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booksandbesitos's reviews
36 reviews
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Child abuse
Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
5.0
Im not a big poetry reader really, that’s why I went with the audio version of this book. But I’ve been a fan of Lana’s for a decade now and decided it was time to give this one a listen.
It was beautiful! Lana’s reading voice is just as beautiful as her singing voice.
I did notice that the Audio isn’t in the same order as the the book but that didn’t really bother me.
My favorite ones were LA Who Am I To Love You and SportCrusier. There was a lot of emotion in the words and it made me feel a lot.
I also really liked Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass.
I hope she puts out another book at some point.
It was beautiful! Lana’s reading voice is just as beautiful as her singing voice.
I did notice that the Audio isn’t in the same order as the the book but that didn’t really bother me.
My favorite ones were LA Who Am I To Love You and SportCrusier. There was a lot of emotion in the words and it made me feel a lot.
I also really liked Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass.
I hope she puts out another book at some point.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol and Fire/Fire injury
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
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
4.75
This is the type of book that made me go “what the actual f***” once I put it down.
Oh my God, I knew to expect snows evilness going into this book and having read the description, and being an avid hunger games, reader, when I was younger.
But oh my God, the last few chapters are intense. Suzanne Collins did it once again it was beautiful, writing, and so much song.
Seriously this song lyrics are amazing and I can’t wait to see the film adaptation so I can listen to them
Oh my God, I knew to expect snows evilness going into this book and having read the description, and being an avid hunger games, reader, when I was younger.
But oh my God, the last few chapters are intense. Suzanne Collins did it once again it was beautiful, writing, and so much song.
Seriously this song lyrics are amazing and I can’t wait to see the film adaptation so I can listen to them
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Gun violence, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cannibalism, Drug use, and Vomit
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
4.0
I fell in love with Nina LaCour in high school, and I remember reading every book she had published at the time. I finally got to reread this book as an adult and I see why I loved her so much this book is everything younger me wanted in a story, semi talented teenagers taking on the world.
This book follows Colby and his best friends who are in a band. They go on tour during their final summer break before college and the real world.
In an adventure filled with music and motels the characters make memories in the western US.
This book follows Colby and his best friends who are in a band. They go on tour during their final summer break before college and the real world.
In an adventure filled with music and motels the characters make memories in the western US.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity
The Last Love Song by Kalie Holford
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This heartwarming book follows Mia, a recent high school graduate, on a scavenger hunt left by her late mother, Tori Rose. Both Mia and her mother grew up with music in their blood. Despite sharing roots and music, Mia knows very little about her mother.
The book contains two timelines, showing the lives of both Mia and Tori.
It's an incredible debut novel. I’m excited to see what Kalie Holford creates next. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and highly recommend it to music lovers, those navigating mother-daughter relationships, and to anyone who want a queer story with beautiful writing.
Almost forgot my favorite detail- There was two grandmothers/mothers and I loved them so much!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Pumpkin Spice by Tagan Shepard
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Okay, this book was a bit of a trip.
There were a lot of things I liked, and some that I didn’t really love.
Our main character is an almost 40-year-old woman living in a small Virginia town. Her life doesn’t involve much dating or socializing. Oh, and she has two niblings whom she adores.
Eventually, these two situations collide when she takes her niece to a pumpkin patch and falls for the very attractive farmer.
Their romance is filled with pumpkin spice lattes, autumn strolls, small-town shenanigans, and haunted houses. It’s pretty cute; I feel like fall romance isn’t written about often. Between summer loves and winter holiday romances, fall romance is an overlooked genre.
As sweet and promising as the premise was, there were some things that took me out of it while reading.
There were a lot of details in the writing. Normally, it’s not a bad thing, but in this instance, the author did a lot of telling and not enough showing. It felt kind of long and dull at some points.
Another thing I didn’t really like was how the main character seemed so confused about what she wanted. At one point, she’s on a date while acting self-deprecating and telling herself the other woman does not like her. It made it hard to root for the couple when it seemed like the main character couldn’t. Thankfully, the sister made the rooting a little easier.
Overall, it’s a good, short romance. Not too long or complicated. A cozy read for autumn lovers.
This Book Is Banned by Raj Haldar
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
4.25
This is a fun book!
Even for kiddos who don’t quite understand the concept of book banning.
It has (not scary) monsters! Robots ! Dinosaurs! And AVOCADOS! And unicorns too. And wolfs (Only not for long)
It’s a little chaotic but oh so fun!
After trying to put everything in the book by the time it gets to the end, there is quite literally nothing.
And the writing is interactive and fun. It invites the kids turn pages and to voice opinions. And in the end they see why not everyone can be pleased. And that it’s okay for people to not like everything but it’s not okay to make others get rid of things you don’t like.
Even for kiddos who don’t quite understand the concept of book banning.
It has (not scary) monsters! Robots ! Dinosaurs! And AVOCADOS! And unicorns too. And wolfs (Only not for long)
It’s a little chaotic but oh so fun!
After trying to put everything in the book by the time it gets to the end, there is quite literally nothing.
And the writing is interactive and fun. It invites the kids turn pages and to voice opinions. And in the end they see why not everyone can be pleased. And that it’s okay for people to not like everything but it’s not okay to make others get rid of things you don’t like.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
It was sweet most of the time. I wish we’d gotten to explore the relationship between Felix and his dad a little more though. But it was a sweet YA book with a satisfying ending.
I was a little bit nervous to pick it up because I’ve been told that Felix is a little whiny sometimes but it Really wasn’t that bad, I mean what high school student isn’t a little whiny.
But overall fun cast of characters, cute pride scenes and I’m a sucker for artists in love . I wish my younger self would’ve read this.
I was a little bit nervous to pick it up because I’ve been told that Felix is a little whiny sometimes but it Really wasn’t that bad, I mean what high school student isn’t a little whiny.
But overall fun cast of characters, cute pride scenes and I’m a sucker for artists in love . I wish my younger self would’ve read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Deadnaming, and Abandonment
Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I picked this up because I really liked the title lol, but I didn’t really have any expectations going into it. It turned out to be coming of age but as an adult. And I really liked that. Our main character starts off as a reporter who is sort of engaged to a man with a couple friends. And by the end of the book she’s a journalist, with a girlfriend, and a few new friends.
I liked that the book showed that finding your self, and where you belong isn’t something that ends in high school and it’s some thing lifelong. I also really liked how our main character struggles between the sexuality and her culture. It’s something very real for a lot of us POC. I’m not Armenian but I’m Mexican and there was so many similarities between what I dealt with and what happened in the book. (I had tías instead of aunties but the writing still makes it oh so relatable)
The only thing keeping me from giving this five stars is that Nareh kept making really questionable decisions. Like girl please get a grip I’m begging.
But all in all, it was a really nice read, and a really good mix of emotional and heartfelt scenes and some that were pretty funny.
I liked that the book showed that finding your self, and where you belong isn’t something that ends in high school and it’s some thing lifelong. I also really liked how our main character struggles between the sexuality and her culture. It’s something very real for a lot of us POC. I’m not Armenian but I’m Mexican and there was so many similarities between what I dealt with and what happened in the book. (I had tías instead of aunties but the writing still makes it oh so relatable)
The only thing keeping me from giving this five stars is that Nareh kept making really questionable decisions. Like girl please get a grip I’m begging.
But all in all, it was a really nice read, and a really good mix of emotional and heartfelt scenes and some that were pretty funny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Moderate: Death of parent and Misogyny