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flightyreads's reviews
73 reviews
Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first 30% of this book is nearly pure exposition and very slow-paced. We are introduced to a small cast of characters with some quirks, but overall could be a realistic friend group. I feel as though the summary for this book paints a picture of mystery and intrigue, but the plot is fairly realistic. Men lie to their partners, and their partners find out. This happens in fiction and real life regularly.
The most important part in this book to me is that no female character wants to hurt another female character. There is no girl on girl violence, only a deep understanding that women have a bond that runs deeper than men can often grasp.
I would recommend this book to readers who have felt lied to by close relations and wish they had closure.
The first 30% of this book is nearly pure exposition and very slow-paced. We are introduced to a small cast of characters with some quirks, but overall could be a realistic friend group. I feel as though the summary for this book paints a picture of mystery and intrigue, but the plot is fairly realistic. Men lie to their partners, and their partners find out. This happens in fiction and real life regularly.
The most important part in this book to me is that no female character wants to hurt another female character. There is no girl on girl violence, only a deep understanding that women have a bond that runs deeper than men can often grasp.
I would recommend this book to readers who have felt lied to by close relations and wish they had closure.
The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by Elle Kennedy and it definitely won’t be my last. I will admit that at first I found the main characters difficult to enjoy despite being of similar age. There was one comment about a “hard life” in St Simons Island in Georgia, one of the wealthiest places to live in the Southeast, that really threw me off. But after that, the characters pretty quickly became relatable and loveable.
I very much enjoyed reading about Cassie and Tate falling in love while also maturing in their emotions and families. Cassie’s revelations about her family was very validating on a personal level as a reader.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a vanilla short and easy romance read. You will love these characters but it won’t break your heart to say goodbye at the end.
This was my first book by Elle Kennedy and it definitely won’t be my last. I will admit that at first I found the main characters difficult to enjoy despite being of similar age. There was one comment about a “hard life” in St Simons Island in Georgia, one of the wealthiest places to live in the Southeast, that really threw me off. But after that, the characters pretty quickly became relatable and loveable.
I very much enjoyed reading about Cassie and Tate falling in love while also maturing in their emotions and families. Cassie’s revelations about her family was very validating on a personal level as a reader.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a vanilla short and easy romance read. You will love these characters but it won’t break your heart to say goodbye at the end.
Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Note: I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
By far the most refreshing part of this book is the realism put into these characters, their maturity (and occasional lack of), and their emotional depths. As someone who fits into some of the target demographics (mid 20’s Jew here :)), I very much enjoyed the callbacks to Jewish sleep away camps, from Maccabiah to sneaking out at night.
The one part of this story that I disliked was how the passing of time was often ambiguous and hard to follow, aside from whenchapters included meeting notes or holidays occurred. While I believe this may have been intentional by the author, it is not a choice I personally like which is why I give this book a 4.5.
I would recommend this book to those in their mid-20’s who want a romance story of childhood lovers to enemies to friends to lovers. While there is a dollop of angst along the way, this is ultimately a story of two beautiful souls finding each other again.
By far the most refreshing part of this book is the realism put into these characters, their maturity (and occasional lack of), and their emotional depths. As someone who fits into some of the target demographics (mid 20’s Jew here :)), I very much enjoyed the callbacks to Jewish sleep away camps, from Maccabiah to sneaking out at night.
The one part of this story that I disliked was how the passing of time was often ambiguous and hard to follow, aside from when
I would recommend this book to those in their mid-20’s who want a romance story of childhood lovers to enemies to friends to lovers. While there is a dollop of angst along the way, this is ultimately a story of two beautiful souls finding each other again.
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was like a breath of fresh air in the YA fiction world. It is so refreshing to read “forbidden” love stories that are explicitly not heterosexual. Often, LGBT+ books are written for more mature audiences due to social stigmas, but Croucher does an excellent job at keeping this book age-appropriate without doubting the reader’s intelligence.
The characters were often easy to love. I personally struggled with Gwen and had to keep reminding myself that the teenage girl was indeed acting like a teenage girl, but since the book splits the narrative it was much easier to handle. Bridget especially was awesome to read, as her cool maturity was a balm to the frequent teenage hormones.
I would recommend this as a relatively easy read for those who enjoy wlw and mlm relationships in fiction, especially historical.
This book was like a breath of fresh air in the YA fiction world. It is so refreshing to read “forbidden” love stories that are explicitly not heterosexual. Often, LGBT+ books are written for more mature audiences due to social stigmas, but Croucher does an excellent job at keeping this book age-appropriate without doubting the reader’s intelligence.
The characters were often easy to love. I personally struggled with Gwen and had to keep reminding myself that the teenage girl was indeed acting like a teenage girl, but since the book splits the narrative it was much easier to handle. Bridget especially was awesome to read, as her cool maturity was a balm to the frequent teenage hormones.
I would recommend this as a relatively easy read for those who enjoy wlw and mlm relationships in fiction, especially historical.
Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was beyond excited when I got the email for this book. I remember being a teenager when Hayley Kiyoko’s music video came out. It was all I listened to/watched for months on end. I was even more excited when I read this book was based on the music video!
Girls Like Girls tells a story that many young queer people face: falling in love in an ignorant town. Coley has gone through a traumatic upbringing when she arrives to the scene, but so has Sonya (in her own way). However, Coley is prepared to ignore the hate she may receive, but golden girl Sonya is too scared to try at first.
I only wish that this story fleshed out its many characters more. I ended the book feeling as though I knew Coley and Sonya, but I desperately wanted to know more about the colorful side cast, like Curtis and Alex. Especially with Alex, we got basically a bomb drop of crazy information on him, just for him to barely show up afterwards. I also wish we had more climax— so much of the story focused only on Coley’s growth but not her actual journey’s end with Sonya until the final pages.
All in all, fans of Hayley Kiyoko and young queer individuals will love this story that brings such a famous video in recent history back to light.
I was beyond excited when I got the email for this book. I remember being a teenager when Hayley Kiyoko’s music video came out. It was all I listened to/watched for months on end. I was even more excited when I read this book was based on the music video!
Girls Like Girls tells a story that many young queer people face: falling in love in an ignorant town. Coley has gone through a traumatic upbringing when she arrives to the scene, but so has Sonya (in her own way). However, Coley is prepared to ignore the hate she may receive, but golden girl Sonya is too scared to try at first.
I only wish that this story fleshed out its many characters more. I ended the book feeling as though I knew Coley and Sonya, but I desperately wanted to know more about the colorful side cast, like Curtis and Alex. Especially with Alex, we got basically a bomb drop of crazy information on him, just for him to barely show up afterwards. I also wish we had more climax— so much of the story focused only on Coley’s growth but not her actual journey’s end with Sonya until the final pages.
All in all, fans of Hayley Kiyoko and young queer individuals will love this story that brings such a famous video in recent history back to light.
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Note: I have received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I started this book excited to read about a girl and her dragon. I ended this book reflecting on what intersectionality in feminism looks like.
To Shape A Dragon’s Breath very clearly draws on the real and devastating effects of colonialism and white oppression on the world, and how racism destroys everything with hate. Anequs expects to grow up and inherit her family’s home, and continue her life taking care of her community. While the threat of white (“Anglish”) settlers hangs over their heads, Anequs wants for little as her community cares for her as she does them.
When Anequs is forced to attend the Anglish school as to not put her community at further risk from either her dragon or the Anglish, she goes to learn how to care for her dragon. Anequs goes to this school already a complete person with her own culture and heritage, yet the Anglish see her as primitive because of the cultural differences. Even the friends that Anequs makes often make ignorant remarks and take offense at being called on them. Instead of apologies, Anequs is often met with their tears because they didn’t mean to do anything hurtful, and then expect comfort for it.
Anequs is young, and the reader may often forget this for how clever and mature she is, especially when set against ignorant and hateful people. I am very eager to see where she and Kasaqua will travel to together next, as Anequs has a long journey and tough battles ahead.
I recommend this book for everyone regardless of your journey in life, but especially for those who have had harder ones.
I started this book excited to read about a girl and her dragon. I ended this book reflecting on what intersectionality in feminism looks like.
To Shape A Dragon’s Breath very clearly draws on the real and devastating effects of colonialism and white oppression on the world, and how racism destroys everything with hate. Anequs expects to grow up and inherit her family’s home, and continue her life taking care of her community. While the threat of white (“Anglish”) settlers hangs over their heads, Anequs wants for little as her community cares for her as she does them.
When Anequs is forced to attend the Anglish school as to not put her community at further risk from either her dragon or the Anglish, she goes to learn how to care for her dragon. Anequs goes to this school already a complete person with her own culture and heritage, yet the Anglish see her as primitive because of the cultural differences. Even the friends that Anequs makes often make ignorant remarks and take offense at being called on them. Instead of apologies, Anequs is often met with their tears because they didn’t mean to do anything hurtful, and then expect comfort for it.
Anequs is young, and the reader may often forget this for how clever and mature she is, especially when set against ignorant and hateful people. I am very eager to see where she and Kasaqua will travel to together next, as Anequs has a long journey and tough battles ahead.
I recommend this book for everyone regardless of your journey in life, but especially for those who have had harder ones.
The Love Scribe by Amy Meyerson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.25
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Around the halfway point of this book, I was struggling. I thought the realization we were waiting for the main character to come to was easy to figure out and I could not understand why it was taking so long. I kept remarking to my partner about how a good 10% of the book. But then the last part of the book changed everything.
Of course the book needs to be this long, and you need to finish it regardless of how long it may take you. I firmly believe, like Meyerson seems to, that you carry every book you’ve ever read with you. And what I will carry with me from this story is that everyone’s journey is paced differently, and you cannot influence the speed at which others progress. But you CAN spread kindness and empathy to everyone you come actoss, and you can absolutely leave the world a better place than you found it.
I would recommend this book for everyone to have, but to read when they feel is right. Think of Amy Meyerson not as a romantic love scribe, but as a scribe for self-discovery.
Around the halfway point of this book, I was struggling. I thought the realization we were waiting for the main character to come to was easy to figure out and I could not understand why it was taking so long. I kept remarking to my partner about how a good 10% of the book. But then the last part of the book changed everything.
Of course the book needs to be this long, and you need to finish it regardless of how long it may take you. I firmly believe, like Meyerson seems to, that you carry every book you’ve ever read with you. And what I will carry with me from this story is that everyone’s journey is paced differently, and you cannot influence the speed at which others progress. But you CAN spread kindness and empathy to everyone you come actoss, and you can absolutely leave the world a better place than you found it.
I would recommend this book for everyone to have, but to read when they feel is right. Think of Amy Meyerson not as a romantic love scribe, but as a scribe for self-discovery.
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-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
Tracy Deonn continues to build a world where you want to root for the main character so she can root for herself. Instead of focusing on the romantic subplots between characters, Deonn recognizes that these characters must grow up first, and gives them the space to do so. I love this series and will forever be glad I found it.
The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything by Kara Gnodde
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As someone who primarily reads fantasy and romance, I was not expecting to enjoy this book has thoroughly as I did. By far, my favorite part of this book was the autistic character being treated as a complete person. Too often in life are autistic people seen as lacking an essential part that neurotypical people have. Art is different, but that just means the people in his life adjust around him.
This book is interesting in that it does not fit into just one trope in fiction books. It has romance, academia, mystery, and more roller into one. At the end of the day, the characters find an unexpected family not entirely related by blood, allowing them to continue their growth. This story, while fiction, feels like it could happen to just about anyone.
This book is interesting in that it does not fit into just one trope in fiction books. It has romance, academia, mystery, and more roller into one. At the end of the day, the characters find an unexpected family not entirely related by blood, allowing them to continue their growth. This story, while fiction, feels like it could happen to just about anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.5