deereadstoo's reviews
151 reviews

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

CW/TW: transphobia, misgendering, deadnaming (brief, blacked-out), child abuse (off-page), gender dysphoria

I read the synopsis of this book thinking, "Oh, damn. This is going to be really predictable." What the synopsis revealed was predictable. I guessed that off-rip but everything else that this story gave me was far from what I'd ever guessed and far more than what I anticipated in the best way possible.

This is a coming-of-age story. A love story. A tragedy. An exploration of gender identity. A beacon of hope for those who struggle with their own gender identity. This story is about found family. Not all blood is thicker than water. So the predictability is only 15% of the story. The rest? The rest explores themes much deeper than the budding teenage love story. The rest explores what it feels like when you're drowning. You're flailing about. You're so concerned with the fact that you're drowning that you don't notice the people trying to save you. They can't help you until you let them. They love you. I hope that anyone who has ever struggled with their identity and has read this book knows that there are people in this world--whether they are as close to you as a bated breath or as distant as the deepest pits of the ocean--that love you for who you are and wish nothing but the love and happiness and comfort you deserve for just being you because that love will always feel like summer.

"Like here? Or in eternity?"

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? No

4.0

CW/TW: sexual assault

There are some couples that just remind you of the 90s. They remind you of when you'd see a couple sitting on the stoop. The man nestled in between his girl's legs as she delicately greased his scalp. An intimate moment between the two. They're both at peace within. Massaging the stresses away with Blue Magic and summer heat. I know they're literally in high school but this is how I imagine Dani and Prince.

Young, Black love makes my heart swoon. Such a delicate flower. Prince, with wisdom beyond his years, partly due to being in a situation he had no control of but took control of anyway. Dani, fighting for every ounce of control she can find because nothing feels more out of your control than your mind. The two of them crash-landing into each other sparked an untamable fire growing within each of them. Pure love. What I wouldn't give to find something as sickly sweet as them because everyone deserves of true love story.

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

CW/TW: gender dysphoria, internalized homophobia, war themes, misgendering, gender inequality

Sometimes reading the synopsis taints the reading experience just a little bit.

Shelley Parker-Chan puts pen to paper and brings to life some of the most vibrant and emotionally jarring characters I’ve ever read. When I first met Ouyang, Baoxiang, and Esen, I was immediately enthralled. The way they portrayed these characters was breathtaking. The passion, the pain, the flaws. They were all characteristics that made each one of them bring something different and yet similar to the story and help bring it to life. Even more so with Ouyang as Parker-Chan artistically explores gender identity and how it rears its head so beautifully and really takes the reader on the journey with him as goes through internal struggles regarding who he is and what he’s fighting for.

However, there’s one character that didn’t seem to get that same dedication–Zhu Chongba. Now, one could argue that Zhu’s one-dimensional characterization fits rather well with her one-track mind to greatness, but I think there still could’ve been more depth to her character while still blazing her path to greatness by any means necessary. It really felt like a disservice as she’s literally who the story is about. Maybe if the synopsis was written to include both Zhu and Ouyang’s stories, I would’ve felt that the story made more sense and was truthful in it’s marketing.

In terms of the writing, the beginning and end had me gripped. The storytelling and imagery. The passion and vigor for fighting for your destiny was right there. However, the middle...dragged. The pacing was painfully slow which is why it took me a month to finish it. I was interested but not enough to keep reading until night became day. That ending definitely made up for it. I was in it. My jaw was unhinged and my fingers were flipping the pages as fast as my eyes could take me because I needed to know–what next? I’m definitely intrigued because Zhu did say they will meet again.

Overall, I don’t think this was a bad story. If you’re interested in Chinese historical fantasies and enjoy more character-driven stories that explore gender identity and fate, this is definitely something you want to indulge in.

EDIT: Mulan meets Song of Achilles is probably the best use of books to describe another book I’ve ever seen.

PET by Akwaeke Emezi

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced