Scan barcode
A review by foreverinastory
Blackout by Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, Ashley Woodfolk, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Tiffany D. Jackson
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
Very enjoyable!
The Long Walk by Tiffany D. Jackson
Rating: 4.5
My favorite part of this story was how it was wound around and in between all the other stories. This was a super cute second chance story. I liked that we really get to know Tammi in the various acts. I loved seeing how Kareem supported her with her anxiety/anxiety attack. I feel like I'm still a little confused as to why they originally broke up, but I really liked this pairing.
Rep: Black female MC with anxiety, Black male love interest.
Mask Off by Nic Stone
Rating: 5
Easily my favorite of this anthology. Nic Stone is a goddess. I loved Jacorey and his story. I loved seeing his questioning journey and then his memories of Tremaine and then how they reconnected. God they were so cute. I felt so much for these two boys and I want the rest of their lives to be happy and blessed. *Cries forever*
Rep: Black bisexual male MC, Black bisexual love interest with claustrophobia and panic disorder/anxiety.
Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk
Rating: 5
This was a super cute story! Definitely my second fave! Nellie is at a senior living center with her grandpa when the blackout happens. Soon after, Jocelyn and her therapy dog, Ziggy, arrive. Nellie has been avoiding her ever since her grandpa told her Joss might also like girls. When Nellie's grandpa's photo of his late wife goes missing, Nellie and Joss must explore the center to find it. This story was the most plot driven one and I really liked the whole search for the photo. Also these two are seriously adorable. Such a cute will they won't they story!
Rep: Black lesbian female MC, sapphic Black Love interest with glasses, side nonbinary character, two side achillean married couple (two men), side Muslim woman married to Jewish man in a wheelchair. Several side characters are living in a senior living center.
All The Great Love Stories...And Dust by Dhonielle Clayton
Rating: 4.5
Lana wants to tell her best friend Tristan how she feels before she leaves for the summer to study abroad. But she's scared he won't feel the same way. In this story we follow Lana and Tristan in the New York Public Library trying to find the best love story. These two have a history of setting up bets and the winner will receive something. This was a cute friends to lovers story. Something about the way Lana described her feelings made me think she falls somewhere in the A-spectrum, I'm unsure if Ace or Aro but she definitely is one of them.
Rep: Black female MC possibly Aspec, Latine/x love interest, Jamaican-American side character.
No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas
Rating: 4
This story had the least movement of them all--probably because the characters are all stuck on a bus. Kayla is from Mississippi and is with 11 other honors students on a trip to NYC when the blackout hits. Kayla is with her boyfriend and the other boy she has a crush on and she's uncertain of what to do about it all. I wasn't super invested in either of the love interests but Kayla picks herself and I loved that for her.
Rep: Black female MC. Black side characters.
Seymour & Grace by Nicola Yoon
Rating: 4
This story is about Seymour and Grace, two Jamaican-American teens. Grace is on the way to a party and Seymour is her Ryde driver. These two don't hint it off very well, but throughout the story they open up to each other and I really liked seeing that. I loved their philosophical debates. This is the story where everyone has finally showed up to the party. I liked that we got to see almost everyone, but I wish we had kind of gotten a little more at the party. I wanted to see all the connections the characters in each story had.
Rep: Jamaican-American female MC, Jamaican-American male MC. Side queer characters from the earlier stories show up in passing.
Overall: This was a celebration of Black love and joy in all its forms. This was such a fun collaboration and I loved all the connections the characters had. I just wish this was a little longer!
CWs: Mental illness (anxiety), grief, death of grandparent, panic attack/disorder, cursing, bullying (flashback).
The Long Walk by Tiffany D. Jackson
Rating: 4.5
My favorite part of this story was how it was wound around and in between all the other stories. This was a super cute second chance story. I liked that we really get to know Tammi in the various acts. I loved seeing how Kareem supported her with her anxiety/anxiety attack. I feel like I'm still a little confused as to why they originally broke up, but I really liked this pairing.
Rep: Black female MC with anxiety, Black male love interest.
Mask Off by Nic Stone
Rating: 5
Easily my favorite of this anthology. Nic Stone is a goddess. I loved Jacorey and his story. I loved seeing his questioning journey and then his memories of Tremaine and then how they reconnected. God they were so cute. I felt so much for these two boys and I want the rest of their lives to be happy and blessed. *Cries forever*
Rep: Black bisexual male MC, Black bisexual love interest with claustrophobia and panic disorder/anxiety.
Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk
Rating: 5
This was a super cute story! Definitely my second fave! Nellie is at a senior living center with her grandpa when the blackout happens. Soon after, Jocelyn and her therapy dog, Ziggy, arrive. Nellie has been avoiding her ever since her grandpa told her Joss might also like girls. When Nellie's grandpa's photo of his late wife goes missing, Nellie and Joss must explore the center to find it. This story was the most plot driven one and I really liked the whole search for the photo. Also these two are seriously adorable. Such a cute will they won't they story!
Rep: Black lesbian female MC, sapphic Black Love interest with glasses, side nonbinary character, two side achillean married couple (two men), side Muslim woman married to Jewish man in a wheelchair. Several side characters are living in a senior living center.
All The Great Love Stories...And Dust by Dhonielle Clayton
Rating: 4.5
Lana wants to tell her best friend Tristan how she feels before she leaves for the summer to study abroad. But she's scared he won't feel the same way. In this story we follow Lana and Tristan in the New York Public Library trying to find the best love story. These two have a history of setting up bets and the winner will receive something. This was a cute friends to lovers story. Something about the way Lana described her feelings made me think she falls somewhere in the A-spectrum, I'm unsure if Ace or Aro but she definitely is one of them.
Rep: Black female MC possibly Aspec, Latine/x love interest, Jamaican-American side character.
No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas
Rating: 4
This story had the least movement of them all--probably because the characters are all stuck on a bus. Kayla is from Mississippi and is with 11 other honors students on a trip to NYC when the blackout hits. Kayla is with her boyfriend and the other boy she has a crush on and she's uncertain of what to do about it all. I wasn't super invested in either of the love interests but Kayla picks herself and I loved that for her.
Rep: Black female MC. Black side characters.
Seymour & Grace by Nicola Yoon
Rating: 4
This story is about Seymour and Grace, two Jamaican-American teens. Grace is on the way to a party and Seymour is her Ryde driver. These two don't hint it off very well, but throughout the story they open up to each other and I really liked seeing that. I loved their philosophical debates. This is the story where everyone has finally showed up to the party. I liked that we got to see almost everyone, but I wish we had kind of gotten a little more at the party. I wanted to see all the connections the characters in each story had.
Rep: Jamaican-American female MC, Jamaican-American male MC. Side queer characters from the earlier stories show up in passing.
Overall: This was a celebration of Black love and joy in all its forms. This was such a fun collaboration and I loved all the connections the characters had. I just wish this was a little longer!
CWs: Mental illness (anxiety), grief, death of grandparent, panic attack/disorder, cursing, bullying (flashback).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
Minor: Death of parent