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bookish_afrolatina's reviews
404 reviews
Breathless by Beverly Jenkins
adventurous
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
Portia had a terribly rough life at a young age so I was very happy to see her life as an adult with her aunt and uncle. I loved exploring her community in New Mexico during the late 1800s through this story. It's not common knowledge that Black folks had communities out there. It was really cool to get a glimpse into Black feminism at the time, too!
Portia and Kent are very sweet together and their sexual tension is immediately explored. The only parts of the book I wasn't enthused by were when the author repeatedly described Portia as "aware of his maleness" and "made her feel female." I'm always turned off when folks use those terms to describe people because those are scientific terms that are usually followed by a species name like, "she saw a female bear." I feel like that made some of the scenes less romantic to me.
Portia and Kent are very sweet together and their sexual tension is immediately explored. The only parts of the book I wasn't enthused by were when the author repeatedly described Portia as "aware of his maleness" and "made her feel female." I'm always turned off when folks use those terms to describe people because those are scientific terms that are usually followed by a species name like, "she saw a female bear." I feel like that made some of the scenes less romantic to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
I am hooked! In The Shadow Of The Fall is a story about belonging, secrets, and faith. Despite this being so short, I felt fully immersed and invested in Ashâke’s journey. She has longed to be with her peers as a priestess and feels like something must be wrong with her if the orisha have yet to contact her.
The pacing of this book starts off a little bit slow, builds some intrigue and then picks up speed towards the end. I’m assuming that is because the second book is meant to bring the action. I’m ready for that!
I highly recommend this book to everyone!
The pacing of this book starts off a little bit slow, builds some intrigue and then picks up speed towards the end. I’m assuming that is because the second book is meant to bring the action. I’m ready for that!
I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gaslighting
The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is a mysterious and kinda cute YA speculative fiction book. It has a sort of steampunk vibe and takes place in a version of the U.S. where the Confederacy doesn’t lose the war. However, this is done well as it imagines New Orleans as even more connected to Haiti and Yoruba gods.
The MC is headstrong which is always needed in an adventure like this. Her story is filled with spy craft, powerful women, and love of her city.
I enjoyed this book but would have loved a bit more character-building for the MC.
The audiobook narrator also pronounces New Orleans differently than I’ve heard natives say it. This was distracting, at times.
The MC is headstrong which is always needed in an adventure like this. Her story is filled with spy craft, powerful women, and love of her city.
I enjoyed this book but would have loved a bit more character-building for the MC.
The audiobook narrator also pronounces New Orleans differently than I’ve heard natives say it. This was distracting, at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Violence
Minor: War
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Wow! This book is really beautiful. It’s slow-going, at first, because we need space to get to know Dex and their world. I think that the conversations between Dex and Mosscap hit this wonderful cross-section between humorous, reflective, emotional, and grounding. There are so many quotes that I loved but I think the message that affected me the most was about purpose. I’m not gonna share what exactly, as I don’t wanna spoil it for y’all!
Also a heads-up, the adventure with the robot doesn’t begin until halfway through the book so you’ve gotta be patient! This is the first in a series.
Also a heads-up, the adventure with the robot doesn’t begin until halfway through the book so you’ve gotta be patient! This is the first in a series.
A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
This is now my favorite book of the Leonas series and absolutely one of my favorite reads of 2025 already!!!
Adriana Herrera brings us an amazingly smart and resilient heroine finding the love she deserves with a head-strong, passionate, and dedicated man who will never stop fighting systems of oppression. I feel like the characters in this book (and the series as a whole) are whole people with rich lives.
Aurora's background hit me hard and I related a lot to her feelings of abandonment and shame. Something that brought me a lot of joy was the way Herrera showed the truth about being a Black woman (in any time, really) who is forced to put up a shield and take any hits that come our way; we need tenderness and care and love. We deserve to be adored, too.
The chemistry between Aurora and Apollo is off the chartsssss!!! These two can't keep their hands off of each other. I think that this is probably the most explicit of the three books, too, but I might reread them all just to make sure lmao!
If you've never read Historical Fiction before, I highly recommend this series, any books by Beverly Jenkins, and books by J.J. McAvoy.
Adriana Herrera brings us an amazingly smart and resilient heroine finding the love she deserves with a head-strong, passionate, and dedicated man who will never stop fighting systems of oppression. I feel like the characters in this book (and the series as a whole) are whole people with rich lives.
Aurora's background hit me hard and I related a lot to her feelings of abandonment and shame. Something that brought me a lot of joy was the way Herrera showed the truth about being a Black woman (in any time, really) who is forced to put up a shield and take any hits that come our way; we need tenderness and care and love. We deserve to be adored, too.
The chemistry between Aurora and Apollo is off the chartsssss!!! These two can't keep their hands off of each other. I think that this is probably the most explicit of the three books, too, but I might reread them all just to make sure lmao!
If you've never read Historical Fiction before, I highly recommend this series, any books by Beverly Jenkins, and books by J.J. McAvoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Midnight by Beverly Jenkins
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
relaxing
sad
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? No
5.0
This is a beautiful Black Romance taking place in and around Boston, Massachusetts at the start of the Revolutionary War. I read a lot of Historical Romances and rarely have I seen a Black Romance set in this timeframe, so I was really excited about this one. Faith Kingston is a strong-willed, intelligent woman who has experienced a lot of hardship at the hands of her father. Naturally, I felt a sense of justice, warmth, and joy from seeing (reading*) her experience love for the first time! Despite Nicholas Grey's past, he has a heart of gold and a tenderness that comes out when he cares about people. Their interactions were very swoon-worthy.
Jenkins did a fantastic job recreating Colonial Boston (and the Greater Boston area) as well as pulling me into daily life of those who lived there. Despite my being an historian, I learned a few things! It was also very cool that she included interactions with some historical figures like Prince Hall.
I really loved reading this book and I think y'all would, too.
Jenkins did a fantastic job recreating Colonial Boston (and the Greater Boston area) as well as pulling me into daily life of those who lived there. Despite my being an historian, I learned a few things! It was also very cool that she included interactions with some historical figures like Prince Hall.
I really loved reading this book and I think y'all would, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Stalking
Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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? No
4.0
One thing I know I can count on when I pick up a Beverly Jenkins book is that her happy endings will include two main characters who have the privilege of being thoroughly loved and respected by one another.
Eddy* and Rhine are adorable for many reasons. Eddy is resourceful, passionate, playful, and earnest while Rhine is patient, observant, gracious, and industrious.
I love the emphasis on building strong connections with their community and what that support of one another could have looked like.
As always, I recommend Auntie Bev’s book to all Romance lovers!
*The audiobook narrator pronounced her name like “Ee-dee”
Eddy* and Rhine are adorable for many reasons. Eddy is resourceful, passionate, playful, and earnest while Rhine is patient, observant, gracious, and industrious.
I love the emphasis on building strong connections with their community and what that support of one another could have looked like.
As always, I recommend Auntie Bev’s book to all Romance lovers!
*The audiobook narrator pronounced her name like “Ee-dee”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Slavery
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Parable of the Sower was heartbreaking but Parable of the Talents always devastating. It’s still an incredible story and very prophetic. Lauren’s drive for her purpose was inspiring and maddening all at once.
It was an interesting choice for Butler to have her daughter be the narrator for the much of the book.Marc/Marcos was a tragic character but I was honestly enraged when I realized he was going to just pretend his sister was dead after all she went through. I felt bad for him early on but his own experiences should have made him more understanding of Lauren’s. I believe he traded his own comfort and safety for his sister’s.
This series will definitely stay with me in the years to come.
It was an interesting choice for Butler to have her daughter be the narrator for the much of the book.
This series will definitely stay with me in the years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Police brutality, and War
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Sometimes I think about how my country (the U.S) might fall and this isn’t far off from that. After all, Butler’s predictions in this book were inspired by the patterns of our country’s priorities and behaviors for a few hundred years.
This is a very thoughtful and insightful book that I recommend to everyone. It takes a bit to pick up in the beginning but once it does, I think you’ll understand why it’s so impactful.
My only qualm is that I wish the lead wasn’t a teen.
This is a very thoughtful and insightful book that I recommend to everyone. It takes a bit to pick up in the beginning but once it does, I think you’ll understand why it’s so impactful.
My only qualm is that I wish the lead wasn’t a teen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Gun violence, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book! Saving a local bookstore is very Christmasy but saving a Black-owned bookshop as the son who inherits that legacy is even better. The main characters have strong relationships with their families but make a few mistakes that are pretty typical for teens. I loved their familial lives.
Ariel’s struggle with emotional eating was incredibly relatable and handled with care. It wasn’t the main focus though.
Since this book takes place in London and I’m American, I was confused when the MCs kept mentioning college but were still 17 years old. That’s just one of those societal differences that I like learning about through books!
Anyway, this was a very sweet YA Romance with a little bit of sexual content.
I recommend it and plan to read more by this author this year.
Since this book takes place in London and I’m American, I was confused when the MCs kept mentioning college but were still 17 years old. That’s just one of those societal differences that I like learning about through books!
Anyway, this was a very sweet YA Romance with a little bit of sexual content.
I recommend it and plan to read more by this author this year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent