cleoreads's reviews
82 reviews

Here Again Now by Okechukwu Nzelu

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

oh my god. it’s a miracle i didn’t dnf. what a drag. 
reading ekene and achike’s conversations was so exhausting. how many “i love you but…” convos can one have????! also, this editor needs to be fired - spotted a few mistakes. i liked the conversations surrounding grief/fatherhood/alcoholism. wish it was explored more instead of the romantic almost-relationship.

Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir by Natasha Trethewey

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Terrifying and devastating. 

Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham

emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

Really beautiful writing. It made my heart ache at times. I just wish the characters (especially Andrew and Peter)  were developed enough  so that they were more distinguishable from each other. 

Luster by Raven Leilani

reflective 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

3.75

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa

challenging emotional informative sad tense 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

4.0

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Gorgeous writing that had my eyes teary throughout. Just gut-wrenching. 

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

emotional reflective 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

3.75

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

emotional reflective 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

3.75

Got a bit chaotic with all the different POVs and themes that the author introduced. Needed a bit of trimming. Still enjoyable, though. 

When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

3.25

Pacing was off. The last 20% was good but it was too late at that point.