historicalqueer's reviews
7 reviews

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book brought me to genuine tears. It’s a beautifully written telling of the historical event, with so much complex emotion and desire. I am now going to go recommend this book to everyone I know. 
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Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-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

4.25

The Selection by Kiera Cass

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

4.0

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

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

4.75

I genuinely loved this book. While it was very formulaic, it was still enjoyable seeing these characters grow into themselves and their relationships, while also commentating on the outside events. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet sapphic love story with a lovely historical background! The one reason it did not get 5 stars from me was solely because the end felt a little rushed. I wish there was more to it!
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

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adventurous relaxing fast-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? No

5.0

I genuinely loved this book. Cozy fantasy with queer representation? Sign me up!! The characters are so lovable and deeply written that it’s too hard not to get invested. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book though, since that cliffhanger was intense!
Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

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funny lighthearted fast-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? No

4.75

This book was so CUTEEEE!!! I absolutely loved how it felt like a Teen Hallmark movie in a book! The characters were really well written and multi-dimensional, with some being rightfully unlikable. I did not grow up around a lot of black people, so I can’t speak to how accurate this is in terms of representation, but I loved reading about how different the perspectives were between the community as well as the London setting. It’s honestly just such a sweet and easy book, a great way to take your mind off the world and just delve into a cutesy romance. There are mentions of death and fatphobia regarding the FMC, but the death is never described and the fatphobia is only explicit at one point. The FMC also has an eating disorder, and it is displayed at one point and one point only, so it’s easy to skip if need be.
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Make My Wish Come True by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott

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

4.5

This book had me crying on Christmas morning over it!
I got halfway through and thought I would end up unsatisfied due to the loose ends of Taylor Hill, but the ending was just so sweet and real that I found myself too immersed to care about those ends
. As a high school sweetheart, the learning to grow into a relationship, the sweet dates, and the fear of losing one another were so well portrayed, and once again felt oh so real. The portrayal of Arden as a teenager, trying to find control throughout the brutal industry was also really interesting. It showed a very real side of Hollywood, as well as a real side of neglect and how it truly affected her. I also loved the representation, as it felt fitting yet simple throughout the story.
I would have loved to see how the after effects of the Hanukkah party at the end turned out, I loved the simple closing nonetheless
. Overall, a fantastically sapphic holiday read.