bookishends's reviews
465 reviews

Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex by Michael Todd

2.5

I watched the sermon years ago and enjoyed it and found it helpful, but the book didn’t do much for me. There were some good tidbits every now and then, but I mainly felt like the tone of the book was too conversational to enjoy and some of the advice felt outdated, or like it was trying to one size fit all something that needed multiple sizes and adjustments to be truly helpful.

Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam

3.0

I was excited for this book, and although I didn’t love it, there was still a lot to like about it. As a theater girlie, I really loved seeing everything that went into Derek putting on the musical. The sabotage also made for some tense moments that kept me wanting to read to see how the characters would react or adapt. I also loved how adamant Zoe was on portraying Vietnamese culture how she and Derek had always envisioned. Derek was such a people pleaser, but it created good conflict, and made for a satisfying ending.

I did wish the romance storyline had been as interesting as the theater storyline though. This book has demi rep, which is very cool, but it was different than I expected. Because the main characters were friends in the past, Zoe is reunited with Derek and experiences pretty instant attraction to him. Since we didn’t get to see that history between them or see them just being friends until the attraction grows, it didn’t feel much different from any other kind of romance. I also felt like if you haven’t seen someone in six years, there’s a lot of relearning you need to do about that person. But Zoe and Derek didn’t seem to have changed much since college, and there wasn’t much discovery between them, so the romance again felt underdeveloped. I almost wished the story had been dual timeline just so that we could actually see instead of hear about their friendship in college. 

The book also took some time to sink into because some of the dialogue felt forced in the beginning, and there was an over-explanation of details. I had to put it down for a few weeks and come back to it, but I liked it better when I revisited it.

If you like ‘he falls first and he falls harder’, the importance of community being highlighted, and theater galore, you might want to pick up this book. I do like the Boss Babes, so I would probably read another book by the author if Reina ends up being a main character in her own story.

*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC and gifted finished copy. All opinions are my own*

You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson

I’ve followed Andrea on Instagram for a while, so I finally decided to read this as it had been on my TBR for the longest too. Some poems I liked and resonated with more than others, but overall, I like Andrea’s style and find the hope that flows through the pages to be inspiring. I would definitely read more of their work.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

4.0

  "There is no bad luck in the world but whitefolks." 

Beloved was my first introduction to Toni Morrison’s work, and I completely understand now. This book stretched my mind in a way it hadn’t been in a while, and I had so much to think about and hypothesize as the book delved into trauma and community so masterfully. The flashbacks to Sweet Home and the ending of the book were my favorite. I don’t know how I feel about Sethe, but I appreciated that the characters were so fleshed out that I could understand them even if I didn’t agree with their actions or judgements. Denver was probably the character that my opinion of changed the most, but that’s why I liked the ending so much. This feels like a book that you would have to read a few times to pick up on everything because there’s so many elements occurring simultaneously that it can be hard to understand it the first time. The book is definitely smarter than me. I do want to read another Morrison book though because this was a really good experience.

Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop

3.0

 If you love steamy romance, this is the story for you. Listening to the audiobook for this one was surely an experience. I wished I had liked this one more than I did, but it was just okay. The MMC, Rome, was everything though. He was the perfect love interest, and he genuinely cared about Janelle and making her life easier. Janelle kind of annoyed me near the end, and I just couldn’t get with so many of the decisions she made. Her family dynamic was very tense though, so I would recommend this book if that interests you because there was plenty of drama to go around. Overall, this one was fun, but sort of a miss for me.

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

4.75

Our Infinite Fates was one of my most anticipated reads for the year, and I’m so glad it lived up to my expectations. I’m someone that cares more about if a book sounds interesting than the books it’s comped to, but The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue being one of the comps automatically piqued my interest because Addie was everything to me.

This is a book that’s better served by not knowing much going in, and it’s not something I can really dive into without spoiling it. So, I’ll talk more about the aspects of the story that I really loved rather than the story itself. 

The prose was absolutely magnificent and delicious. I had 67 highlights in the book, and if I read it again, I’d probably find even more lines that stood out to me. The way Evelyn reflects on the human condition feels so removed and yet so close. I also had no idea how queer this book was going to be, but Evelyn’s remarks on gender and sexuality were refreshing. And Evelyn and Arden’s connection made me want to rip my own heart out of my chest. The amount of turmoil mixed with their love was both heart-rending and heartwarming. It made every time the story went into the past timeline so worth it to learn more about the way their relationship changed over time.

I won’t lie and say the book didn’t lose me a bit toward the end with the reveal, but the ending itself made up for any of my skepticism or lapse in enthusiasm. Overall, this story had all the hallmarks of why I love soulmate stories and doomed love. Fans of Aida and Hadestown will likely enjoy this one.

*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.*

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle

4.5

What I thought was going to be a cute read was actually so much more than that and made me tear up multiple times. Admittedly, I didn’t know what the book was about before going into it. I just knew the author was going to Black Romance Book Fest, and so I finally wanted to read this book since I’d seen it around a lot. Don’t get me wrong, the swoonworthy moments were swooning. But the conversations around disability, consent, and when to ask for help were what really left an impression. 

Prince and Dani’s dates were so thoughtful and make you reevaluate the effort you deserve when it comes to romance. I loved that they wanted to better and lift up the other because they believed in each other. And while the romance was a highlight, this story was also about believing in and healing yourself. The musical history and love advice was just the cherry on top.

Overall, I think this is a great book for teens who are dealing with a lot, whether it’s familial responsibilities and pressure, like Prince, or trying to heal from trauma, like Dani. I would definitely read more by Ebony LaDelle because of the realness she infuses into her writing.

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

4.5

Soledad’s story was one of strength and community. Her ex-husband diminished her spirit and trust in herself, but she continually found ways to show up for those she loved, and more importantly, for herself. I loved the ‘will they, won’t they’ tension between her and Judah. That man was made for her, and denying herself the pleasure of true love and companionship wasn’t helping anyone. I’m glad she had her friends and family to talk sense into her and help her realize she really can have it all without losing herself in a man again. 

I’m very much loving books where the main characters have established lives with children and responsibilities that make the relationship harder to come by. And based on what Judah represented to Soledad’s daughters, it wasn’t easy for her to give herself to a relationship. But the care Soledad and Judah had for their children was beautiful to read. I don’t read a lot of books with autistic characters, but I felt a lot of care was put into showing both the struggles and triumphs of Judah’s family.

Overall, Kennedy Ryan did it again. While I loved Before I Let Go just a tad more than This Could Be Us, this series has grabbed my attention and heart. The only thing I hate about finishing the first two books is that now I have to wait months for Hendrix’s story. And I already know that book is going to be as vivacious as her. I feel like we got to see a deeper look at Yasmen, Soledad, and Hendrix’s friendship in this story as they were there through thick and thin with Soledad, so I can’t wait to see how their friendship continues to blossom in the next book. 

Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places by Claire Kann

5.0

I adored Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places. The audiobook was the perfect way to go because it made the story and the house feel so alive. I could not stop smiling to myself as I listened, especially whenever Lucky and Maverick interacted. 

I’ve realized recently that I really love romances with children involved as it requires a whole different set of responsibilities and precautions that don’t exist in other stories. But Lucky’s interactions with Maverick’s daughter, Rebel, were as lively and authentic as her interactions with Maverick. I appreciated that Lucky never saw Rebel as a burden or an obstacle in her relationship with Maverick.

And don’t get me started on the aceness of the story! This might be my favorite ace romance I’ve ever read. I loved the conversations Lucky had about her feelings and experiences, and how open her friends and Maverick were to listening and understanding her. It’s everything you could ever want. And though Lucky and Maverick were taking it slow over the course of the book, the sensuality was on point and delightful.

The paranormal aspect of the story intrigued me, especially the conclusions Lucky came to. I really enjoyed reading about her experiments with the house, and I’m a sucker for sentient objects, so I totally understood the draw she had to solve the mystery. And for someone who’s never been into ghosts or haunted houses, I weirdly got the desire to search for the paranormal while reading. There’s something about the way Lucky describes her passion and reasoning for it that makes it sound appealing, even though I would probably be the person running in fear.

Overall, there are a lot of elements to love in the story, but the unabashed aceness of it sold me. This is my second Kann read, but now I’m very interested in reading some of her other books because she does a great job at crafting authentic characters.

Mallory in Full Color by Elisa Stone Leahy

3.0

Mallory in Full Color was a struggle to get through. I loved the diversity, drag elements, and conversation around library censorship. But something about the pacing, or maybe the lack of investment I felt in the main character, made the book feel like it was dragging. The ending was really sweet though, and it had some authenticity in that not everything can be magically fixed. I’m glad I finished the book because I do think it can be helpful for a lot of kids who don’t know who they want to be, and this will make for a good recommendation. This was just a case of right book, wrong reader.