emquegeeaye's reviews
454 reviews

The Naughty List by Octavia Grant

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Would be a great movie! This book reads like a movie I need to see. And if I had the money I'd make it happen just for me to see. The ways in which Octavia is mind works should be studied bc no matter how many of her books I've read so far I either scream out loud or repeat in my head multiple times "WTF OCTAVIA???????" Bc literally what the eff? These characters were all so different but so similarly demented I just couldn't deal.  I kept telling my husband I've never wanted to finish a book so bad but not bc it wasn't good I NEEDED to see what happened. And I still didn't see the ending coming. This book was good!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment

Second Chance Christmas by Jahquel J.

hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

Quick and good story. Very good story to be honest because I can't really say  I'm a fan of the second chance romance trope but I really enjoyed this story and the characters. All except for Francis. Idk how Ash put up with her. But I do love me a good, heartwarming, HEA.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Pregnancy

Elph Around and Find Out: A Holiday Short by Kyeate

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Cute novella. Nice, unique storyline. Good character development. Very light & whimsical. 

Soul Food & Secrets by J.L. Sapphire

fast-paced

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

5.0

Quick, Thanksgiving holiday read. It was full of secrets, drama and chaos. But the twist twisted me all the way up

Sinnamon & Golds by Lady Marie

funny fast-paced

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

5.0

Happy Thanksgiving! I believe this is a ntm author and I am very pleased. This book was so good and straight to the point. I loved the characters. I loved their dynamic and interactions together. The storyline was was and not the typical. I'll be diving into this author's catalog just off the strength of this. It really sucked me in and didn't let me go.

Jack Girlz Atlanta by BriAnn Danae

dark hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I received this advanced reader's copy from NetGalley. So this book was good. Dare I say a light thriller. Idk what I was expecting but I knew I wouldn't be disappointed because I like the author. But this book had more twist and turns than a roller coaster. Every time I thought I had it figured out BOOM 💥 another twist and your mind is blown. I will say I did like the growth of the characters. I wasn't too sure if I'd like them bc they seemed a little unlikable at the beginning TO MEEEEE...but they were very well developed and I think I just didn't fully understand them and their story at the moment. Now Hazel I did like. A lot. Also liked Teyona too. But Matthew, Kimberly and Mia didn't like them in the beginning and majority of the book. Then I grew to like Mia a lil bit 🤏🏼 and once learning Kimberly's story I can't say I liked her but I definitely understand her and her reasoning behind a lot of what she did and how she acted/reacted in certain situations. But Matthew, 🙄 he was a different breed. How I felt about him in the beginning was how I felt about him at the end. The story was good and it seems different than her typical work. But I do have 3 questions that I need to ask the author bc I just gotta know these things bc I'm nosy 😆 

This Thing of Ours: Mesmerized by A Mafia Menace by Kenya Redd

slow-paced

1.5

Just wasn't for me. Didn't care for the storyline. Didn't care for the characters. There was nothing likable or any redeeming qualities in any of them. They all were very annoying honestly. Plus there were too many characters and two of them had the same name just spelled differently. Papi & Poppy. It was confusing at first to keep up with which woman was talking about which man. 

Pier 31 by Jessica N. Watkins

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I liked the story. It's a little different than Ms. Watkins typical work but this is right up my alley. I like different. I liked all of the characters even though some drove me crazy. I was gasping and screaming at them through the pages 😂 But the plot and storyline sucked me in and I hope to get more like this every October 😉

Unhealthy Love: A Dangerous Obsession by Octavia Grant

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

"The mind is a powerful thing!"

WHAT THE AITCH OCTAVIA?!?! This book was pure insanity and I loved it! Lava was something else. The things that she did and said in this book had my mouth wide open from the first word until the last. Idk how Ms. Grant comes up with the stories she does but it works for her bc I be dialed in. I'm working my way through her catalog and I have not been disappointed yet. This story had so many unforseen curveballs, twist and turns I feel dizzy. Great story, great writing, just great.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia

Capri 1.5 by Jahquel J.

emotional funny hopeful slow-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

What a cliffhanger?!? Mrs. Jahquel has not been playing! I didn't see any of the twist in this book AT ALL!!! Seriously! Especially the end. Ya girl is befuddle!!!