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amandasbrews's reviews
447 reviews
Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel
5.0
Playing Flirty is a warm hug to all the nerdy romantics out there who love to hunker down and learn a new game. Rose is a board game enthusiast working in a demanding corporate job and in a relationship that's lost it's spark. Her weekly game night is her only chance to blow off some steam, if she doesn't bicker with William, who always seems to draw out her hyper-competitive side. But when one of the group members gets engaged, William and Rose start their own game of "playing nice" for the sake of their friends.
My favorite part of this story is how the dichotomy between Patrick and William shines a light on how romances are also so deeply about character growth. Romances give us such a cozy structure to allow the characters to grow with us in a familiar way. In Playing Flirty, we're able to see how different people impact our lives in different ways through William and Patrick. Through William and Rose's "playing nice", it's so clear that both of them are growing together into better people, whereas when she's with Patrick, it's reminiscent of times in her life that have since past. This dichotomy is a firm reminder of Rose's growth throughout the novel.
I also really loved how Patel was able to balance having William spend the entire novel trying to prove that he's worth Rose's love while simultaneously messing up along the way. It gives this story so much sincerity and realness. It wasn't that William was in his head about not being ready, it's that he actually needed to grow to be with Rose. It makes William such a genuine character and companion to Rose. This balance also makes William such a refreshing light of a character that it's impossible not to fall in love with him.
Playing Flirty is so much more than the love story between two people, it's a love story for anyone who has ever had a dream while being stuck in corporate America. The way that Rose thinks about her game is a pure love that any creative can understand. It's a pull that only comes from a genuinely pure love for the craft and one that can only be captured by a writer who truly loves to tell stories.
My favorite part of this story is how the dichotomy between Patrick and William shines a light on how romances are also so deeply about character growth. Romances give us such a cozy structure to allow the characters to grow with us in a familiar way. In Playing Flirty, we're able to see how different people impact our lives in different ways through William and Patrick. Through William and Rose's "playing nice", it's so clear that both of them are growing together into better people, whereas when she's with Patrick, it's reminiscent of times in her life that have since past. This dichotomy is a firm reminder of Rose's growth throughout the novel.
I also really loved how Patel was able to balance having William spend the entire novel trying to prove that he's worth Rose's love while simultaneously messing up along the way. It gives this story so much sincerity and realness. It wasn't that William was in his head about not being ready, it's that he actually needed to grow to be with Rose. It makes William such a genuine character and companion to Rose. This balance also makes William such a refreshing light of a character that it's impossible not to fall in love with him.
Playing Flirty is so much more than the love story between two people, it's a love story for anyone who has ever had a dream while being stuck in corporate America. The way that Rose thinks about her game is a pure love that any creative can understand. It's a pull that only comes from a genuinely pure love for the craft and one that can only be captured by a writer who truly loves to tell stories.
The Place Beyond Her Dreams by Oby Aligwekwe
4.0
4 dreamy, magical, reminiscent stars!
The Place Beyond Her Dreams is a promising book about a young girl who's family takes in a young house boy and raise him as their own. Along the way, her grandfather dies unexpectedly, they fall in love, and a love triangle surfaces, and amidst it all, she realizes she has powers to travel to a magical realm while she sleeps.
It has all the makings of a book that I like: magical realism, love triangles, fast paced, dream-like story telling. A fantasy set in Africa? Fantastic! Amazing! Beautiful! STUNNING! The writing was written with a fun prose that felt like a reminiscent memory, so it appealed to older readers too. I loved that tactic! Honestly, I really enjoyed reading it.
The author seemed to have put a lot of care into each character, and by keeping the dreamy prose it separated you a touch from some of the harsh moments, while still keeping close just enough to like the characters. I didn't realize there was going to be some intense moments, as it starts out with the MC a young girl. But overall I enjoyed it quite a bit!
Big Takeaway
The prose was dreamy, the story absolutely matched in a great way. The story was a bit rougher than I expected, but I did still really enjoy the story and the prose. I especially loved Luenah, and wish we dove into it more, but I was satisfied with it regardless.
*I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily*
Content warning: Domestic abuse!!!!
**Big plus, I've spoken to the author of this book, and she is absolutely wonderful and, to me, that is HUGE encouragement to support her. :)
Merged review:
4 dreamy, magical, reminiscent stars!
The Place Beyond Her Dreams is a promising book about a young girl who's family takes in a young house boy and raise him as their own. Along the way, her grandfather dies unexpectedly, they fall in love, and a love triangle surfaces, and amidst it all, she realizes she has powers to travel to a magical realm while she sleeps.
It has all the makings of a book that I like: magical realism, love triangles, fast paced, dream-like story telling. A fantasy set in Africa? Fantastic! Amazing! Beautiful! STUNNING! The writing was written with a fun prose that felt like a reminiscent memory, so it appealed to older readers too. I loved that tactic! Honestly, I really enjoyed reading it.
The author seemed to have put a lot of care into each character, and by keeping the dreamy prose it separated you a touch from some of the harsh moments, while still keeping close just enough to like the characters. I didn't realize there was going to be some intense moments, as it starts out with the MC a young girl. But overall I enjoyed it quite a bit!
Big Takeaway
The prose was dreamy, the story absolutely matched in a great way. The story was a bit rougher than I expected, but I did still really enjoy the story and the prose. I especially loved Luenah, and wish we dove into it more, but I was satisfied with it regardless.
*I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily*
Content warning: Domestic abuse!!!!
**Big plus, I've spoken to the author of this book, and she is absolutely wonderful and, to me, that is HUGE encouragement to support her. :)
The Place Beyond Her Dreams is a promising book about a young girl who's family takes in a young house boy and raise him as their own. Along the way, her grandfather dies unexpectedly, they fall in love, and a love triangle surfaces, and amidst it all, she realizes she has powers to travel to a magical realm while she sleeps.
It has all the makings of a book that I like: magical realism, love triangles, fast paced, dream-like story telling. A fantasy set in Africa? Fantastic! Amazing! Beautiful! STUNNING! The writing was written with a fun prose that felt like a reminiscent memory, so it appealed to older readers too. I loved that tactic! Honestly, I really enjoyed reading it.
The author seemed to have put a lot of care into each character, and by keeping the dreamy prose it separated you a touch from some of the harsh moments, while still keeping close just enough to like the characters. I didn't realize there was going to be some intense moments, as it starts out with the MC a young girl. But overall I enjoyed it quite a bit!
Big Takeaway
The prose was dreamy, the story absolutely matched in a great way. The story was a bit rougher than I expected, but I did still really enjoy the story and the prose. I especially loved Luenah, and wish we dove into it more, but I was satisfied with it regardless.
*I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily*
Content warning: Domestic abuse!!!!
**Big plus, I've spoken to the author of this book, and she is absolutely wonderful and, to me, that is HUGE encouragement to support her. :)
Merged review:
4 dreamy, magical, reminiscent stars!
The Place Beyond Her Dreams is a promising book about a young girl who's family takes in a young house boy and raise him as their own. Along the way, her grandfather dies unexpectedly, they fall in love, and a love triangle surfaces, and amidst it all, she realizes she has powers to travel to a magical realm while she sleeps.
It has all the makings of a book that I like: magical realism, love triangles, fast paced, dream-like story telling. A fantasy set in Africa? Fantastic! Amazing! Beautiful! STUNNING! The writing was written with a fun prose that felt like a reminiscent memory, so it appealed to older readers too. I loved that tactic! Honestly, I really enjoyed reading it.
The author seemed to have put a lot of care into each character, and by keeping the dreamy prose it separated you a touch from some of the harsh moments, while still keeping close just enough to like the characters. I didn't realize there was going to be some intense moments, as it starts out with the MC a young girl. But overall I enjoyed it quite a bit!
Big Takeaway
The prose was dreamy, the story absolutely matched in a great way. The story was a bit rougher than I expected, but I did still really enjoy the story and the prose. I especially loved Luenah, and wish we dove into it more, but I was satisfied with it regardless.
*I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily*
Content warning: Domestic abuse!!!!
**Big plus, I've spoken to the author of this book, and she is absolutely wonderful and, to me, that is HUGE encouragement to support her. :)
The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee
I've been stalking this book waiting for the moment I could add it on GoodReads for what feels like a year. I'm so so so excited to read this book and support Wen-yi Lee!!!!
Chinese MC and bisexual male and female MCs fdjsakldfj YES PLEASE
Merged review:
I've been stalking this book waiting for the moment I could add it on GoodReads for what feels like a year. I'm so so so excited to read this book and support Wen-yi Lee!!!!
Chinese MC and bisexual male and female MCs fdjsakldfj YES PLEASE
Chinese MC and bisexual male and female MCs fdjsakldfj YES PLEASE
Merged review:
I've been stalking this book waiting for the moment I could add it on GoodReads for what feels like a year. I'm so so so excited to read this book and support Wen-yi Lee!!!!
Chinese MC and bisexual male and female MCs fdjsakldfj YES PLEASE
These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low
I cannot WAIT to read this book. Reminiscent of southeast Asia, fans of jade city and dark fairytales?? THE LOST BOYS WANT REVENGE. PLEASE 2024 cannot come soon enough.
Outspoken: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan by Sima Samar
4.0
I want to know so much more about Afghanistan after reading this which tells me this book did it's job perfectly.
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
5.0
This book singlehandedly pulled me out of my fiction depression and made me want to read fiction again