of great life lessons and advice great for any age reader. I was captivated by both Toni and Olivia's story from the very beginning and how even as polar opposites, they found common ground together.
The only thing that prevented this from being a 5-star read for me was the insanely fast insta-love trope. The trope in itself irritates me, but when characters go from complete strangers to essentially ready to use the word "love" with each other within 72 hours, it kinda deters me a little bit. With Toni being as closed off as she is, it felt a little out of character, especially for someone whose character wasn't as versed with crushes and romantic relationships as Olivia. I would've liked the story more if the romance was dragged out a little more.
This book is certainly one you should look trigger warnings up for. It has parental loss, anxiety attacks, gun violence, and nonconsensual photo sharing with the latter two being extremely sensitive in today's climate in the United States. In fact, there is a quote that is painfully true. "These days, the danger of just being alive and in public is practically as American as fireworks on the Fourth or apple pie or voter suppression." How's that for a painful truth us Americans experience day in and day out?
Overall, you can't go wrong with a Leah Johnson book. With sapphic characters and phenomenal writing, I loved this book and will certainly recommend it to everyone.
I absolutely adore Leah's writing and enjoyed this book as much as her last one, You Should See Me in a Crown. Leah is easily an auto-buy author of mine!
If there's one thing that Leah is superior at, it's creating fantastic character arcs and development. While I love the characters on their own, watching the growth they go through is always a journey full of great life lessons and advice great for any age reader. I was captivated by both Toni and Olivia's story from the very beginning and how even as polar opposites, they found common ground together.
The only thing that prevented this from being a 5-star read for me was the insanely fast insta-love trope. The trope in itself irritates me, but when characters go from complete strangers to essentially ready to use the word "love" with each other within 72 hours, it kinda deters me a little bit. With Toni being as closed off as she is, it felt a little out of character, especially for someone whose character wasn't as versed with crushes and romantic relationships as Olivia. I would've liked the story more if the romance was dragged out a little more.
This book is certainly one you should look trigger warnings up for. It has parental loss, anxiety attacks, gun violence, and nonconsensual photo sharing with the latter two being extremely sensitive in today's climate in the United States. In fact, there is a quote that is painfully true. "These days, the danger of just being alive and in public is practically as American as fireworks on the Fourth or apple pie or voter suppression." How's that for a painful truth us Americans experience day in and day out?
Overall, you can't go wrong with a Leah Johnson book. With sapphic characters and phenomenal writing, I loved this book and will certainly recommend it to everyone.
I enjoyed this book, but somehow it didnt hit the mark for me. Maybe i just wanted more. But overall this was very adorable and brought back music festival feelings I never really experienced.
This book was amazing!!! It definitely made me miss going to concerts. I loved the love story between Olivia and Toni who were trying to find themselves and not only found that but each other. Peter was the perfect himbo and I loved him. Imani reminded me a little bit of myself and I realize that like me she's a Capricorn. Overall this was a great story and Leah Johnson has done it again.