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jess_justmaybeperfect's reviews
818 reviews
By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land by Rebecca Nagle
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
By the Fire We Carry explores the history of the Indigenous Nations forced by violence and theft into what we now know as Oklahoma and the 2020 US Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which led to the restoration of land several Nations were promised by treaty in the 1800s.
With research, personal accounts, family history, moments of joy, and honesty, Nagle has created a moving, emotional, and unputdownable book.
Nagle highlights previous devastating US Supreme Court decisions (a reminder that RBG wasn’t always great), the systematic violence and terror unleashed upon indigenous people, constant treaty violations, the complicated roles leaders play in the events that impact their citizens, and the realities of hoping the branches of the US government will actually balance each other. All are, sadly, evergreen.
I first started following Nagle with her podcast This Land (which covers McGirt v. Oklahoma and the case decided with it) and really enjoyed this book on audio, she narrates.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
Rules for Ruin has secret identities, love at first sight + enemies to lovers, a hot air balloon ride, found family, a heist, superbly awful villains, and stars the first graduate of a girls school founded to cultivate its students into anti patriarchy warriors, Effie Flite.
Effie meets Gabriel Royce, a proper St. Giles Bad Boy With a Heart of Gold, when their interests collide.
As Effie and Gabriel come to know each other they: become friends; share kisses on terraces; confront anxieties; have frank conversations about women’s rights, gentrification, poverty, and class; make huge confessions; force themselves apart; and get their HEA, their way.
In this book, Matthews once again exhibits her feminist, progressive, thoughtful, hot (yes closed door but still hot), and wildly romantic writing style.
I was especially drawn to Gabriel’s determination to be Effie’s support. He showed no sign of being her rescuer, rather her back up. Plus:
-subversive sewing samplers
-exquisite banter
-working class main characters
-fashion as defense and armor
The Behind the Book section is required reading and don’t skip the Teaser for book 2!
Thanks to Matthews/Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Effie meets Gabriel Royce, a proper St. Giles Bad Boy With a Heart of Gold, when their interests collide.
As Effie and Gabriel come to know each other they: become friends; share kisses on terraces; confront anxieties; have frank conversations about women’s rights, gentrification, poverty, and class; make huge confessions; force themselves apart; and get their HEA, their way.
In this book, Matthews once again exhibits her feminist, progressive, thoughtful, hot (yes closed door but still hot), and wildly romantic writing style.
I was especially drawn to Gabriel’s determination to be Effie’s support. He showed no sign of being her rescuer, rather her back up. Plus:
-subversive sewing samplers
-exquisite banter
-working class main characters
-fashion as defense and armor
The Behind the Book section is required reading and don’t skip the Teaser for book 2!
Thanks to Matthews/Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Violence
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
The Deed with the Duke by Sri Savita
hopeful
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
4.0
Raaz arrives in town to investigate the location of the deed to his late father’s favorite home (he’s a Duke, they have a few), only to discover that the woman of his dreams, Camelia, won it in a card game.
She offers a tour. He then offers to help her fix it up. He’s in town for a while anyway right? The attraction is immediate and they’re, conveniently, together constantly. Camelia and Raaz, have a “use your words” consensual short term affair (oops true love) that’s very hot.
The Deed with the Duke is a low conflict cozy read, that is again, very hot.
Plus, the secondary characters are a delight.
This is Savita’s debut and I’m very much looking forward to what is next (possibly the MMC’s sister 👀).
She offers a tour. He then offers to help her fix it up. He’s in town for a while anyway right? The attraction is immediate and they’re, conveniently, together constantly. Camelia and Raaz, have a “use your words” consensual short term affair (oops true love) that’s very hot.
The Deed with the Duke is a low conflict cozy read, that is again, very hot.
Plus, the secondary characters are a delight.
This is Savita’s debut and I’m very much looking forward to what is next (possibly the MMC’s sister 👀).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
We could all learn a lot from Gideon and her necromancer Harrow. They’re funny, uptight, badass, and by far the top enemies to best friends for life and thereafter I’ve ever read.
This book is bloody, violent, sad, scary, hilarious, moving, and a treatise on truth and justice.
Legit cannot wait for book 2.
This book is bloody, violent, sad, scary, hilarious, moving, and a treatise on truth and justice.
Legit cannot wait for book 2.
A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
A regency HistRom with enemies to lovers, a treasure hunt, starlight kisses, and a nonbinary MC.
Georgie and Elf’s relationship is low conflict but the external stakes are high and compelling. The dialogue is tight and fun.
Excellent secondary characters abound and anti-misogyny rules the day. Every major and minor plot line is executed to perfection. No holes. Excellent resolutions. And all a great background to a cozy, funny, sexy, sweet, and adventurous romance!
Georgie and Elf’s relationship is low conflict but the external stakes are high and compelling. The dialogue is tight and fun.
Excellent secondary characters abound and anti-misogyny rules the day. Every major and minor plot line is executed to perfection. No holes. Excellent resolutions. And all a great background to a cozy, funny, sexy, sweet, and adventurous romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Medical trauma
A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
5.0
After a case of stolen identity, Miss Muriel Pendrake has earned a story of her very own. She’s landed in St. Ives determined to prove even seaweed isn’t beneath her (it is, in fact, beneath her), and happens to fall into the actual path of a truly handsome cyclist/illustrator who would be a perfect project partner for her work.
He also happens to be the best friend of the infamous Lucy Coover (from A Duke Undone).
A bicycle trip ensues, with lots of opportunities for scandalous bathing machines and only-one-bed scenarios and true love.
He also happens to be the best friend of the infamous Lucy Coover (from A Duke Undone).
A bicycle trip ensues, with lots of opportunities for scandalous bathing machines and only-one-bed scenarios and true love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content
Minor: Transphobia
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.5
A genre bending story set in a post “monster” world run by “angels”, starring Jam, a young woman who meets a hunter (Pet), who springs from her mother’s painting.
When Jam learns the hunt involves a monster in her best friend’s family, she resists her parents’ urging to send Pet back and decides to help.
As the investigation proceeds, Jam (and the reader) explore gender, parenting, childhood, friendship, family, abuse, betrayal, vengeance, loyalty, and justice.
“Angels can look like many things. So can monsters.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Sexual assault
Caroline's Heart by Austin Chant
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
Set in 1885 Texas, Caroline’s Heart is the story of Roy, a cowboy, and Cecily, a witch.
Brought together by work and then violence, Roy and Cecily’s love story explores trans lives, secrets, grief, masculinity, falling in love for the first time, falling in love again, the complicated legacy of women who heal others and allegations of witchcraft, family loss, found family, real friendship, honesty, and forgiveness.
This novella is beautifully written, a little eerie, very romantic, hot, and an unputdownable quick read.
Brought together by work and then violence, Roy and Cecily’s love story explores trans lives, secrets, grief, masculinity, falling in love for the first time, falling in love again, the complicated legacy of women who heal others and allegations of witchcraft, family loss, found family, real friendship, honesty, and forgiveness.
This novella is beautifully written, a little eerie, very romantic, hot, and an unputdownable quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Oathbound by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Classism