elaine707's reviews
517 reviews

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

sad tense medium-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? No

5.0

That was harrowing and yet heartbreakingly beautiful. I wanted to cry the moment I picked it up. There are not enough words for me to describe the importance of this book and this is just a glimpse of what is still happening in Palestine. The immense love and respect for Palestine--their roots, their ancestors, their culture and traditions, their love for each other, and their loss--is shown through every word. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Rules of Engagement by Selena Montgomery, Stacey Abrams

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

How can two spies be so bad at espionage? Also these two are the epitome of hot/cold. 

I love the plot but the writing reminded me of fanfiction I read in high school (not bad but she said “orbs”) 

All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers

mysterious fast-paced

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

1.75

I was going to give it one star but I guess the writing was decent. The plot was bad and predictable. 

A lot of threads that didn’t really feel fleshed out. Like character relationships despite there being more to unpack. A lot of loose ends. 

Don’t get me started on Margot herself. I hated every second of her pov. Not that Krissy’s was any better. 

The ending felt like it was trying to give you a twist but the whole book was already predictable that in order to make the book less predictable she had to choose the only other “unpredictable” plot line. 

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Everyone is a mess and kind of insufferable but like I couldn’t put it down. The prose hooked me and each character was so complexly human. 

Can’t give 5 stars because 2 guys with daddy problems is morally wrong for me to support. My heart is for Sylvia though. 

Furysong by Rosaria Munda

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have no words for this. The dragons, their riders, the bond, and the duty. In this gripping finale, can the strayed ends find their way back together?? 


The very ending of the book did seem a lil anticlimactic but I think because the focus on the characters themselves was the forefront of the plot. Which, honestly I didn’t hate. 

Spoiler(not really): I was crying on the plane

Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo

hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

I wish I had read this when I was a young girl. The validation, the reasoning, and the self love and confidence is something all women and femmes should read. And men too honestly. 

While definitely a general overview and explanation of feminist and intersectional concepts, and the patriarchy, it’s something most people don’t know yet. Also, Drew’s personal stories and experiences as a bipoc woman really adds to the entire memoir.

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

adventurous tense fast-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? It's complicated

2.75

That was so disappointing :( 
To start, I must say I loved the first two books. I devoured them. Whereas this one I finished fast just to get it over with hoping it would get better. 
It felt rushed and didn’t really live up to the first two books. I think she must have felt too pressured but she waited years to publish this so idk. 
I still liked the writing and I’m content with the ending (only because that was literally the only way she could’ve ended it satisfactorily). 
Also my favorite character just disappeared without acknowledgment from anyone… so I am extra salty.

My Lady Jane by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I love this rewriting “Her-story” movement going on. 

Kind of slow at parts but was still a fast read. I liked the fantasy twist w magic as well. 
The show was a lil different but I think they’re both good separately. The show was written v well for a screen which is why I’m not upset that the book is quite different

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A self-taught violinist at Carnegie Hall and a music prodigy/ insanely hot cellist player in a classic-goes-punk band… what could go wrong? 


I love watching authors grow and I’ve been here from the beginning on Ao3 where I already loved her writing!!

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-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

5.0

I don’t have words to describe this heart wrenching story of kids growing up in Syria. 

The prose was well crafted with such detail and care. The hope and pain and grief and love and everything in between was something beautiful as well as a stab in the heart. I wanted to cry from the beginning but I would do it all over again. 

It’s also a unique spin on mental illness and the personification of ptsd which I enjoyed.