ashliesydel's reviews
1474 reviews

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

The way this book kept me in a chokehold from start to finish. Wow just Wow. What an emotional rollercoaster. 

Our girl Mary was convicted for killing an infant when she was just 9 years old. The public and justice system did not take lightly to a little black girl killing a white baby. The investigation and trail were not fair, and public opinion was the driving force pushing for the death penalty. 

 This story followers her after she's been released from the juvenile facility and is now in a group home. Her name and crime are well known. There are books, documentaries, and a movie in the making. Everyone hates her. She's consistently bullied and beaten, and she's simply accepted that this is her life. 

However, once she finds out she's pregnant and that her child, like her is a ward of the state and will be taken, she's ready to be brave and tell the true story of what really happened.

She hopes to gain her freedom so she can attend college and raise her baby with her partner. 

This story was so incredibly thought provoking. So many topics were examined. Race inequality in the justice system, overworked social workers, child abuse/sa, and the adult and juvenile prison system to name a few. 

This was such an incredible read that I would recommend to any and all readers. 

The Little People by Steven Millhauser

3.0

This was a quick audio book that I played while driving to fill time. It was unique because it gives a brief history of little people that exist in the world and how they cohabitate with "normal" full sized individuals. There are examples of mixed sized relationship, one that was successful and another that was sad. 

I felt like I was watching a documentary that was interesting and enjoyable. 

Finding Tamika by Erika Alexander

4.0

 Okay, so you know how every few months there's the debate on if audiobooks are real books. I've never paid much intention to it because I read all formats, and I know for me audiobooks are books. However, after coming across this title, I am now contemplating the validity of podcast being considered books. 

Finding Tamika came up under the Audible book search. It's listed on Goodreads and Storygraph. However, if you read the description, this is a collaboration of a 10-episode podcast That follows the disappearance and murder of a 24-year-old black woman. 

A woman, like many others who the police didn't look for, and botched their investigation by not securing crime scenes, and only focusing on one suspect. 

Had it not been for the fact that Tamika's aunt was actively working as a journalist and had connections and pull to get the public's attention and demand Justice be served, Tamika, like many others, may have just become a cold case. 

I really appreciated this story. And the fact that it was created to shed light on not just Tamika. But how black and brown missing persons are treated within the justice system. This is not an isolated incident, it's something I felt passionate about since my early twenties. Everyone knows who Lacey Peterson is, yet nobody knows who Latoya Figuero is. 

Both were pregnant women who went missing at the end were founded murdered by their partner. Music producer Damon Dash even offered an award for information on Latoya's disappearance, yet it never hit national news. 

I feel weird counting this as a book, because it is a podcast. I didn't care for the excessive music That played in the background. It was said that there was a composer who put together a musical interlude in honor of Tamika, and I felt like a douche for not liking it. At one point there's an entire quote chapter that's just straight music. Which adds to my discomfort in saying that this is a book. 

Overall, I found this educational, but it reminded me of the podcast Black Girl Gone. Kevin Hart and Charlemagne tha God helped produce this. It was narrated by Erica Alexander, these are very big names in Hollywood, so I just feel like the quality of the production doesn't match the people who are involved. 

The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The FMC is a college freshman. her dad left her mom adn the mom gets a new boyfriend she hates. IHoneslty, I hated him too and wanted to cuss out her mama for being with him) 

We see the FMC slowly start to lose it. She becomes obsessed with eyes. she sees them staring at her, she feels like someone is watching her, she comtmeplates stabbing dude in the eyes. 

So, I'm thinking okay so we're basically building up to her stabbing dude. I'm not impressed... Ya'll the way this escalted. Chick turned into a full-on serial killer running aorund Cali unaliving randoms and eating their eyes. Yes eating them. And NO this isn't a paranormal story. This is a 90lb little Asian chick taking downg rown ass men and feasing liek it's her last supper. It's all very detailed and should be read on a full stomach because you might lose your meal. 

The reders also find out she's been cray for a minute and has a history of erratic and toxic behaving. The ending was soo good. Highly Recommend.  

Final Kill by S.T. Ashman

4.0

OMFG I was not ready for how freaking crazy our girl is and what lengths she's willing to go to. 

We now have the trio of Leah, Agent Richter, and Agent Rose working together. The threat they thought was eliminated is back and wants to play cat and mouse.  This was soo good. The level of mind games in this was top tier. 

Leah stays her same cool calm self while Agent Richter loses his shit, and Rose is all about CMA and moving silently. Leah branches out from serial killers to include rapists and moves a bit recklessly. 

The ending is left open which I liked. I hate it when things are wrapped up with a bow. I feel like Rose has the BEST come up in all of this. 

Highly Recommend this trilogy 

We Kill Killers by S.T. Ashman

adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Your neighborhood lovable piano playing serial killing vigilante is back.  In this story she has basically bullied her newest FBI contact into working with her. We see Agent Richter struggle with his moral compass while our girl continues to be deadly and dangerous. 

We also have a new addition that could compromise them both. 

This is action packed, fascinating, and edge of your seat entertainment. Readers learn more about Leah's past and collectively gather outrage for Agent Richter's ex who is a petty bitch that needs the taste slapped out of mouth. 

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

 This is one of those books that is highly acclaimed, recommended, and talked about but I just felt zero desire to read. Apparently, FX even created a series based on it and a bitch didn't even sit still long enough to watch the previews.

I can't tell you why I fought this story so hard. But I can tell you that I did myself a disservice in doing so. This story deserves all the hype it has been receiving. If I could go back and kick my own ass for not picking up this book sooner I would.

Per the blurb, Dana, a black woman in the 1970's married to a white man and living in California, is somehow transported to pre-civil war antebellum south to save a downing white boy. After saving him she returns to her time. This back and forth continues as the boy grows into a man. The two have a familial connection making her obligated to keep him safe.

As a black woman who has experienced a majority of racism in the forms of microaggressions vs outright physical aggression, as a child who was fed watered down slave history by the public school system, as a woman who has rights today that my ancestors never believed possible, reading Dana's journey left a mark on me.

It crushed every last bit of grace I had for the "kind" plantation owners. The ones who cared about their slaves and "treated" them well. The ones whose ancestors of today claim that their family was different somehow. Never will placate the feelings of an excuse filled acquaintance who tries to convince themselves that their generational wealth wasn't accumulated by monsters and on the backs and blood of blacks.

Dana and Rufus are two names that will take up space rent free until the day I die. 

I Kill Killers by S.T. Ashman

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I instantly fell in love with our FMC. Leah is a mixture of our favorite serial killer Dexter, vigilante Batman, and quirky super brain Sherlock Holmes.  She hunts and kills serial killers with the help of various associates ranging from government agents to the Italian Mafia. 

She's hella deadly and gets what she wants always. Poor Agent Richter didn't stand a chance when he crossed paths with her. 

There were so many aspects of this story that I enjoyed, from the graphic take downs of the POS serial killers, to how our girl is always three steps ahead of everyone else. I saw that this is being adapted, I'm not sure if it's going to be a movie or a series. I think a series would be best. I feel like this is a Shanda Rhimes level true crime drama that could captivate America. 

Fade In: College of Adult Film Studies by D.W. Marshall

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

 Word of advice, throw out all preconceived notions of this book before picking it up. Based on the blurb, I assumed this was going to be a free for all smut fest. Our FMC auditions for and gets into a college designed to teach their adult students on how to best perform in bed and behind the camera.

The blurb mentions her ex being at said school of porn and her bully resurfacing in her life. Dirty perverted me was like YAAASSSS BIOTCH this is going to be chapters of her her getting turned out and showing that man what he missed out on. I stupidly ASSumed that she and her bully were totally going to hook up because well Bully Romances are a thing and I've read one too many and my mind is now tarnished. (cue faux shame)

Anyhoo... let's talk about how amazing this book is and how it exceeded all my emotional expectations.

STORYLINE, SOCIAL ISSUES, PERSONAL GROWTH, this book brought it all.

Sera's is in her senior year at university. She has a fractured relationship with her family, her childhood bully is the worst kind of human being that put her through something that left her traumatized and still healing years later, and the only man she's ever trusted has abandoned her.

Analytical readers will have a field day picking her apart. Sera has embraced sexual freedom. She likes sex, she likes the way it makes her feel, and she's good at it. She wants to pursue adult film studies as an actress because she believes with her entire being it's part of her journey.

The author created an amazing school that destigmatizes the image of sex workers. This fictional facility she's created in this age of Only Fans and Porn Hub where more and more individuals and couples explore sex work is impressive. She addresses safe sex, consent, the importance of emotional and mental health, as well as the negative and narrow-minded public perception.

I was all in my feels. I was not prepared for the insight within the pages and reflective response I had to reading this. I fell in love with not only our main girl Sera but all the students and teachers.
I felt empathy, respect, and protectiveness. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

** Don't worry. There was plenty of Spice withing this storyline. It's a porn school after all. LOL** 

Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically AcceptPrioritize Your Mind, Body,Soul by Oludara Adeeyo

4.0

 This was an incredibly informative book that educated and empowered the reader. I was very proud of myself because if I had come across this book 5 years ago, I would not have been practicing any of the 150 ways to prioritize my self-care. However, reading this felt soo good because there were several things I have already begun practicing.

All 150 suggestions in this book were spot on. All women struggle with self-care. However black women do have unique and specific needs and traumas that were addressed in this book.

I enjoyed how this book was formatted to make the reading very easy. I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a quick and easy read on self-care and practices they can incorporate into their daily life for self-improvement.