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livelovelibrary's reviews
124 reviews
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
If you have not read this book, go read it right now. No explanation necessary.
For those who do want one:
This graphic novel was AMAZING!! Absolutely stunning and adorable story. I mean how can you not love a non-binary werewolf and a chinese-american witch childhood-friends-to-lovers story! also the rep was so good with the lesbian grandma’s + different body shapes and sizes!
the story follows tam (the werewolf) and nova (the witch) who are reunited and begin working together to battle a demon that has appeared in the woods nearby. There are some plot twists and turns, which I honestly can not say I was very shocked by, however, I still loved the story and I did not mind that whatsoever.
For those who do want one:
This graphic novel was AMAZING!! Absolutely stunning and adorable story. I mean how can you not love a non-binary werewolf and a chinese-american witch childhood-friends-to-lovers story! also the rep was so good with the lesbian grandma’s + different body shapes and sizes!
the story follows tam (the werewolf) and nova (the witch) who are reunited and begin working together to battle a demon that has appeared in the woods nearby. There are some plot twists and turns, which I honestly can not say I was very shocked by, however, I still loved the story and I did not mind that whatsoever.
We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
i really love the writing style in this and the concept in general, so while I was listening to the audiobook, i went ahead and looked at some of the reviews. i honestly did not read the little synopsis on the back of this book and just selected it from my library’s random tool.
what i am about to say may sound shitty but please keep reading beyond the first phrase of the sentence: i am going to, unfortunately, stop reading this book after finding out that this book is supposed to be a gay romance, however, it is between a high school sophomore and senior (who got held back a year?). the sophomore even describes the senior’s energy as “older-sibling-like” and i was beyond excited to read a story of a friendship form through letters. this book’s concept could have so easily been executed without the age gap.i also have read that there are multiple sex scenes in this book which is extremely weird for a cast of high school characters, especially when this book is labeled as YA. the scenes are over sexualized and there was a weird ass scene with someone being horny for an armpit??
secondly, i am really struggling to follow the plot of this book through just the letters written back-in-forth because it simply does not cover a lot of it yet (I am only like 41% done with the book). i just can’t get past how this story is so unrealistic and out of touch with high schoolers as well as being extremely cliché-filled. i do not think this is a book that i would ever want a young gay kid to read and think was a good example of representation of themselves in the media. I am going to have to trust the reviews on this book and move onto a queer book written by a queer author for queer readers.
what i am about to say may sound shitty but please keep reading beyond the first phrase of the sentence: i am going to, unfortunately, stop reading this book after finding out that this book is supposed to be a gay romance, however, it is between a high school sophomore and senior (who got held back a year?). the sophomore even describes the senior’s energy as “older-sibling-like” and i was beyond excited to read a story of a friendship form through letters. this book’s concept could have so easily been executed without the age gap.
secondly, i am really struggling to follow the plot of this book through just the letters written back-in-forth because it simply does not cover a lot of it yet (I am only like 41% done with the book). i just can’t get past how this story is so unrealistic and out of touch with high schoolers as well as being extremely cliché-filled. i do not think this is a book that i would ever want a young gay kid to read and think was a good example of representation of themselves in the media. I am going to have to trust the reviews on this book and move onto a queer book written by a queer author for queer readers.
Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was as if my own dreams of traveling to my ancestral homeland were already written out for me.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This graphic novel follows Tiến, the son of a Vietnamese refugee. Tiến is gay and he doesn’t know how to tell his parents and is scared of what they will say. Tiến‘s struggles to communicate with his parents because of the language barrier, but they communicate with eachother through storytelling. This story and the artwork is beautiful and poignant.
As the child of a refugee, this book really struck a nerve with me and it really encapsulated all of the feelings that have been going around. I absolutely adored the art and the characters and I would recommend this book to everyone!!
As the child of a refugee, this book really struck a nerve with me and it really encapsulated all of the feelings that have been going around. I absolutely adored the art and the characters and I would recommend this book to everyone!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death and Blood
Minor: Cannibalism
Coffee Boy by Austin Chant
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book! S.A. Chant is probably my favorite author of all time. This book follows Kieran, a trans and gay man who just got hired as an intern at a politcal campaign and is simping massively for his boss, Seth (who has heart-eyes for his painfully straight and engaged coworker). Their romance was sweet and I just love reading any trans romance novels!!
This book was so sweet and I loved how effortlessly the contcepts of gender identity and romantic/sexual attraction was tied into it without making the book feel like “trans 101”.
This book was so sweet and I loved how effortlessly the contcepts of gender identity and romantic/sexual attraction was tied into it without making the book feel like “trans 101”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Transphobia
Minor: Alcohol
A Boy Called Cin by Cecil Wilde
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Well this book was definitely the first book I have read with this sort of writing and representation. Cin is an trans, art student and Tom is a bisexual, billionaire tech genius who is twenty years older. I honestly still am not a fan of the whole age difference thing, but I am not apart of the male gay community so I am not sure what the general thoughts on age gap relationships are. Beyond that, I really loved this book and how sweet it was. There were definitely times were it felt like “Gender 101”, but I liked seeing my own experiences validated and shared on the page. The writing style was easy to follow and I loved all of the characters so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Body horror
Moderate: Deadnaming and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol
If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales, Cale Dietrich
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? No
5.0
I can confidently say this book is the quintessential queer YA romance that leaves you feeling loved and crying tears of pure joy by the end of it.
Just wow. This book exceeded my expectations and more!! I was laughing and crying along with the characters and it was absolutely impossible to put this book down. I have never read anything by Sophie Gonzales or Cale Dietrich, but I want to read all of it after reading this! This book is written in dual POVs of Ruben and Zach, two members of the four-person boyband, Saturday. I absolutely loved dual POVs so I was already hooked in by the second chapter! I really loved how this book was co-written because I could see each of the author's writing styles shine through for their respective characters. I was never into boy bands, but reading this book made me care a whole lot more about them than I previously had.
Ruben and Zach begin to recognize their feelings for each other, but dealing with their management team proves to be a major challenge. One of the many things that makes this book so good is that it is scarily accurate to the struggles of music artists who are stuck dealing with the corruption of their labels and management. The other two band members, Angel and Jon, are not without their own struggles and insecurities pressed into them by the management team as well. I loved how every character in this book was able to feel like a real, solid person because of how much detail and care was placed into them. Also, I just really appreciated that Gonzales and Dietrich made the intimate scenes with Ruben and Zach fade-to-black obviously because of the YA genre, but mostly so I have the perfect queer book to recommend to younger readers.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for providing honest feedback!
Just wow. This book exceeded my expectations and more!! I was laughing and crying along with the characters and it was absolutely impossible to put this book down. I have never read anything by Sophie Gonzales or Cale Dietrich, but I want to read all of it after reading this! This book is written in dual POVs of Ruben and Zach, two members of the four-person boyband, Saturday. I absolutely loved dual POVs so I was already hooked in by the second chapter! I really loved how this book was co-written because I could see each of the author's writing styles shine through for their respective characters. I was never into boy bands, but reading this book made me care a whole lot more about them than I previously had.
Ruben and Zach begin to recognize their feelings for each other, but dealing with their management team proves to be a major challenge. One of the many things that makes this book so good is that it is scarily accurate to the struggles of music artists who are stuck dealing with the corruption of their labels and management. The other two band members, Angel and Jon, are not without their own struggles and insecurities pressed into them by the management team as well. I loved how every character in this book was able to feel like a real, solid person because of how much detail and care was placed into them. Also, I just really appreciated that Gonzales and Dietrich made the intimate scenes with Ruben and Zach fade-to-black obviously because of the YA genre, but mostly so I have the perfect queer book to recommend to younger readers.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for providing honest feedback!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Car accident, and Emotional abuse
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
I really enjoyed the style of narration where we have the unrealiable narrator Olive who is unapologetically set in her opinions. There were a lot of moments where I genuinely laughed out loud at parts and that is really hard for a book to get me to do. I was excited to read a straight enemies-to-lovers book where they were not enemies just because the guy was misogynistic and evil. I loved all of the side characters and the family dynamics and I think they were a perfect addition to the plot. This book was definitely pretty good book and the writing style is so easy to read and follow.