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bellaamoy's reviews
220 reviews
Loveless by Alice Oseman
i adored this book for so many reasons. i, of course, loved the asexual and aromantic representation. this is the most I've ever seen a story dive into either topic and it is done so beautifully and I loved every second of it. I love that there are other characters in the story that help georgia figure out this part about her. i love that her friends are confused by the way that she is feeling and just, love and accept her regardless (along with helping her figure it out).
i really liked all of the side characters in this book. rooney, pip, jason, sunil. amazing, exquisite. chef's kiss.
I do wish that we had gotten to know more about jason (as he is Georgia's other best friend) but I understand why this wasn't exactly possible.
i love how this story showed how love can be found in other ways than romantic. rooney and georgia are soulmates- but platonically. and I loved seeing this explored. love doesn't have to be found just in romantic relationships.
i disliked the overly dramatic fight between the main friend group but... for the sake of drama I guess ,,,,,
I love the idea of this book. I love this author. I loved reading this book. I love everything about it. im just happy that there's good aroace representation out there. I never had this while I was figuring myself out. and I'm just glad that this exists for all of the queer kids growing up. thank you alice oseman for everything that you do.
emotional
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
4.5
i adored this book for so many reasons. i, of course, loved the asexual and aromantic representation. this is the most I've ever seen a story dive into either topic and it is done so beautifully and I loved every second of it. I love that there are other characters in the story that help georgia figure out this part about her. i love that her friends are confused by the way that she is feeling and just, love and accept her regardless (along with helping her figure it out).
i really liked all of the side characters in this book. rooney, pip, jason, sunil. amazing, exquisite. chef's kiss.
I do wish that we had gotten to know more about jason (as he is Georgia's other best friend) but I understand why this wasn't exactly possible.
i love how this story showed how love can be found in other ways than romantic. rooney and georgia are soulmates- but platonically. and I loved seeing this explored. love doesn't have to be found just in romantic relationships.
i disliked the overly dramatic fight between the main friend group but... for the sake of drama I guess ,,,,,
I love the idea of this book. I love this author. I loved reading this book. I love everything about it. im just happy that there's good aroace representation out there. I never had this while I was figuring myself out. and I'm just glad that this exists for all of the queer kids growing up. thank you alice oseman for everything that you do.
Out of Love by Hazel Hayes
3.5
i really enjoyed the backwards story telling, however, I almost wish it was told in the proper order because the ending just fell flat. or, maybe we could have gotten some further insight on things as the story went backwards on why things didn't work out. i also think that the method of storytelling got a bit confusing at times, there were crumbs left in previous chapters but the time between then and when you would get to the part it was referencing could often times be confusing.
i was expecting myself to hate theo as the story progressed but, as things progressed i honestly didn't have that much of a problem with him. a lot of the issues stemmed from things that were not really the fault of either of them (a lot of pressure from theo's mother and him trying to make both sides happy). the tattoo thing was stupid, though.
i wish we got to dive deeper into the backgrounds of the main characters. the protagonists previous relationship added a lot to the story as far as understanding why she acted in certain ways. but I would have liked to know a bit more about theo as well.
I would like to reread this in chronological order and see if that changes my feelings towards the book, maybe I forgot bigger plot points in the process as things become better as we go back towards the beginning.
overall! good read. I've been a long time fan of hazel's and when I saw she had a book I jumped at the opportunity to read it. not bad for a debut, some things could have just been done a little bit better. :)
i was expecting myself to hate theo as the story progressed but, as things progressed i honestly didn't have that much of a problem with him. a lot of the issues stemmed from things that were not really the fault of either of them (a lot of pressure from theo's mother and him trying to make both sides happy). the tattoo thing was stupid, though.
i wish we got to dive deeper into the backgrounds of the main characters. the protagonists previous relationship added a lot to the story as far as understanding why she acted in certain ways. but I would have liked to know a bit more about theo as well.
I would like to reread this in chronological order and see if that changes my feelings towards the book, maybe I forgot bigger plot points in the process as things become better as we go back towards the beginning.
overall! good read. I've been a long time fan of hazel's and when I saw she had a book I jumped at the opportunity to read it. not bad for a debut, some things could have just been done a little bit better. :)
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
im going to have a hard time articulating my thoughts on this book without it being laden with spoiler after spoiler.
i think this book is going to stay with me for a long time, i truly was just not expecting anything that happened at the end.
I called it that SOMETHING was up with grey but honestly there was no way that I could have called That.
I really enjoyed the ending of the book and how everything unraveled. I love that 2/3s of the sisters had no idea what was happening. that they didn't feel comfortable knowing this information, even though everyone things they're monsters for it.
Tyler not following them back to stay and be there for Rosie was possibly my favorite part of the entire book. I hated him for more than half the story but, he redeemed himself and wound up being my favorite character.
I also just deeply respect Cate for her unconditional love for Iris and Vivi despite everything that she knew about the girls and never revealing to them what she knew.
absolutely insane book and I'm so glad i saw this in the library.
i think this book is going to stay with me for a long time, i truly was just not expecting anything that happened at the end.
I really enjoyed the ending of the book and how everything unraveled. I love that 2/3s of the sisters had no idea what was happening. that they didn't feel comfortable knowing this information, even though everyone things they're monsters for it.
Tyler not following them back to stay and be there for Rosie was possibly my favorite part of the entire book. I hated him for more than half the story but, he redeemed himself and wound up being my favorite character.
I also just deeply respect Cate for her unconditional love for Iris and Vivi despite everything that she knew about the girls and never revealing to them what she knew.
absolutely insane book and I'm so glad i saw this in the library.
Himawari House by Harmony Becker
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
my chronic inability to read the blurb of books before checking them out coming in clutch ~~~
i was pleasantly surprised by this one! it was a beautiful exploration of exchange students learning japanese and navigating their way through life in a country who's language they are not fluent in. i related a lot to the main character, who felt not close enough to her culture because she didn't grow up in japan and couldn't speak the language as well as everyone else.
i was just rooting for all of the characters and wanted the best for each of them :,).
also, love the feeling of found family in the book. they all found each other and needed the support of other people who understood what they were going through (and vice versa! a character who can't speak English as well and is embarrassed to speak with all the roommates) and having the support system of those around them.
really wish the story went on a bit more, or at least tells us what happens after nao leaves japan. i was finally starting to like her love interest ahahah.
i was pleasantly surprised by this one! it was a beautiful exploration of exchange students learning japanese and navigating their way through life in a country who's language they are not fluent in. i related a lot to the main character, who felt not close enough to her culture because she didn't grow up in japan and couldn't speak the language as well as everyone else.
i was just rooting for all of the characters and wanted the best for each of them :,).
also, love the feeling of found family in the book. they all found each other and needed the support of other people who understood what they were going through (and vice versa! a character who can't speak English as well and is embarrassed to speak with all the roommates) and having the support system of those around them.
really wish the story went on a bit more, or at least tells us what happens after nao leaves japan. i was finally starting to like her love interest ahahah.
Solitaire by Alice Oseman
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
i adored this so much.
i loved being able to see inside of tori's head and how she navigates her own world. i loved the characters. the whole solitaire plotline was kind of insane and i was really interested in how everything played out as that unfolded.
i think a major reason that i enjoyed this book so much was due to the fact that it takes place in the heartstopper universe. i loved being able to pick up some crumbs that explains storylines that happened in the other books. getting to see nick and charlie and their relationship through the eyse of tori. getting to see all of charlies major plot points from the perspective of his sister. sweet, sweet, oliver. that being said, i don't think i would have enjoyed this book as much if i had read it as a standalone.
all in all, super impressed that this was alice oseman's debut and that they wrote it when they were 17. incredible.
i loved being able to see inside of tori's head and how she navigates her own world. i loved the characters. the whole solitaire plotline was kind of insane and i was really interested in how everything played out as that unfolded.
i think a major reason that i enjoyed this book so much was due to the fact that it takes place in the heartstopper universe. i loved being able to pick up some crumbs that explains storylines that happened in the other books. getting to see nick and charlie and their relationship through the eyse of tori. getting to see all of charlies major plot points from the perspective of his sister. sweet, sweet, oliver. that being said, i don't think i would have enjoyed this book as much if i had read it as a standalone.
all in all, super impressed that this was alice oseman's debut and that they wrote it when they were 17. incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Violence, Toxic friendship, and Homophobia
Heartstopper: The Mini Comics by Alice Oseman
3.5
so! totally wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I went into this going 'okay. short story about Charlies parents, this'll be interesting' and it was. I was surprised to see how much oseman could make me care about these characters and the relationship formed between them. it really is a beautiful contribution and I love discovering so many little additions to the universe.
Alice oseman. ilysm.
Alice oseman. ilysm.
This Winter by Alice Oseman
4.0
o u c h
this is basically just an addition to a storyline in Heartstopper. it was interesting to see how the different families treated charlie due to his illnesses and how the family environments differed. i liked being able to see how the different characters perspectives had an influence on the story (especially Oliver's!).
I like that this further develops on Charlie's time in the hospital and really goes into how bad things were for him.
all in all, a great addition. I'm super glad I stumbled across this! and now I think I've finished all the stories from the heartstopper universe to date.....
this is basically just an addition to a storyline in Heartstopper. it was interesting to see how the different families treated charlie due to his illnesses and how the family environments differed. i liked being able to see how the different characters perspectives had an influence on the story (especially Oliver's!).
I like that this further develops on Charlie's time in the hospital and really goes into how bad things were for him.
all in all, a great addition. I'm super glad I stumbled across this! and now I think I've finished all the stories from the heartstopper universe to date.....
Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman
4.0
super quick read. but, i was honestly a bit disappointed by this! i'm in love with the heartstopper universe and adore nick and charlie as characters. this just... fell a bit flat for me honestly! i was really happy to see their relationship developed further and seeing how things could change for them down the road. but, charlie just really annoyed me throughout this entire thing. and there was a few scenes in the book i just felt a bit icky with.
reread/edit:
after listening to the audiobook (after realizing that the audio went viral lol), I think I've come to appreciate this story a bit more. the narrators we're phenomenal and delivered certain aspects that I guess I just missed out on when I was reading it on my own.
i am still annoyed with charlie for being so dramatic about nick leaving but, the delivery of it through the audiobook I guess I can get how and why he was feeling this way.
wish my experience with this novella had started with the audiobook!!! genuinely haven't enjoyed an audiobook more.
reread/edit:
after listening to the audiobook (after realizing that the audio went viral lol), I think I've come to appreciate this story a bit more. the narrators we're phenomenal and delivered certain aspects that I guess I just missed out on when I was reading it on my own.
i am still annoyed with charlie for being so dramatic about nick leaving but, the delivery of it through the audiobook I guess I can get how and why he was feeling this way.
wish my experience with this novella had started with the audiobook!!! genuinely haven't enjoyed an audiobook more.
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
2.75
this one had such good potential! i loved the art throughout the novel, the story line just fell a bit flat for me. there were interesting things happening and I was really invested but the storylines were just never followed through. i wanted to know what was happening with both major story lines but the story just ended with no further explanation.
i also just didn't really enjoy the relationship between the two main characters. they both acted too snotty at certain parts and eh.
this could have been so good!!
i also just didn't really enjoy the relationship between the two main characters. they both acted too snotty at certain parts and eh.
this could have been so good!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage