booksaftercafecito's reviews
188 reviews

The fact that this book so clearly and accurately represents Fibromyalgia made it an automatic 5 star read for me. Seeing my symptoms, inner thoughts, and feelings mirrored back at me through Chloe made me so emotional. Dealing with an invisible chronic illness can be extremely isolating, and having to constantly explain yourself or try to make people believe it’s real is exhausting. This book made me feel seen and validated.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Chloe at first. She was a bit too prissy and stuck up to seem likable. However, she grew on me the more I got to know her. If anything, I related to her even more, because I recognized the defense mechanism of closing yourself off in order to avoid rejection or feeling like a burden and annoyance to others.

Having her sisters and aunt play such vital roles as immediate family that took her illness seriously and were always aware of her wellbeing also struck an emotional chord, as that is not a support system that is common.

Then there’s Redford Morgan. The kind of friend-turned-partner a person like me dreams of, even if we are shy or hesitant at first. He truly cared for Chloe. Being such a good son who already enjoyed caring for his mother, his caregiving and selflessness was at full throttle for Chloe. He did not undermine her autonomy, but also knew when it was effective to force help upon her, when she truly needed it but wouldn’t dare ask. I can understand how easy it is to fall in love with him.

There’s so much more to this story, including some spice, so please, READ IT! 💜

Another Sky by Cynthia A. Rodriguez

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

The main thing I appreciated about Cynthia’s storytelling in this book was how she took us through brief yet insightful moments of Teófila and Elijah’s friendship, starting with their meeting at 7 years old, continuing through their teenage years, and how it blossomed into a romantic relationship through their young adulthood.

Teófila struggles with deep-seated insecurities, leading to self-harm and major depression. She finds her number one source of comfort is Elijah, her soulmate and best friend.

Elijah has always considered Teófila his best friend and confidant, and goes above and beyond to prioritize their friendship, also being protective of her at many times. But could this friendship be meant for something more?

Elijah is extremely talented, with dreams of becoming famous for his music. He seeks validation from his pretty much absent father, who only comes around with interests in Elijah’s career potential, but Elijah relishes in that bit of attention. When the moment arrives for him to pursue his career and move to New York, of course he wants Teófila by his side. As their journey unfolds, many aspects of their life together start to unravel. I felt emotionally invested and frustrated the entire book. Definitely a must read.

Content Warnings

The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest

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emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

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booksaftercafecito's reviews 188 reviews

booksaftercafecito's reviews
188 reviews