eloise_bradbooks's reviews
750 reviews

Truthfully, Yours by Caden Armstrong

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No

1.0

DNF 60%. Nope. Not for me.
Idiots only going on and on about wanting to fuck the other but thinking it's not right cause it's against dumb rules they set at the beginning... Ridiculous.
Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Skater Boy follows Wesley "Big Mac" McKenzie, the schools resident "bad boy" -and closeted gay boy- as he falls for a cute ballet dancer, forcing him to question what he wants to do and be in life.
The romance was cute but I loved that there was so much to this story than that. We see Wes grow in so many ways and find where he belongs at school, with his friends, with his mother and step dad... It was inspiring and encouraging.
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

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3.0

 If you like romantasy and want something queer, you'll probably enjoy this a lot.
If you're looking for some epic fantasy, lots of fae lore and deep political intrigue, you may be disappointed.

I can see what's to like, when you like that kind of thing. It's a romance-driven story in an elves & fae queernormative world with cute animal-like bonds. It's well written and pulls you in and keeps you reading... up to a certain point.
For me, I was really intrigued, was immersed for a time, but ultimately couldn't get behind any of the romances. We've got sapphic enemies-to-lovers where they're enemies for a bit then somehow fall in love out of nowhere. The other romance doesn't have anything special either...
I guess I would have liked more lore, more fantasy, more politics (and this comes from someone who doesn"t read that much fantasy...), more sibling bonds.

Maybe I wasn't in the mood, maybe it wasn't for me, but this book just didn't do anything to surprise or make me care for the characters or the world enough to care about what could have been an epic fantasy story about bad ass warrior women. 
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

It's Heartstopper, of course I loved every second of it.
The mental health aspect is always so well done but it was also great to read more about Nick's insecurities too in this 5th volume. We see less of the gang in here but it still shows the importance of friendship and support.
Comme un oiseau dans un bocal by Lou Lubie

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funny informative

5.0

Lou Lubie est une vraie perle. Tout ce qu'elle produit est beau à regarder, super intéressant à lire, informatif, drôle, simple mais assez détaillé aussi... C'est parfait.
Je comprends bien mieux maintenant ce que ça peut vouloir dire d'être à haut potentiel intellectuel, comment chaque personne peut le vivre différemment. Et en même temps je me suis fait prendre dans une histoire avec des personnages attachantes, réalistes, j'ai ri et j'ai même pleuré quand, à la fin, il y a une référence à LA parole qui me touche le plus dans MA chanson préférée... Waou.
Lou Lubie a tout compris.

On parle beaucoup des enfants précoces, mais que deviennent-ils une fois adultes ? Birdo, brillant chef de restaurant, discret et solitaire, sait qu'il est surdoué depuis tout petit. Raya, prise dans une vie qu'elle sabote inconsciemment, cherche des réponses dans son diagnostic tout récent de « Haut Potentiel Intellectuel ». En confrontant leurs expériences, ces deux êtres singuliers vont repenser leur rapport à la douance.
Every Bird a Prince by Jenn Reese

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adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

4.25

 I love that this book exists. It's a wonderful middle grade story about a girl helping out birds in a magical forest kingdom when they're under potential attack, all while having to deal with friends being obsessed with crushes and dating when she's starting to realise she might not ever want that.
Reading about a young girl figuring herself out, discovering terms like aromantic and asexual and standing up for herself when others put her down was INCREDIBLE.
For me as an adult the magical woods part wasn't AS interesting but for the target audience it's probably great.
 
Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver

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2.75

 Okay, Cupid is one of those books that isn't particularly bad, it just lacks the depth to be really good.
There's a supernatural element that needed so much more explanation, much more information and lore for it to truly be interesting and for the MC's struggles to be touching...
Also, it's a make-a-life-changing-decision-for-people-you-met-two-months-ago kind of conflict... like... no. There should be much more!!!
These kids shouldn't be cupids to start with but where was that talk?

PS: agender rep, horray (even though that was also only briefly mentioned and didn't seem to come up in any part of Jude's daily life)! 
Cuckoos Three by Cassandra Jean, Mosskat

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5.0

 This was a very sweet romance, and most impressively a very good representation of DID.
I'd reread this regularly for some serotonin 
Aquicorn Cove by K. O'Neill

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adventurous inspiring fast-paced

4.0

 Kay O'Neill's books should be put in every young person's hands. They are full of love, cute creatures and character growth.
This one focuses on protecting the oceans (even as islanders who need fish to survive).
It focuses on one part of protecting the ocean. I would have liked to have it at least mention the bigger picture that is humans destroying the planet through selfish lifestyles.. but starting with this one topic is already a very good start.