jce's reviews
747 reviews

Teenage Dirtbags by James Acker

emotional funny hopeful reflective

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This has cemented James Acker as one of my favorite authors. I was blown away by The Long Run, and this was just as outstanding. I’m sad it’s over. I don’t want to leave any of these characters. I can’t wait to read whatever this author writes next. 

We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film by Tre'vell Anderson

informative inspiring reflective

5.0

Murder Crossed Her Mind by Stephen Spotswood

5.0

Devil's Chew Toy by Rob Osler
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz

4.25

The Oak and the Ash by Annick Trent

4.25

Murder Under Her Skin by Stephen Spotswood

adventurous funny mysterious reflective

4.75

Covenant, Vol. 1 by explodikid, LySandra Vuong

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

 I knew nothing about this going in, but was drawn to it because of the cover. I ended up really liking the art throughout. I found the world intriguing and the characters engaging. It's definitely an introductory volume, so be prepared for it to get you interested and then leave you hanging. The dialogue was nothing remarkable, and there were times I wasn't quite sure what was going on, but I was able to follow along well enough that I had a handle on the story. I'll be picking up the next volume when it releases because I want to know what happens next!

*ARC provided by NetGalley 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Death and Grief

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

 There's so much to love about this book. I was hooked on the cast of characters and really enjoyed learning more about Mariachi. The only thing I struggled with was the main character, Rafie. I definitely don't think it's unrealistic to make teenage MCs self-centered and entitled and messy. But Rafie was so frustrating! He spends so much of the book being such a jerk. And yes he has reasons, but he still chooses over and over again to put himself first at the expense of other people. The romance was tricky because there was so much I felt was wonderful, but Rey (the love interest) being so completely amazing and Rafie treating him so badly for so long was rough. I was particularly frustrated by the third act low point, because Rafie had already been such a jerk for so much of the book. I think the romance would have worked better if Rey had been the one to struggle towards the end and Rafie had been there to boost him up, instead of it always being the other way around. Still, there was enough to love that I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

*ARC provided by NetGalley 

The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen

4.25