avatarstorm's reviews
344 reviews

Kiss Number 8 by Colleen AF Venable

challenging emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

What an amazing graphic novel. I loved the characters and the strong personalities. I loved the purposefulness of the frames. I loved the arc of the main character and her coming to terms with her sexuality but also coming to a place where she can still explore. It was so nice to see more complex familiar relationships - especially with her father. 

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

hopeful relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

Wow, I loved this. This was such a great pallet cleanser from a bad book slump I was in. Seriously, there’s nothing like a queer ya book to bring me back. 

I loved the main character and honestly, even the side characters. Everyone had their own personality, and I loved the personal growth in her. 

I will say, there was a bit too much “insta-love” for my taste, but I like how it’s kind of presented as gay panic. And they are teenagers. They’re known for falling in love with one another after a couple months, I suppose. 

Bloodlust & Bonnets by Emily McGovern

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-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

4.0

This was pretty amazing. I loved the humor and pacing of the frames. The characters were over-the-top, but I didn’t mind so much because this was just so fun, and I was ready for this confusing vampire adventure. 

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

1.5

Can you say: red flag?? Because obviously Rose can’t. 

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall

funny lighthearted medium-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

5.0

Alexis Hall could write about the properties of dirt and I’d be invested. 

This was so cute and an amazing continuation of the London Calling Universe. The voice that this is written in is so full of character and is written so well. 

I enjoyed the plot so much - I hadn’t come across anything like faking amnesia before, so it was fun to have a new dynamic at play. 

I loved the pacing, especially the pacing of Sam and Johnathan’s relationship. It was a joy to watch them fall in love with one another. 

Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

I think I would have eaten this up when I was a teen or pre-teen. I’m an adult now, and I know I’m not the audience for this. I really just found it “ok.” 

There wasn’t anything special about the writing style or any lines that spoke to me. I felt like I was thrust into the middle of an action movie where I didn’t have much backstory about the characters or how they’ve come to know each other. I thought the powers they all had were pretty interesting and unique, but that’s pretty much it. I also thought the whole “the Russians are the bad guys” was a little too cliche. 

You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day

funny inspiring medium-paced

4.5

I don’t usually rate biographies this high, but this was delightful. 

I’m a big fan of Felicia Day, and I remember getting the physical copy of this book but waiting to read it after I had watched The Guild and a few other projects she was in (I was already very familiar with Dr. Horribles and her time on Supernatural). 

I’m both happy and sad that I waited so long to read this. Sad that it took me so long but happy in that I don’t think I would have gotten the amazing amount of advice I did now had I read it 8 years ago when I first got the book. I’m older and have gone through so much now that I’m the age Felicia was when she wrote the book. 

I didn’t realize how much I had in common with Felicia - the anxiety, the pressure for perfection, the pressure to keep topping yourself, the hyper focus on negative feedback, etc. It was a relief to read these feelings and see them in someone as amazing as Felicia. Heck - I even took her advice to say no more and canceled something for my mental health. 

I think anyone can get something out of this book. If you feel weird and like you don’t belong anywhere, you’ll get something out of this book. Whether you know of Felicia Day or not, you can enjoy this book. But if you know of her work, you might have more enjoyment. 

It’s littered with her humor and it was so endearing to listen to her read it. I really felt like i was just listening to a friend. 

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

This made me want to play scrabble so bad. 

This was such a fun, light mysterious read. I was invested in the mystery, I loved the inclusion of scrabble tiles and words. I enjoyed the main character and some other side characters, but really, everyone else was kind of a jerk. Everyone else was either rude, trying to drug someone, or showing major red flags. But I loved the diverse characters and their passions that shone through. 

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

inspiring relaxing medium-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

5.0

This is the epitome of a cozy read. It’s a hot tea on a snowy night. It’s comfort and warmth and happiness. 

I loved this idea of an adventurer, who is good at what she does, want to start over with something new. Something the opposite of adventuring - opening a coffee shop. 

Viv is a character I’d love to be friends with. The way she treated people in her “new life” was respectful, encouraging, and overall lovely. 

I loved the variety of other characters, from quirky customers to a coffee shop pet. The progression of characters that joined Viv’s new life was excellent pacing and emphasized the overall lesson of friendship and teamwork, if you want to get literary about it. 

The moral of “fortune” being the relationships and friendships we forge honestly made me tear up with how wonderful it was presented. 

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

This was such a blast. Western queer librarians? Yeah. Sign me up. 

My only qualm is that the pacing felt a little too fast. I would have a bigger/slower build-up between the relationships Esther has with the group. 

Otherwise, this was so fun, and I loved the representation of not only sapphic characters, but a nonbinary character as well!