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looseleafellie's reviews
251 reviews
Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann
5.0
Rounded up from 4.5 stars
This book has been on my TBR for a while, and I finally picked it up a couple of weeks ago. It’s about Alice, a college student who is navigating a new relationship while also navigating her plans for the future — including dealing with her worries about whether her new maybe-boyfriend will stop wanting to date her when he finds out she’s asexual.
I totally loved Alice as a character. She’s kind, warm, and vibrant, but she can also be impulsive and a little flighty. Her complex personality meant that she comes across as a real person, and her challenges seem way more relatable.
This book is largely pure enjoyable fluff, but it still got super real at times. I was a total wreck for the last few chapters — but luckily I thought the ending was satisfying, even though it wasn’t wrapped up in a nice pretty bow.
This book has been on my TBR for a while, and I finally picked it up a couple of weeks ago. It’s about Alice, a college student who is navigating a new relationship while also navigating her plans for the future — including dealing with her worries about whether her new maybe-boyfriend will stop wanting to date her when he finds out she’s asexual.
I totally loved Alice as a character. She’s kind, warm, and vibrant, but she can also be impulsive and a little flighty. Her complex personality meant that she comes across as a real person, and her challenges seem way more relatable.
This book is largely pure enjoyable fluff, but it still got super real at times. I was a total wreck for the last few chapters — but luckily I thought the ending was satisfying, even though it wasn’t wrapped up in a nice pretty bow.
Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
4.0
I don’t usually read contemporary romance-type books, so I didn’t pick this one up until somebody mentioned to me that there was TIME TRAVEL in it. So I decided to borrow the ebook from Overdrive and oh. My. GOSH what a concept!
Opposite of Always is kind of like a YA Groundhog Day, but set over the course of several months. The main character, Jack, meets a girl called Kate and starts a relationship with her, but a few months in, she has a medical emergency and dies. Jack is then catapulted back in time to when they first met, and the process starts all over again. So Jack has to work out what he can do differently each time to save Kate.
The story did get a little repetitive, for obvious reasons, but it really started to pick up for me around the 60-75% mark. Jack’s fourth round was especially wild! I loved how the story focused on Jack’s relationships with his family and friends and not just with Kate, and how prioritizing one person’s needs above everyone else’s can lead to some tricky situations. Jack’s character arc is brilliantly-done. The chapters are also short and sweet, so it’s the sort of book you can dip into for a few minutes at a time.
Opposite of Always is kind of like a YA Groundhog Day, but set over the course of several months. The main character, Jack, meets a girl called Kate and starts a relationship with her, but a few months in, she has a medical emergency and dies. Jack is then catapulted back in time to when they first met, and the process starts all over again. So Jack has to work out what he can do differently each time to save Kate.
The story did get a little repetitive, for obvious reasons, but it really started to pick up for me around the 60-75% mark. Jack’s fourth round was especially wild! I loved how the story focused on Jack’s relationships with his family and friends and not just with Kate, and how prioritizing one person’s needs above everyone else’s can lead to some tricky situations. Jack’s character arc is brilliantly-done. The chapters are also short and sweet, so it’s the sort of book you can dip into for a few minutes at a time.
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
5.0
This story is such a beautiful look at social anxiety, the way fandom brings people together, and the hardships that artists and creators face — all with a cute romance and unforgettable voice! I devoured it in the space of a day because I just couldn’t stop reading about Eliza and her journey. The book also features beautiful illustrations to give depth to the world Eliza has created.
I love shoving this book in people’s faces, because I honestly think it’s a masterpiece of YA fiction (I think it’s even better than ... dare I say it ... Fangirl!). If I could erase it from my memory so I could experience the magic for the first time all over again, I would!
I love shoving this book in people’s faces, because I honestly think it’s a masterpiece of YA fiction (I think it’s even better than ... dare I say it ... Fangirl!). If I could erase it from my memory so I could experience the magic for the first time all over again, I would!
Reverie by Ryan La Sala
5.0
Rounded up from 4.5 stars
This book had a super ambitious concept, given that the characters have to navigate multiple dream worlds, but — as Kane and Sophia might say — it’s just gay enough to work! I loved the ensemble cast of teens, though my personal favorite character was Poesy, the drag queen sorceress (though you be fair, you can’t really top a drag queen sorceress). I also loved how it’s not really clear which characters are “good” or “bad,” and there are plenty of twists and turns.
I think my favorite thing about this book was how it played with the trope of the main character being a loser social outcast with no friends. Kane feels that way at the start, but it turns out that (minor spoiler alert) he actually does have a lot of friends — he just had his memory wiped. I gotta say, the “I’m a loser” trope usually gets on my nerves because it often makes the main character come off as whiny, but La Sala pulled it off brilliantly here. In short, if you’re into YA and want something that’ll twist around some tropes while showering you with rainbows and glitter, Reverie should be your next read!
This book had a super ambitious concept, given that the characters have to navigate multiple dream worlds, but — as Kane and Sophia might say — it’s just gay enough to work! I loved the ensemble cast of teens, though my personal favorite character was Poesy, the drag queen sorceress (though you be fair, you can’t really top a drag queen sorceress). I also loved how it’s not really clear which characters are “good” or “bad,” and there are plenty of twists and turns.
I think my favorite thing about this book was how it played with the trope of the main character being a loser social outcast with no friends. Kane feels that way at the start, but it turns out that (minor spoiler alert) he actually does have a lot of friends — he just had his memory wiped. I gotta say, the “I’m a loser” trope usually gets on my nerves because it often makes the main character come off as whiny, but La Sala pulled it off brilliantly here. In short, if you’re into YA and want something that’ll twist around some tropes while showering you with rainbows and glitter, Reverie should be your next read!
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
5.0
Where do I even begin with this story? The writing gave me constant chills, and the plot kept me hooked in a way that very few contemporary stories do for me.
We’ve all had the experience of making a stupid mistake because we weren’t thinking, and even though I’ve never made a mistake that caused someone to die, I still related to Carver a lot. I highly recommend this story for everyone who loves a heart-wrenching contemporary!
We’ve all had the experience of making a stupid mistake because we weren’t thinking, and even though I’ve never made a mistake that caused someone to die, I still related to Carver a lot. I highly recommend this story for everyone who loves a heart-wrenching contemporary!
Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
5.0
Rounded up from 4.5 stars
Full Disclosure is about HIV-positive Simone, and how she deals with the consequences of her classmates finding out her status. Honestly, I learned more about HIV from this book than I’ve ever learned before in my life, and I loved the diversity and (safe, consensual) sex-positive attitude.
I also loved Simone’s character — her dream is to become a Broadway musical director, and her love for musicals shines out of the page. She starts off the book wanting to run and hide from her problems, but she learns to find her voice and be unapologetically herself. I felt like some of the dialogue was a bit awkward, but the story as a whole is such an important addition to YA shelves everywhere!
Full Disclosure is about HIV-positive Simone, and how she deals with the consequences of her classmates finding out her status. Honestly, I learned more about HIV from this book than I’ve ever learned before in my life, and I loved the diversity and (safe, consensual) sex-positive attitude.
I also loved Simone’s character — her dream is to become a Broadway musical director, and her love for musicals shines out of the page. She starts off the book wanting to run and hide from her problems, but she learns to find her voice and be unapologetically herself. I felt like some of the dialogue was a bit awkward, but the story as a whole is such an important addition to YA shelves everywhere!
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
5.0
Oh my goodness, where to start with this book? The setting was so lush and well-developed, and the writing was gorgeous. The themes got pretty heavy and dark at times, but the topics of oppression and female agency in a male-dominated society are super important.
All of the characters were super complex, and I especially liked the twist on the “vapid mean girl” trope when it came to Blue. I read this book over the course of several weeks due to how busy I was, so I regrettably didn’t get as immersed as I would have liked, but overall this was a stunning read.
All of the characters were super complex, and I especially liked the twist on the “vapid mean girl” trope when it came to Blue. I read this book over the course of several weeks due to how busy I was, so I regrettably didn’t get as immersed as I would have liked, but overall this was a stunning read.
Once & Future by A.R. Capetta, Cory McCarthy
4.0
I was super excited to read this book, because I love sci-fi, I love King Arthur, and I love genderbent retellings (not to mention a healthy dose of diversity). In the end, I really liked it!
Merlin, Ari, and her knights make up a cast of lovable cinnamon rolls (who, in some cases, will also stab your eyes out), and the villainous Mercer Corporation draws a chilling parallel to the mega-companies of today. I also enjoyed the clever ways in which Arthurian legend was woven into the story.
I was a little confused about the distances between the planets, since it seemed like the characters could reach their destination pretty darn quickly when they needed to, and the time jump in the middle of the book threw me off a bit. Overall, though, this was a winner! I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Merlin, Ari, and her knights make up a cast of lovable cinnamon rolls (who, in some cases, will also stab your eyes out), and the villainous Mercer Corporation draws a chilling parallel to the mega-companies of today. I also enjoyed the clever ways in which Arthurian legend was woven into the story.
I was a little confused about the distances between the planets, since it seemed like the characters could reach their destination pretty darn quickly when they needed to, and the time jump in the middle of the book threw me off a bit. Overall, though, this was a winner! I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Crimson Hearts by Nicole Reeves
4.0
Oh my goodness, THIS BOOK. I don't usually cry over contemporary books, but Crimson Hearts made me bawl several times! This story is such a beautiful, raw exploration of grief, healing, and family. Plus, it's set in my home state of Texas, which I always appreciate :D
I found the beginning of the book to be a little slow, but after the inciting incident, I feel like the author really came into her own. Reeves has an amazing way of hitting just the right emotional beats to make Hattie's feelings seem heart-wrenchingly real.
In a story like this, there can't be such a thing as a fairytale happy ending, but the conclusion is uplifting and hopeful nonetheless. It really drives home the point that life can't be perfect, but if we surround ourselves with supportive people, we can find meaning even in sadness.
In short, if you're looking for an emotional, introspective read reminiscent of Jeff Zentner's [b:Goodbye Days|30649795|Goodbye Days|Jeff Zentner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476384938l/30649795._SY75_.jpg|51192309], I would highly recommend Crimson Hearts!
I found the beginning of the book to be a little slow, but after the inciting incident, I feel like the author really came into her own. Reeves has an amazing way of hitting just the right emotional beats to make Hattie's feelings seem heart-wrenchingly real.
In a story like this, there can't be such a thing as a fairytale happy ending, but the conclusion is uplifting and hopeful nonetheless. It really drives home the point that life can't be perfect, but if we surround ourselves with supportive people, we can find meaning even in sadness.
In short, if you're looking for an emotional, introspective read reminiscent of Jeff Zentner's [b:Goodbye Days|30649795|Goodbye Days|Jeff Zentner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476384938l/30649795._SY75_.jpg|51192309], I would highly recommend Crimson Hearts!