rainb0wreads's reviews
159 reviews

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.75

This was cutesy and it brought me much joy 

Chouette by Claire Oshetsky

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Surrealist tellings of the different sides of caring for children with disability it seems. There’s a lot to unpack within this narrative that I’m currently attempting to grasp but I feel like the conversations, actions, and reactions of the characters hold very real weight in regards to the experiences of families in the greater world struggling with mental and physical health while caring for a child that needs extra help as well. Enablement versus embracing is something I’ve personally taken away from this as well

Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

If I wasn’t so stressed out about my college finals rn, this book would be making me ball my eyes out.

So real, so relatable, so raw. 

I’m gonna call my mom now 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green, David Levithan

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.0

Not the best thing I’ve ever read but also not the worst.

Very 2013 tumblr emo if I do say so myself

Fireheart by Vanessa Lanang

adventurous fast-paced

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

2.0

I tried…I did try to like this but I just have too many gripes. Someone said in a different review that this book would have benefited from being longer and I agree. Too many quick decisions that aren’t fleshed out because the world needed more time to cook. It was lacking in understanding of the characters and the decisions they’d make as well as how they go about the world. I also think a map would have been helpful. 

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Status update: heartbroken 

This book takes the most raw and excruciatingly painful look into the affects of upholding white beauty standards on young, black, bodies. Specifically the bodies of young black girls. I don’t know what much I can say other than the fact that it makes you think about just how horrible and cruel the world is to those it doesn’t favor, and how we must tend to the young with love and affection. With the truth that they are beautiful. The story is heartbreaking from beginning to end, but it showcases the insanity we drive ourselves and the generation after us to, if we are not there to care for them in the vulnerable state they are forced to grow in. 

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.5

Been a while since I read like….an actual good mystery. Points for the romance not taking over a whole ass FBI investigation. Triple points for it being just a bomb ass story about self discovery that weaves in Native American culture. This book is just good bro 

Girls of Fate and Fury by Natasha Ngan

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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? No

3.75

I think this is a good series but personally I found that many things in the 2nd book leading through the 3rd book kind of dragged which made it hard to get into. I think the happy ending is necessary and it shows that there’s nothing black and white about revenge and justice. While I also believe the characters more, specifically wren and lei towards the end of this book, idk. It was odd to get this understanding that homosexuality was wrong and then suddenly towards the end everyone was out, queer, and proud. Don’t get me wrong, we love to see it! It just felt tacked on in an underdeveloped way when there’s so many things this series is trying to cover. I think that’s also my issue with the romance between Wren and Lei. It very much felt like the 2 lesbians in the room who are expected to date. Nonetheless I think there are many other people who will love to dive into this series and I highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested, I just had my own personal opinions and gripes 

Passing (African American Heritage Classics) by Nella Larsen

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

The way this book had me gobsmacked and gagged-

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

I don’t really know what I can say about this book other than the fact it feels very much like the end of an era to have finished all 511 pages after 4 long months. 

It is everything. You must read it.