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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
First, I want to say as a Native/Chickasaw reader this was such a powerful experience of seeing a character not only look like me but be from my culture and community be represented in a mainstream traditionally published romance book. Like WOW. Yakoke (thank you) to not only the author but everyone who made this a possibility because it means something so beyond words to have this be part of the reading world I have loved for most of my life.
Second, this story is so beautiful in its discussion of culture, community, authenticity and the struggles many natives face navigating the balance between our community and urban life. There is also a struggle of trying to remain true to yourself by representing your culture while also walking into spaces native/indigenous have not always been welcome. Dealing with comments and micro-aggressions that are not always noticed by others - along with the never ending stereotypical and sometimes uneducated questions we can receive sometimes from those outside our community.
And finally, Ember - my sweet girl- had me stressing for her because like I kept saying out loud "oh no" every time she decided to just keep spinning her lying web into more intricate knots and tangles. Truly her level of craftsmanship would make grandmother spider proud. Then we get the lovable Danuwoa who was such a fun love interest, "Native Daddy" had me rolling! But he also didn't let Ember get away with her BS, he called her out when he needed and also let her know he was onto her trickery from the very beginning. Their sibling relationships were also a fun dynamic, with Ember having to deal with all of her little brother Sage's past actions and their affect on her life. And for the true star - Walela, Dan's little sister and the princess of our hearts. I could not get enough of her sweet joy.
This felt like a love letter to Native/Indigenous people and I couldn't ask for more.
Second, this story is so beautiful in its discussion of culture, community, authenticity and the struggles many natives face navigating the balance between our community and urban life. There is also a struggle of trying to remain true to yourself by representing your culture while also walking into spaces native/indigenous have not always been welcome. Dealing with comments and micro-aggressions that are not always noticed by others - along with the never ending stereotypical and sometimes uneducated questions we can receive sometimes from those outside our community.
And finally, Ember - my sweet girl- had me stressing for her because like I kept saying out loud "oh no" every time she decided to just keep spinning her lying web into more intricate knots and tangles. Truly her level of craftsmanship would make grandmother spider proud. Then we get the lovable Danuwoa who was such a fun love interest, "Native Daddy" had me rolling! But he also didn't let Ember get away with her BS, he called her out when he needed and also let her know he was onto her trickery from the very beginning. Their sibling relationships were also a fun dynamic, with Ember having to deal with all of her little brother Sage's past actions and their affect on her life. And for the true star - Walela, Dan's little sister and the princess of our hearts. I could not get enough of her sweet joy.
This felt like a love letter to Native/Indigenous people and I couldn't ask for more.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
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
I liked this book even though there were some things I didn't understand why Ember lied about certain things (LIKE HER FRICKIN ALLERGIES). I would have rated this book lower if it weren't for the ending, the author wraps it up nicely and I really liked and related about how she feels about her father. I do love Danuwoa he's great and his sister she was adorable (and I got a hint maybe she likes Sage *eye emojis*).
Also Ember getting a promotion really quickly just made no sense to me like good for her but also what? She's still new to her position so to have her like go up more is like????
I love how the author incorporated her Native roots and even her own personal life and even included a glossary of the words used through the story.
I am looking forward to reading her other novels
Also Ember getting a promotion really quickly just made no sense to me like good for her but also what? She's still new to her position so to have her like go up more is like????
I love how the author incorporated her Native roots and even her own personal life and even included a glossary of the words used through the story.
I am looking forward to reading her other novels
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A cute… and spicy! Romance novel about Ember and Dan- who pretty much fall in love at first sight. This story had all the tropes only one bed, workplace, secrets, forced proximity, blackmail, heroine over her head - and was written in a way that kept you engaged. I kept waiting for everything to blow up for Ember - and so many times shake her and say DON’T DO THAT. But interlaced is the very real way that Indigenous people deal with added burdens and hoops to move forward in the world. I hurt for Ember as she struggled and furious for her and Dan when they had to deal with racism. I did struggle with her family- it felt like such a double standard, and Ember is such a typical eldest daughter. While not everything is resolved, this was a fun and quick read.
I found the FMC exhausting. She keeps making terrible choices that, to me, seem like common sense no-no's. And her CONSTANT lying when she doesn't need to is also exhausting.
funny
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
I was hesitant that this plot would work out for me because it features a FMC caught up in her little white lies. Normally, I get a lot of second hand anxiety from those stories and have a hard time enjoying the book. However! This one really worked in the end for me. I think it was that Ember was incredibly likable to me and that the writing was so funny. Her lies didn’t really come off as big deals—mostly—and they were more a reflection on her craving mobility in social standing. Which I couldn’t really fault her for. Danuwoa was literally every green flag, such a delight to read as a book boyfriend. I would always prefer duel POVs over singular, but I do think this author did a great job of growing her other characters who we didn’t get inside their heads for narrative.
I'm so disappointed because I really wanted to love this book after reading "Love is a War Song". I tried so hard to read this but it was impossible to get through. The plot seemed fine and cliche romcom but the writing was unbearable. Every sentence had the same format of "I did this." "He did that " "I said this." There was no variety of sentence structure and it made this book unreadable. The voice actor for this audiobook also didn't help. She used the same cadence for her sentences and lacked the appropriate feeling or inflection for any scene with even slight emotion.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
No
I would give this a million stars if I could. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its cast of characters. Additionally, the setting of OKC was relatable, as I live in Kansas and plan to move to the OKC area soon. The only thing missing was the QTs on every corner! LOL
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Chronic illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes