Reviews

I enjoyed this collection of short stories. I LOVE when I read a book of short stories and the stories are connected in some way. That’s one of the greatest strengths of the book. One of the challenges was sometimes it was difficult to discern the authors voices from one another, which can sometimes happen on anthologies, but was a shame because I do think Thomas, Yoon, and Jackson all have distinct voices that I rather enjoy that weren’t as strong or maybe as clear as they are in their own works. I’m not sure if that was a challenge of writing a short story or the effort to make it a cohesive piece. Anyways I think each short story was interesting, well written, and felt complete/satisfactory in the end. It’s more of a 3.5 only because I’m not sure how memorable it will be for me by the end of the year as I wasn’t really changed or impacted by any of the stories, they were all just nice to read. A nice collection and recommendation in the young adult romance/short story realm.

jeisel's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I went into this blind but I guess I thought with 6 authors collaborating on one book, it would be better than it was. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, there was really no point to this book at all. I mean the separate stories were cute i guess but when they all got where they were intended to go it just ended.

There’s an audience for every book but I was not it for this one.

midnightmarauder's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Blackout is a collection of short stories written by a multitude of black female authors, including Nicola Yoon, Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, Ashley Woodfolk, Nic Stone, and Tiffany D. Jackson. The book follows a group of different characters in New York City as they navigate being stuck in a blackout.

There are six stories that make up the novel, each with characters who are trying to get to a block party in Brooklyn. The following stories are:

A Long Walk by Tiffany D. Jackson, which follows two exes who find themselves battling for the same job position. This story is the central story of the novel.
Mask Off by Nic Stone, which follows a bi teenage boy trying to explore his sexuality through an underground masquerade party.
Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk, that follows a girl who longs for a relationship, and unexpectedly meets the perfect girl who fits her dreams.
All the Great Love Stories... and Dust by Dhonielle Clayton, that follows two best friends stuck in a library during the blackout. One of them has a crush on the other and struggles to tell them.
No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas that follows a group of southern high school students who find themselves stuck in the blackout while on their way to New York for a school trip. One of the characters is caught in a love triangle between her boyfriend and his friend, and spends the story trying to decide what she wants.
Seymour and Grace by Nicola Yoon, which follows a Grace, a passenger in a Ryde (a fictionalized version of Lyft), and Seymour, her driver, who walk to the block party together after his car runs out of gas.

I enjoyed this novel so much! My personal favorite stories had to be Made to Fit and Mask Off. I love anything that includes lesbian/gay characters, and I felt that both Nic and Ashley handled the portrayal of being a gay/bi teenager very well.

Content Warnings

jennnafziger's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a sweet love story, weaving together the stories of several different couples over the course of one night. It feels a bit like the movies from the early 2000’s (Love Actually, Valentine’s Day, etc.) It’s an enjoyable quick read, featuring short stories from notable YA authors.

majorharris162's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this book! I love how every story is interwoven throughout the book for example a character may mention another one that doesn’t show up until three chapters later. My favorite stories where Nicola Yoon’s (obviously) and Dhonielle Clayton’s by far. Overall really fun and good book.

rootyjoh's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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