kaisbooknook's reviews
183 reviews

Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

emotional inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

This book is the epitome of what it's like to be 17. The chaos, drama, and questioning of self ring so true. 

All the teens in this book feel so real. They are flawed, make mistakes, hurt their friends and family, make stupid decisions on impulse, and at the core of it all, have so much love and hate for the world around them. Felix especially jumps off the page. His dry sarcastic sense of humour, and his envy of people who have it all figured out feels so inherently human, that I honestly can't believe he's a fictional character. 

I also adore the gender identity questioning. I can relate to so many of the feelings Felix has through this process, and at many times, the book made me tear up due to the rawness of it. 

My only criticism is that I felt the book was a bit too slow paced. By the middle of the book, I felt it dragged on, and felt uneventful. I wish the plot points weren't spread so far apart from each other. I appreciate the slow pace, as it reflects the changes Felix experiences in his life, but I believe making it a little bit faster paced would make the book more interesting. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about realistic, flawed teen characters, an MC who is desperate for love, and finds it within himself, or questioning gender identity, and the non-linear process of it. 

On Her Terms by Amy Spalding

lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.75

Although the characters were very nuanced, for some reason I still felt a large disconnect from them. I also hated how both the MC's dealt with their fake dating deal. Neither of them communicated with each other and instead resorted to sex to communicate their feelings, which of course made things even more confusing for the both of them, and muddled the waters. Also, I can understand why Chloe started panicking and lashing out, but damn was she an asshole. I don't know how an adult can think that that was a reasonable way to treat someone. And Clementine continuously accepting how Chloe treated her when she lashed out instead of having a mature conversation and setting up boundaries got on my nerves. The fact that she never spoke her mind about her feelings for Chloe or about how hurt she was just made the entire situation worse. 

I also really disliked Clementines best friends. They felt almost like mean girls who weren't aware they were being mean, and the way they treated her after she broke up with her boyfriend just rubbed me the wrong way. 

I think the only characters I truly liked were Chloe's friend group. Even though they were side characters, I was more invested in their opinions about things than the main characters sometimes. 

On the other hand, one thing I truly appreciated about the book was the witty and unique writing style, which perfectly conveyed to the reader what it's like inside Clementines mind, especially when she overthinks. I liked how the writing put into perspective her rumination with the run-on sentences. 

Overall, I'm not sure I would enthusiastically recommend this book to readers, due to my opinions about the main characters relationship and dynamic. Although, this is actually my first book in the Out in Hollywood series, so I'm hoping I like the first two books more. 

A huge thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

I absolutely adored the uniqueness of this book. Especially the magic system, combined with the discovery of family secrets 

To start this review off, I want to say just how much it means to me to see the main character of a book with 2 moms. As someone with 2 moms who went almost their entire life feeling ostracized for it, it warms my heart. 

Secondly, the atmosphere and setting of this book is everything. The almost gothic feel of the mansion, combined with a focus on poisonous plants, uncovering family secrets, and the hidden magic that surrounds the MC is so amazing

Also, the incorporation of Greek Mythology is so unique, yet suits all the elements of the book so well. 

I especially love the plot twist at the very end, and because of it, it is one of the very few books apart of a series that I am desperate to continue reading. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about a Black queer girl with sick plant magic, and gothic mansion filled with secrets of the past, or just some wonderful parental love. 

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book is the ultimate highschool sapphic romcom! I could not get enough of it. 

The different plot points were just outrageous enough to be campy yet not annoying, and the characters felt like real life teenagers, from the misunderstood cheerleader to the basketball player who still isn't over her ex. I would love to see this book be turned into a high-school romcom movie!

The way the two main characters interacted is chefs kiss. Their hate to love dynamic with the banter and taunting ughhhhh I can't stop thinking about them. 

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a YA sapphic romcom with a cute slow burn opposites attract romance. 

When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw

emotional inspiring sad slow-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

3.0

I enjoyed this book. I loved the little friend group the MC develops, and the romance felt realistic for teens in high school. 

What I loved the most was the mental health and addiction representation, as well as the representation of racism and unhealthy standards in ballet. It felt very raw and all consuming not only to the main character, but also to the reader, which i appreciate. This topic was written in an anxiety inducing way for the reader, which I appreciate since we can relate to the main characters struggles. 

Apart from that, I felt the book kind of fell flat for me. I didn't hate it, but i didn't love it, and it wasn't very memorable once I finished reading it. To me this book isn't a must read, although it is a good choice if you want to read about mental health representation. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about the experience of ED's, addiction, disassociation, and anti-Black racism in ballet. 

Blood, Flesh, & Magic by Viano Oniomoh

adventurous challenging emotional slow-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

3.5

I really enjoyed this book, especially the unique magic system. I would say however, that I personally found the magic system explanation/world building fell flat, and I was left to figure out a couple a unexplained factors by myself. I would've appreciated if the explanation went into more detail, as I spent a bit of the first quarter confused, which took away from the reading experience 

While I did love the characters interpersonal relationships with each other, and the ways they interacted, I did find them to be a bit one-dimensional, and I didn't feel very connected to the characters

That being said, I loved the relationship between the two MC's, especially towards the end. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I found their love absolutely adorable, and their acts of service towards each other were unmatched. 

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a fantasy book set in Nigeria, with a unique magic system, or just a book with spicy and cute romance. 

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

I'll Have What He's Having by Adib Khorram

funny hopeful lighthearted slow-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

I really enjoyed reading I'll Have What He's Having. I loved the flirting and banter between the two MC's, the support and trust they gave one another, and getting a look into their private lives without each other as well. 

I felt the pacing was a bit slow, and that the book dragged on a bit at the end, especially during the third act break up. 

Speaking of the third act break up, the stubbornness of the two characters annoyed me so much, and the miscommunication could have easily been solved if they sat down and had a conversation like adults. 

What I did love though, was their dynamic, full of healing each other's self loathing or stubbornness, and seeing them both realize that they wouldn't get hurt like all the times before. That was really powerful. 

I think my favourite part though were the in depth descriptions of food and wine. As a foodie myself, it brought me unexplainable joy. 

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a spicy gay romance, especially foodies who want a read with detailed descriptions of food.