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ebonyessencebookshelf's reviews
368 reviews
The Burial of a Player by Kimberly Brown
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Listened in audio via Libby.
Kimberly just writes really good l love stories that make me smile. Walker and Jorja are no different. If you want a benefits turned besties to lovers done well then here you go. All the feels are here.
I love the growth in both these players and mainly Jorja. It’s okay to change your mind and rediscover what you want in life as a whole. Her realizing her worth and moving accordingly was everything. Glad Kim wrote her this way because people, especially men, are only going to do what you allow. As far as Walker goes my girl made sure he felt that in his chest for real 😂. He needed to grown up. His feelings were valid and he needed to own that. In the end it was worth it. Truly the definition of letting go to come back better and stronger.
Of course it’s always good catching up with the other Jareau family members. Now the only thing i wish that tyson was wrote differently. Like a good guy that would’ve gave Walker a true run for his money. On the other handle it shows how some men prey on women they feel are broken so they can mistreat them. All in all i loved the book.
Quotes/moments:
“To leave you, I have to first be yours.”
Kimberly just writes really good l love stories that make me smile. Walker and Jorja are no different. If you want a benefits turned besties to lovers done well then here you go. All the feels are here.
I love the growth in both these players and mainly Jorja. It’s okay to change your mind and rediscover what you want in life as a whole. Her realizing her worth and moving accordingly was everything. Glad Kim wrote her this way because people, especially men, are only going to do what you allow. As far as Walker goes my girl made sure he felt that in his chest for real 😂. He needed to grown up. His feelings were valid and he needed to own that. In the end it was worth it. Truly the definition of letting go to come back better and stronger.
Of course it’s always good catching up with the other Jareau family members. Now the only thing i wish that tyson was wrote differently. Like a good guy that would’ve gave Walker a true run for his money. On the other handle it shows how some men prey on women they feel are broken so they can mistreat them. All in all i loved the book.
Quotes/moments:
“To leave you, I have to first be yours.”
“You break your own heart when you tell yourself you don’t even feel anything for anybody.“
“Baby, you couldn’t handle me. I’ll have you somewhere in a corner sucking your thumb wondering where you went wrong.”
“These are the types of games you wanna play? Fine. You forget that I’m a player too, baby. But when I play, you’re gonna feel that shit in your fucking chest. I promise you that.”
“I know you feel it,” he said, gripping my flesh. “I wanna feel it too. Give that shit to me. Act like you know this is my pussy.” She betrayed me like the triflin’ bitch she was.”
“If there was one thing I had no respect for, it was a married ass nigga that disrespected his wife.”
Mr. Dixon by Linette King
dark
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
First read from this author and I’m for sure reading more.
The book was quick and so damn good. Felt like the author gave us a full length story. Linette really takes you in right away. Dixon was like that and let people be dumb. Talk about people not thinking something through fully. I had some hope for Andrew but nope. 3 young men and not one light bulb went off. An old man living by himself away from people. Shaking my head. Does that not equal trouble you’re asking for. Also liked the story around the land. Lastly, Simone knew what she was doing.
The book was quick and so damn good. Felt like the author gave us a full length story. Linette really takes you in right away. Dixon was like that and let people be dumb. Talk about people not thinking something through fully. I had some hope for Andrew but nope. 3 young men and not one light bulb went off. An old man living by himself away from people. Shaking my head. Does that not equal trouble you’re asking for. Also liked the story around the land. Lastly, Simone knew what she was doing.
Cutthroat by Octavia Grant
funny
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Thank you Octavia Grant and Pretty Girls Do Read for this ARC opportunity.
When i say i love me a revenge/get my lick back type of book this is what i mean. Octavia’s mind is sickening and i love it. The amount of times my jaw was on the floor cracking up. I mean the story just kept getting better.
I ride for Eden and everything she did. Jermaine had a good wife that would do anything for him but nah that wasn’t good enough. He just had to be a typical low vibrational man. The way Eden handled the whole thing was straight up player. This is what happens when you push a person too far.
My favorite moment:
“That dildo you’ve been sliding in and out of me, it’s Big Jerry’s replica. So, to make a long story short, Little JJ here belongs to your daddy. That’s why you all look alike. You missed your brother, so I replaced the one that you lost. I’m your mama now, nigga,” Eden said proudly.”
When i say i love me a revenge/get my lick back type of book this is what i mean. Octavia’s mind is sickening and i love it. The amount of times my jaw was on the floor cracking up. I mean the story just kept getting better.
I ride for Eden and everything she did. Jermaine had a good wife that would do anything for him but nah that wasn’t good enough. He just had to be a typical low vibrational man. The way Eden handled the whole thing was straight up player. This is what happens when you push a person too far.
My favorite moment:
“That dildo you’ve been sliding in and out of me, it’s Big Jerry’s replica. So, to make a long story short, Little JJ here belongs to your daddy. That’s why you all look alike. You missed your brother, so I replaced the one that you lost. I’m your mama now, nigga,” Eden said proudly.”
Don't Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo
Quotes/moments:
-“Once or twice, some orderly or clerk gave me a fleeting frown, but if you are a white man of indifferent looks, you can walk for a long time without being stopped, if you only do so quickly.”
-“The problem of course was that anyone who tells other people stories first must tell themselves stories.“
-“Kindness was never promised, and neither was sympathy.”
-“Hesitantly, I unbuttoned my shirt, and he handed me a steak knife from the kitchen. It was serrated and sharp, and I thought briefly of the Sheffield razor my great-uncle had used to take his own face off. It hurt, of course it hurts to take out your own heart.”
Thank you Colored Pages Tours, NetGalley, and Tordotcom for this opportunity.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
First book I read from Nghi Vo. Her writing is really beautiful and it captured my attention right away. Loved the supernatural element to the book. The characters were enjoyable. Nghi really painted the picture with her words to give the book life. Sometimes I laughed and other times I was stuck with my jaw dropped.
I do wish i had read The Chosen and the Beautiful before this book. There were times i was a little like “what’s going on?” So that’s on me. Other than that I had a good time reading this.
Quotes/moments:
-“Once or twice, some orderly or clerk gave me a fleeting frown, but if you are a white man of indifferent looks, you can walk for a long time without being stopped, if you only do so quickly.”
-“The problem of course was that anyone who tells other people stories first must tell themselves stories.“
-“Kindness was never promised, and neither was sympathy.”
-“Hesitantly, I unbuttoned my shirt, and he handed me a steak knife from the kitchen. It was serrated and sharp, and I thought briefly of the Sheffield razor my great-uncle had used to take his own face off. It hurt, of course it hurts to take out your own heart.”
Thank you Colored Pages Tours, NetGalley, and Tordotcom for this opportunity.
All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Long review. Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the digital arc.
“This is real for you today, but Blackness is not your reality.”
Wow! DeAndra was writing in this. You can tell her pen is blessed. She wrote the autism representation with so much care and strength. This book is so amazing. She did a really good job of capturing what it's like to be black in America. Especially for a black man at any age and it doesn't matter what disability you have because all they see first is, black. These friends, coaches and so on seen Brandon as the one to make them look good with football and how they look good being linked to him. The moment something horrible happens they all turn their backs.
I really love this family. Brandon and Aiden are such a beautiful bond of brotherly love and kindness. I enjoyed, while also being hurt, how we get to experience first hand how this is effecting each member of the family. We see the change as the trial starts. Also see how people would rather hide the truth knowing that this moment can destroy someone’s future before it even begins. All because they rather not be exposed for the privilege they use day in and day out. Care more about protecting a nasty parasite in your family, in your community than focusing on right vs wrong no matter who it is.
Aiden was a stellar character. I absolutely loved his growth and honesty. I mean the he was serving those other characters up with things to make them think and expose them for who they are. You want to talk about proud. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more proud of a character. This book deserves every blessing.
Quotes/moments:
-“Is his freedom worth less than your comfort?”
-When Aiden spoke facts at football practice and in the locker room with the coach.
-Aiden and Isabella ♥️.
-When Marica told Aiden she was sorry and he said “Yes. You are.”
-When Aiden had to break down autism to Carter.
-“When have you had to be perfect, Aiden? You get to mess up! You get to mess up and keep messing up and Mom and Dad will accept it, they’ll even expect it. I’m the one who has to be perfect. I have to be the perfect son, the easy one. I have to be the perfect brother to be—” Brandon presses his lips together.
-I am used to people making assumptions about me the second they find out that I am autistic. People who believe I am either a problem to be had or fixed. People who believe I am either incapable or somehow super capable due to autism being some “secret superpower.” I am used to watching that shift from a normal interaction to a stereotypical one the second the word “autism” is uttered.
“This is real for you today, but Blackness is not your reality.”
Wow! DeAndra was writing in this. You can tell her pen is blessed. She wrote the autism representation with so much care and strength. This book is so amazing. She did a really good job of capturing what it's like to be black in America. Especially for a black man at any age and it doesn't matter what disability you have because all they see first is, black. These friends, coaches and so on seen Brandon as the one to make them look good with football and how they look good being linked to him. The moment something horrible happens they all turn their backs.
I really love this family. Brandon and Aiden are such a beautiful bond of brotherly love and kindness. I enjoyed, while also being hurt, how we get to experience first hand how this is effecting each member of the family. We see the change as the trial starts. Also see how people would rather hide the truth knowing that this moment can destroy someone’s future before it even begins. All because they rather not be exposed for the privilege they use day in and day out. Care more about protecting a nasty parasite in your family, in your community than focusing on right vs wrong no matter who it is.
Aiden was a stellar character. I absolutely loved his growth and honesty. I mean the he was serving those other characters up with things to make them think and expose them for who they are. You want to talk about proud. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more proud of a character. This book deserves every blessing.
Quotes/moments:
-“Is his freedom worth less than your comfort?”
-When Aiden spoke facts at football practice and in the locker room with the coach.
-Aiden and Isabella ♥️.
-When Marica told Aiden she was sorry and he said “Yes. You are.”
-When Aiden had to break down autism to Carter.
-“When have you had to be perfect, Aiden? You get to mess up! You get to mess up and keep messing up and Mom and Dad will accept it, they’ll even expect it. I’m the one who has to be perfect. I have to be the perfect son, the easy one. I have to be the perfect brother to be—” Brandon presses his lips together.
-I am used to people making assumptions about me the second they find out that I am autistic. People who believe I am either a problem to be had or fixed. People who believe I am either incapable or somehow super capable due to autism being some “secret superpower.” I am used to watching that shift from a normal interaction to a stereotypical one the second the word “autism” is uttered.
Don't Ever Tell by Brandon Massey
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Listened to the book via audible.
This Brandon book was good. It is dark dealing with dv and abuse of power. Dexter was bat ish crazy and Massey wrote the hell out of him. If you want to talk about a memorable character then his is your guy.
Rachel got on my nerves. Yes i hate what she went through by the Dexter's hands. He was a cop that felt the world around him should bend to his will. The things he did to people in the book is wild. I didn’t like her not being honest with Joshua. It’s nothing wrong with a change after escaping a monster but once there’s a possibility of them coming back communicate with your partner.
Joshua is too good for Rachel. After doing what she did leaving him high and dry i would be done. This man literally had the puzzle on his own and fight for his life because he loved her. Due to her not being honest with certain people in her life got them messed up. You could hear how Joshua seemed to be defeated at one point.
A solid read for me with this one.
This Brandon book was good. It is dark dealing with dv and abuse of power. Dexter was bat ish crazy and Massey wrote the hell out of him. If you want to talk about a memorable character then his is your guy.
Rachel got on my nerves. Yes i hate what she went through by the Dexter's hands. He was a cop that felt the world around him should bend to his will. The things he did to people in the book is wild. I didn’t like her not being honest with Joshua. It’s nothing wrong with a change after escaping a monster but once there’s a possibility of them coming back communicate with your partner.
Joshua is too good for Rachel. After doing what she did leaving him high and dry i would be done. This man literally had the puzzle on his own and fight for his life because he loved her. Due to her not being honest with certain people in her life got them messed up. You could hear how Joshua seemed to be defeated at one point.
A solid read for me with this one.
The Landlord by Brandon Massey
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Listened to the book on audible.
This is my fourth Brandon Massey book. In order i read The Exes, Bad Influence and Nana. So i was not surprised when the overall setting/outline of the story was the same. In all four of these books the man is dumb and letting ish slide. He’s seems to be working hard at whatever the task is. Then next thing you know they let themselves get all goggly eyed behind a pretty woman. Instead of getting their families out of this mess and living their wife.
Now in this book i think both the MCs were dumb and desperate. I feel Brandon did a great job showing that sometimes it’s okay to let things happen naturally to get the reward. Being desperate to have something of their own got them in this bs. I wasn’t really shocked by the twists because i called some of things. I felt bad for the young lady because those people had her doing their dirty work.
A decent read if you want a thriller/horror that’s going to piss you off.
This is my fourth Brandon Massey book. In order i read The Exes, Bad Influence and Nana. So i was not surprised when the overall setting/outline of the story was the same. In all four of these books the man is dumb and letting ish slide. He’s seems to be working hard at whatever the task is. Then next thing you know they let themselves get all goggly eyed behind a pretty woman. Instead of getting their families out of this mess and living their wife.
Now in this book i think both the MCs were dumb and desperate. I feel Brandon did a great job showing that sometimes it’s okay to let things happen naturally to get the reward. Being desperate to have something of their own got them in this bs. I wasn’t really shocked by the twists because i called some of things. I felt bad for the young lady because those people had her doing their dirty work.
A decent read if you want a thriller/horror that’s going to piss you off.
Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk
emotional
hopeful
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
Thank you Colored Pages Book Tour and Harper Collins for this opportunity.
I listened to the audio via audible along with the physical.
Lucas and Yena both came to Busan for one thing that summer and ended with so much more. A true love.
First read from this author and I truly can’t wait to read more. I don’t think I’ve read a book with this setting and plot before. Sarah Suk, the author, wrote a very beautiful book filled with love, grieving, happiness, Alzheimer’s and much more in each chapter. Love the duel povs especially in a story like this. Reading how the characters find their way back to each other while having to rediscover what drifted them apart in the first place. My favorite thing was seeing their friendship/love develop from the view point of stationary items. Giving us, the readers, a captured in time by photo kind of moment. All of this really helped develop the characters and the story as a whole. Not only the growth they have with each other but within themselves and their families. They were able to communicate very well about their feelings.
I love the idea around memories but it also shows how deep within our being and our brains somethings you just can’t simply forget.
I listened to the audio via audible along with the physical.
Lucas and Yena both came to Busan for one thing that summer and ended with so much more. A true love.
First read from this author and I truly can’t wait to read more. I don’t think I’ve read a book with this setting and plot before. Sarah Suk, the author, wrote a very beautiful book filled with love, grieving, happiness, Alzheimer’s and much more in each chapter. Love the duel povs especially in a story like this. Reading how the characters find their way back to each other while having to rediscover what drifted them apart in the first place. My favorite thing was seeing their friendship/love develop from the view point of stationary items. Giving us, the readers, a captured in time by photo kind of moment. All of this really helped develop the characters and the story as a whole. Not only the growth they have with each other but within themselves and their families. They were able to communicate very well about their feelings.
I love the idea around memories but it also shows how deep within our being and our brains somethings you just can’t simply forget.
Mr. Straight Up No Chaser: Baes of Juneteenth by Sherelle Green
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Listened via hoopla.
So the story started off good and had my interest. However, about half way through when the relationship between Porter and Alanna really picked up that’s when things changed. I didn’t mind their flirting and the relationship because things were getting spicy. I even enjoyed getting to know their history when they were younger but outside of that the plot seemed to have changed. The book started out being one way and ended up feeling like a completely different book. I stopped the audio at 92% because why did i need to finish it? Mind you the narrators are good. It’s like we went from black history to a sex/let’s get freaky party. Confused is how this book left me.
So the story started off good and had my interest. However, about half way through when the relationship between Porter and Alanna really picked up that’s when things changed. I didn’t mind their flirting and the relationship because things were getting spicy. I even enjoyed getting to know their history when they were younger but outside of that the plot seemed to have changed. The book started out being one way and ended up feeling like a completely different book. I stopped the audio at 92% because why did i need to finish it? Mind you the narrators are good. It’s like we went from black history to a sex/let’s get freaky party. Confused is how this book left me.
Make a Scene by Mimi Grace
funny
lighthearted
tense
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
Awwwww!!! This was such a cute, funny, and fluffy read with some spice and drama. A baker and boxer, who would’ve known. From the moment they met the sparks were there and all they needed was a little fake dating situation to realize it. For a moment I thought a third act breakup was about to happen and be disappointed. Thank you for saving us on that trope Mimi. I liked how they actually communicated and got what they felt of their chest instead of shying away.
The other characters really added some more sauce to the book. That grandma was something else 🤣. Just to think parking spots and sitting at the wrong table on a first date helped to for your forever love.
The other characters really added some more sauce to the book. That grandma was something else 🤣. Just to think parking spots and sitting at the wrong table on a first date helped to for your forever love.