A review by julieannasbooks
Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore

3.0

⭐⭐⭐.25

Thank you to Fierce Reads and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I’ve been a fan of Anna-Marie McLemore’s books for a while, and have been looking forward to reading their backlog for a while. That being said, I was excited to see Lakelore coming out. And as always, McLemore demonstrates absolutely beautiful imagery and well-developed characters.

My absolute favorite aspect of this book was the representation and how intersections of identity were discussed. I loved not only how this book showed how being nonbinary varies from person to person, but also the experiences behind gender-affirming treatments. I also thought that the descriptions of ADHD and dyslexia were incredibly well done; as a person who does not share these experiences, they were shown in such a way that genuinely helped me understand its impacts on people-and one I believe many will be seen by.

While I enjoyed the way magical realism tied into the characters’ growth, I feel like this aspect of the book was more understated than it should have been. I was expecting more from the magical elements of this story and found myself wanting more of it. It surprised me how quickly this book wrapped up because of that.

But all in all, I loved the characters of Lakelore and the way that McLemore writes characters that feel true to life. And although this wasn’t a favorite of mine, I still look forward to reading more of their works.

CW:

Spoiler

Bullying, Ableism, Transphobia, Racism, Medical Procedures, Violence

You can find more of my reviews here: www.julieannasbooks.com