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jaz_gets_literary's reviews
258 reviews
Vinyl Moon by Mahogany L. Browne
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
After an incident with her boyfriend, Angel’s mother ships her across country to live with her uncle. Angel’s upset with her mother and nervous about starting a new school. New York isn’t like California. She is welcomed into the new school with opened arms and starts to think that maybe things will turn out okay.
While this book does cover a few heavy topics, it is handled beautifully. These topics are off page but you can confer what has happened. These topics need to be discussed more in literature especially for this age group. Speaking of literature, I love that Angel begins to see and find herself in the Black books that her teachers present to her. We really need more teachers like that now. Im also glad that Angel stood up to the librarian that said something to her about reading “the classics.” <Insert Eye roll> The books she was reading are The Classics.
I wish that the book was a tad bit longer to delve into Angel’s realization of her relationship with her ex and its complexities. I feel like it was wrapped up too quickly at the end and I really wanted that to be throughly explained that in the end she understood. I think that would be helpful to young women around her age who are going through similar things. Overall I loved the book and look forward to more from this author.
While this book does cover a few heavy topics, it is handled beautifully. These topics are off page but you can confer what has happened. These topics need to be discussed more in literature especially for this age group. Speaking of literature, I love that Angel begins to see and find herself in the Black books that her teachers present to her. We really need more teachers like that now. Im also glad that Angel stood up to the librarian that said something to her about reading “the classics.” <Insert Eye roll> The books she was reading are The Classics.
I wish that the book was a tad bit longer to delve into Angel’s realization of her relationship with her ex and its complexities. I feel like it was wrapped up too quickly at the end and I really wanted that to be throughly explained that in the end she understood. I think that would be helpful to young women around her age who are going through similar things. Overall I loved the book and look forward to more from this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment, Car accident, Death, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Spy x Family, Vol. 2 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Spy x Family, Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Give Me Love by B. Love
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
The Black Queen by Jumata Emill
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
Please go over the trigger warnings before starting this book as it may be triggering to some.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought I had the who done it figured out and I was shocked when it was actually revealed. I did figure out a few things along the way but the actual person had me like 😳 lots of important talking points in this book. Police brutality, racism, classism, and more.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought I had the who done it figured out and I was shocked when it was actually revealed. I did figure out a few things along the way but the actual person had me like 😳 lots of important talking points in this book. Police brutality, racism, classism, and more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Abortion, Murder, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Grief
Minor: Suicide, Chronic illness, and Racial slurs
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.75
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this book These are my 100% honest opinions.
I honestly went into this book with no thoughts at all. I had read another book from this author and I didn’t really enjoy it. When I saw the cover of this, something just pulled me to it. (If you’ve read the book, that’s some crazy symbolism) I’m really glad that I chose to read it because I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the magical realism in the romance story between Ricki and Ezra. The beginning of the book switches between the 1920s and modern day 2023. Sometimes large time gaps are hard to keep up with in books but not this one. I was in love with the majority of the characters. Sometimes side characters get lost or seem unnecessary but not Tuesday and Ms. Della. I could read a spin off on the back story of both of them.
While I did guess part of what happened at the end, it didn’t damper my enjoyment of the story. I enjoyed this book a lot and it had put this author’s work back on the radar for me.
I honestly went into this book with no thoughts at all. I had read another book from this author and I didn’t really enjoy it. When I saw the cover of this, something just pulled me to it. (If you’ve read the book, that’s some crazy symbolism) I’m really glad that I chose to read it because I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the magical realism in the romance story between Ricki and Ezra. The beginning of the book switches between the 1920s and modern day 2023. Sometimes large time gaps are hard to keep up with in books but not this one. I was in love with the majority of the characters. Sometimes side characters get lost or seem unnecessary but not Tuesday and Ms. Della. I could read a spin off on the back story of both of them.
While I did guess part of what happened at the end, it didn’t damper my enjoyment of the story. I enjoyed this book a lot and it had put this author’s work back on the radar for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Miscarriage, and Suicide
Moderate: Cancer, Racism, and Death
Minor: Body shaming
All the Fighting Parts by Hannah V. Sawyerr
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Please check the trigger warnings before diving in. I won’t say the book was hard to get through but it was triggering and I know it would be going into it. The way the book was done was beautifully done. As someone who has her own teenage trauma, it honestly helped. This topic is so brushed over in churches and most of them swept under the rug as some of the church people in the book wanted to do. Even a church I previously went to had this happen. It’s so swept over it and it’s so sad. I’m praying for anyone who has went through this. Such a beautiful book covering such a heavy topic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault
Minor: Cursing
Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Beautiful novel in verse. Coming of age story. I love the character development of Sky coming into herself and learning to stand up for herself. The audio version of this book was great. The cover of this book is beautiful and I will be getting a physical copy to share this story with my teenage daughters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Addiction