jaz_gets_literary's reviews
258 reviews

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook copy of this book. All opinions are my own thoughts. 

I throughly enjoyed this book. It was so cute but also thoughtful. Shireen is trying to get over her breakup with her girlfriend Chris when she learns that she has been accepted into the Junior Irish Baking Show. That’s great news but the problem is her ex is also in the competition. How is she supposed to move in when she’s now forced to be near her for the competition? Or could bring around Chris fix things and the get back together? No Shireen must focus on the competition because her parents bakery needs the help or her winning. That’s easier said than done when another competitor seems to have her eye on her. Being on a televised baking show with her ex and a possible new love interest should be fine right? What could go wrong? 

This was an excellent read with so many aspects to learn about. I enjoy reading about different cultures. Learning about Shireen’s Bangladeshi culture in this book made me want to research more into the culture altogether. I learned that other POC cultures deal with the same issues as African American families. I loved that Shireen’s family was supportive of her. A young lesbian couple with POC characters, I’m so glad that youth will be able to see themselves in these characters. While the book was lighthearted and fun it also covered topics that are a little harder. POC youths lack of support from their parents when they come out, them feeling like they have to help support the families, them feeling like that can’t make their own path in life and have to do what their parents want them to do, difficult parent interactions, online bullying because or race and different relationship/friendship dynamics. These are all things that need to be discussed more in YA literature since our youth are actually going through these things. I really enjoyed the author’s note at the end. The narrator of the audiobook was great and kept me engaged the entire time. I look forward to reading more books from this author and other audiobooks from the narrator
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The Secret to a Southern Wedding by Synithia Williams

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley, Hear Our Voices Tour and Canary Street Press for the physical arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are the truth and are of my own volition. 

Imani is living her life as Doctor of the Year in FL. Until her mom texts her and says she getting married. Imani is shocked because her mother swore off men and dating after her father betrayed her. Imani rushes back to her hometown of Peachtree Cove GA with one mission. To stop the wedding. That is until to runs into a cute guy as soon as she gets to town. Such a lovely meet cute at the local Diary Bar. Sparks fly between them until she’s figures out the cute guy is actually Cyril, the son to the man her mother plans to marry. Cyril and his father Preston moved from Baltimore to Peachtree Cove a few years ago after the death of his mother. Are they running from something or could they not just bare the memories of their deceased loved one and decided to start over somewhere new. 

This book was messy in such a good way. Southern small town nosiness. She doesn’t believe in love after her parent’s divorce but the one guy she falls for should be off limits but I didn’t say we were in a small town in Georgia so who knows what will happen. Both of these families have secrets they are hiding but are there really any secrets in a town so small where everyone knows everyone. The book very much gave small town feel and the fact that I live in one I could really relate. I loved that it brought up serious issues also that as shown in the book are prevalent all over. I wish there was more at the ending. I didn’t want it to ended. I needed like a look a year in the future to see where everyone would be at. I love the secondary characters and I need stories for them asap especially Imani’s best friend. There is a bonus story at the end of the book. I read the 1st page and I know it’s giving me drama and it’s going to leave my reeling and I’m totally here for it. 
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Lassiter by J.R. Ward

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challenging tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fast pace and kept me on my toes with the twists and turns. It was a quick read. Read it in one sitting. This is my first read from this author but I already have her other books on my TBR. I can’t wait to read more. 
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Big Girl by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was so close to my loved experience as a child. It pulls on my heart strings and I totally understood every single thing Malaya went through. I wanted to hug her, be there for her to talk to, be her real friend, be everything that she didn’t have and neither did I growing up. The author wrote the crap out of this book because she had me ready to stand up and fight every adult  for Malaya lol. While most of the adults figured things out and changed, that one person had me hot until the end of the book. We need to square up lmao. But the fact that the fact reminds me of someone in my family just hurts more. I’m so glad Malaya figures things out when she does because it took me way longer to get to that place. Every lil big Black girl should read this book. I look forward to reading more from this author. 
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Snow King Catches His Snowflake by A.E. Valdez

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-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? No

4.75

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Indigo and Ida by Heather Murphy Capps

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emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

Indigo is a budding reporter who sets off in getting herself sent to detention to report on an injustice she thinks is going on. The story she finds ends of being bigger than she could have ever thought. While in detention the teacher gives the students an assignment, pick a book about an influencer and right a paper on it. Indigo finds a book about Ida B. Wells. When she opens it she realizes that the book holds more than what it first appears to be and maybe it will help her uncover the truth of everything happening at her school. 

Middle school is such a weird time for children. The hormones and all the changes are difficult to deals with and we see Indigo and her friends try to tackle these changes. These changes are especially hard when race, gender identity, classism, and popularity come into play. The parallels between Indigo and Ida!!! Those parallels helped Indigo search within her herself and find who she truly is, what she believes in and what she stands for. I don’t really agree with most school reading list but this book should be on all middle school reading lists. I look forward to reading more from this author. 

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Take a Hike by Mimi Grace

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adventurous lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This was a cute fast paced romance read. I’m a sucker for a lil grumpy sunshine and Silas was just that. Loved the plus size representation in Raven and that she had some fight in her when no one believed she could handle business. Usually the plus size character is the funny fat friend and she’s insecure but that was not  the case with Ms. Raven and I was so happy about that. It was an enjoyable read but I wanted a little more. More in what Raven decided to do career wise after she left and how the business was doing in the epilogue. This was my first book I’ve read by Mimi Grace and will be looking forward to reading more. 

Thank you to the author for the arc of this book. 
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I'm Not Supposed to Be in the Dark by Riss M. Neilson

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

4.75

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book through Hear Out Voices book tour. That does not affect my opinion below. All thoughts are my own.  Also, please check trigger warnings before reading. 

I’m Not Supposed To Be In The Dark is a beautifully written book. Two former teenage friends who are both struggling through their own grief and finding themselves. 

Aria’s family has hidden something that they know about her for her entire life. But as she’s gotten older it’s harder to hide it and she knows she can see the dead. Aria’s ex best friend Derek has been acting weirder than he usually has. Although they’re not friends anymore, she still watched him. When Derek suddenly starts being friendly again with her one minute and then back cold the next Aria believes something is wrong with him. Something is wrong because Derek’s is possessed by a young man who died but can’t pass over. Can Aria use her power of seeing the dead to help get the spirit that it possessing Derek to its resting place. 

This is the first paranormal book I’ve read in a while and my first read by Riss M. Neilson and it did not disappoint. Did you see the gorgeous cover? That’s truly what sucked me in without even knowing that the book was about. It was spooky and page turning. I couldn’t put it down. Family secrets, working the grief of the death of a parent as a teenager, learning who you really are, friendships and found family were important spacers in this book. In my opinion, it was just enough romance for a YA book. I enjoyed the book and cannot wait to read more from this author. 
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In His Possession: Bought by a Black Mafia Prince by B. Love

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

3.0

Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book. This was my first Mafia read and I’m not sure if the genre is for me but I liked the book nonetheless. It was a bit difficult to get through at times because I was cursing characters out but I honestly thinks that comes with this type of book. It’s not for everyone and please check the tigger warnings before you dive into it. 
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