alicia_ann_reads's reviews
483 reviews

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

I absolutely loved this!

I fully admit I only got about 60% through the original Pride and Prejudice, so I can't comment on the entirety of plot but I thought the character portrayals and internal thoughts were great. 

At first I wasn't sure if I liked the same name usage but I found in the end I absolutely did. 

I also thought the author did a fantastic explanation on the midgendering and gave a historical reference point at the end of the book.

This was heart warming and light, a lovely trans queer Regency romance. 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Overall, I quite enjoyed the book. I read via audiobook and I think that helped push the narrative along. 

It's a very detached 3rd person retelling and would likely have been a pretty slow read as there are a lot of this person did this and that person felt this etc. 

That being said I absolutely loved following a family throughout the generations, learning how and why they made certain decisions and how those decisions impacted the future generations. 

Learning about Japanese/Korean relationships during the time frame was also very interesting. 

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

So halfway through this book I was going to give it a 3. The writing is really well done, and I enjoyed the characters and scenery and the premise. 

However it was kind of slow.. but from about 60% to the end it was a wild ride. I laughed and I cried and even though I knew what was going to happen the whole time it didn't take away from the story. 

A magical book about love and loss and grief and rebuilding. Found family, sapphic and beautiful. 

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

adventurous challenging mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Overall I enjoyed this! After I got through some of the repetitive slang, and the beginning.

The book is supposed to be set in a futuristic Toronto, but it kind of felt besides a few odds and ends much like today's time. 

I found the beginning slow and almost gave up, but it did ramp up. I loved the familial magic and the unravelling mystery but was kind of annoyed that not one family member thought outside the box regarding her task, and that continued to annoy me throughout the whole book. 

If I read this as the target audience of a teenager though I'd have absolutely gobbled it up! 

Making Love with the Land by Joshua Whitehead

challenging dark emotional inspiring slow-paced

4.0

This is my first Joshua Whitehead book. 

A collection of essays through prose/poetry, reflecting on self, queerness,  and indigeneity.

Audiobook read by the author. 

Really Cute People by Markus Harwood-Jones

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.25

There are so many things this books does so well, the relationship dynamic between the three main characters, their respect for one another the idea of cohesiveness in something that's not a 'typical' set up. 

The character growth of Charlie really experiencing their worth and gaining confidence through their relationships.

Found family and friendship. The LGBTQIA rep was 🤌🏼

The writing is good, I find the authors writing to be nicely descriptive and poetic but not too much. 

I loved the idea of the forced proximity from a snow storm, it's very Canadian and definitely common, being thrust from a quiet mundane world into chaos was great...

However, it's really missing the emotional build up, we go from random stranger to we want to be a thing. I can't pin point exactly, but it's just missing the bridge and so while I found myself enjoying their dynamic, I found myself not really understanding how they got there and they pulled me out of the story. 

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This book should be required reading for all white women who consider themselves to be feminists and/or allies. 

I love how each segment of intersectionality it broken down and explained, how she clearly shows where white feminist movements have missed the boat in these areas all in a very candid way. 

I read via audiobook narrated by the author and felt like she was just talking to me. 

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I think this is going to be a really important text for Queer Black communities.

The audiobook was very impactful.

Seven Devils by Elizabeth May, L.R. Lam

adventurous challenging funny mysterious sad 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

4.75

I really enjoyed this book and it gets a solid 4.75 stars! There were a few instances of plot things that irked me. 

Otherwise really excellent! Some moments of this book were so tense and really brought out the anxious feelings. 

Cool technology, space, infiltration, heist like action, character growth, second chances. 

They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed looking back on known artists from 10+ years ago, and I thought the author really blended information, and reflection in a really poetic way. 

These didn't read like essays, they definitely read like poetry.