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424 reviews
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
5.0
This is a brilliant book, from which I learnt a lot about grief and the Dominican Republic.
The writing style is different to any novel I've read, each line containing only 4-5 words. It made it extremely easy to read, and I finished it in two sittings.
The plot was very well-written, I liked how both girls had such separate personalities and lives, and how they merged. It was also fast-paced.
The characters were very lovable. Out of the two sisters, I preferred Yahaira because she was more trusting, but Camino was so strong and her wariness was understandable.
Their father, I am still unsure if he was a good person. Both girls loved him, and him them, but he did keep each family a secret from the other up to his death.
Overall, a very brilliant book!
Queer rep:
Sapphic protagonist
The writing style is different to any novel I've read, each line containing only 4-5 words. It made it extremely easy to read, and I finished it in two sittings.
The plot was very well-written, I liked how both girls had such separate personalities and lives, and how they merged. It was also fast-paced.
The characters were very lovable. Out of the two sisters, I preferred Yahaira because she was more trusting, but Camino was so strong and her wariness was understandable.
Their father, I am still unsure if he was a good person. Both girls loved him, and him them, but he did keep each family a secret from the other up to his death.
Overall, a very brilliant book!
Queer rep:
Sapphic protagonist
Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A historical sapphic romance? Named after a Taylor Swift lyric? I had quite high expectations for this one!
Gwen and Beth were such well developed protagonists! Gwen was shameless, proud, confident, with a large sense of humour. Beth was shy, polite, gentle, with a fun side too of course. They went so well together!
A large plot point was the girls trying to pair up their parents, both very strong characters. I really enjoyed their opposing personalities.
The background characters were all very well developed also.
The romance between the protagonists was very well-written, not forced. I'd like to remind you that this is an adult book, so don't expect it to be YA in terms of romance.
The historical setting seemed good to me, though I honestly don't know enough to comment on it.
I really loved this book, and highly recommend it!
Queer rep:
Sapphic protagonists
Gwen and Beth were such well developed protagonists! Gwen was shameless, proud, confident, with a large sense of humour. Beth was shy, polite, gentle, with a fun side too of course. They went so well together!
A large plot point was the girls trying to pair up their parents, both very strong characters. I really enjoyed their opposing personalities.
The background characters were all very well developed also.
The romance between the protagonists was very well-written, not forced. I'd like to remind you that this is an adult book, so don't expect it to be YA in terms of romance.
The historical setting seemed good to me, though I honestly don't know enough to comment on it.
I really loved this book, and highly recommend it!
Queer rep:
Sapphic protagonists
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A dark demon-full thriller with three strong female leads!
Overall, I enjoyed this book! Sure, I guessed who the villain was immediately and didn't find the characters as lovable as they could've been, but this is a great book!
The protagonists, Jude, Emer and Zara, were so brave! I liked how their relationships grew throughout the book, from wariness to trust. I think they could've been closer by the end, but for a pretty short book I'm happy with what we got.
The witch-murdering villain was an interesting mystery, though I found the plot twist to be very obvious. I did enjoy how it played out.
The magic aspect was done very well, I enjoyed the concept of the invocations very much.
So, this is a book I highly recommend!
Overall, I enjoyed this book! Sure, I guessed who the villain was immediately and didn't find the characters as lovable as they could've been, but this is a great book!
The protagonists, Jude, Emer and Zara, were so brave! I liked how their relationships grew throughout the book, from wariness to trust. I think they could've been closer by the end, but for a pretty short book I'm happy with what we got.
The witch-murdering villain was an interesting mystery, though I found the plot twist to be very obvious. I did enjoy how it played out.
The magic aspect was done very well, I enjoyed the concept of the invocations very much.
So, this is a book I highly recommend!
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
This is a really sweet adult romance! It's a rivals-to-lovers story between two comic artists.
Sage and Noah were both such deep, well developed protagonists. They were like real people, flawed but good, the ideal way for characters to be in a contemporary novel!
The side characters had just enough development to be lovable, but not too little!
The romance was amazingly written, it didn't seem unrealistic.
The comic competition was such an interesting past to the story, and I thought the ending was perfect!!!
Sage and Noah were both such deep, well developed protagonists. They were like real people, flawed but good, the ideal way for characters to be in a contemporary novel!
The side characters had just enough development to be lovable, but not too little!
The romance was amazingly written, it didn't seem unrealistic.
The comic competition was such an interesting past to the story, and I thought the ending was perfect!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Abandonment, Biphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Lesbophobia
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams
adventurous
inspiring
fast-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
What. A. Book.!!! This is certainly a series I will be continuing!
The magic aspect was very strong, with two types of power. The fae were an interesting group, though I found it strange that so few were well-meaning towards humans. The Orisha, while barely being explained at all, were very fascinating and I found the powers they granted perfect in the way that they weren't too powerful but not weak. But who are the Orisha? How many are there? This is not explained at all.
The setting, 1600s London, was very well done, except for a lack of place descriptions. Joan's gender and race greatly affected how she could move around in the city, which I felt helped us to feel her frustration at having very little choice in her life's path.
Our protagonist, Joan Sands, was so strong and brave. I admired how, rather than suppressing her queerness, she had already accepted her sexuality and wasn't afraid to kiss other queer girls.
I'll do a quick overview of my opinions on Joan's friends/acquaintances. Samuel, underdeveloped. Shakespeare (yes, the playwright himself) needs more development in the next book. Burbage, same as Shakespeare. Phillips, same as the others. Pretty much everyone was barely developed at all.
The family was also underdeveloped, Joan's parents barely made an appearance. James was quite well developed, yay!
And now the romance.... Rose and Joan had some insta-love, which was actually not bad, I usually dislike insta-love! Rose was quite fascinating. Nick was very sweet, I enjoyed his and Joan's romance.
The play element was very well done, and, though I doubt the sequel will contain as much acting, I'd happily read more of it!
The ending plot twist was predictable, but still exciting enough for me to read the next book!
I feel like this review was quite negative so far, but this book really was AMAZING, it's easy to become invested in the plot, as it's very fast paced with no time skips. The battle scenes are very well written!
The magic aspect was very strong, with two types of power. The fae were an interesting group, though I found it strange that so few were well-meaning towards humans. The Orisha, while barely being explained at all, were very fascinating and I found the powers they granted perfect in the way that they weren't too powerful but not weak. But who are the Orisha? How many are there? This is not explained at all.
The setting, 1600s London, was very well done, except for a lack of place descriptions. Joan's gender and race greatly affected how she could move around in the city, which I felt helped us to feel her frustration at having very little choice in her life's path.
Our protagonist, Joan Sands, was so strong and brave. I admired how, rather than suppressing her queerness, she had already accepted her sexuality and wasn't afraid to kiss other queer girls.
I'll do a quick overview of my opinions on Joan's friends/acquaintances. Samuel, underdeveloped. Shakespeare (yes, the playwright himself) needs more development in the next book. Burbage, same as Shakespeare. Phillips, same as the others. Pretty much everyone was barely developed at all.
The family was also underdeveloped, Joan's parents barely made an appearance. James was quite well developed, yay!
And now the romance.... Rose and Joan had some insta-love, which was actually not bad, I usually dislike insta-love! Rose was quite fascinating. Nick was very sweet, I enjoyed his and Joan's romance.
The play element was very well done, and, though I doubt the sequel will contain as much acting, I'd happily read more of it!
The ending plot twist was predictable, but still exciting enough for me to read the next book!
I feel like this review was quite negative so far, but this book really was AMAZING, it's easy to become invested in the plot, as it's very fast paced with no time skips. The battle scenes are very well written!
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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