readtomea97's reviews
194 reviews

Finding Famous: a Mashad Family Novel by Candice Jalili

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

Honestly I like the story. I wish we could’ve saw Josie really getting to know the sisters more rather than her just navigating this new world. Aside from her heart to heart with Josie would’ve been a little less aloof when it came to her crush on Isaac. I could tell from the beginning that he couldn’t be trusted. I also felt like Mama Mashad couldn’t be trusted throughout. She was so good at working a story or an angle it was hard to know where she was telling the truth or not. I think Lou was a real one for defending her against Isaac and her bf (his best friend). They both were trash and were handled accordingly. I still don’t understand the purpose of the epilogue… it was endearing but idk. Something about her actual mom and Mama Mashad I just don’t trust. I do think she really loves her girls plus Josie but she has a weird way of showing it. Loved Matt, he was such a good dad for her, and loved her and Timmy. I was rooting for him the whole time.
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Cappadonna 3.5 by Jahquel J.

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Maybe I Love You by Briyanna Michelle

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emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Honestly this was not my favorite by Briyanna, but it was just okay. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. I’m on the fence about the transition from lesbian to bisexual but it does happen. You really can’t help who you fall for. I respect how he approached the situation, but with how soon everything happened after she was left at the alter it just felt rushed. I enjoyed the plot twist about the ex tho. 
Cappadonna 2 by Jahquel J.

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adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Lez Blues by Lasilvia harden

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

This book was so so so soooo good! DeAndra did a beautiful job with telling Aiden and Brandon’s story., and I have very minimal critiques. When I say I teared up and wanted to fight for Aiden, this book had me in the store holding my chest needing to take a min. This book had me ready to ride at down for my boy Aiden!! I just wanted to go give him and Brandon a hug throughout this story. My only complaint is I wish we would’ve got to know Isabella a little more. These young men had to experience a lot in a very short amount of time that I think any adult would have just as much trouble processing. This has been one of my favorite reads so far this year. 

All the Noise at Once follows Aiden and Brandon, two brothers who have bonded through their love of random facts and football. Aiden is on the autism spectrum and all he wants to do is play football with his brother before he graduates. He’s struggled with dealing with controlling his emotions and reactions when he gets overwhelmed, which he thought ruined his chances, until an opportunity comes up that allows him to join. After the team goes out to celebrate their big win, a teammate named Carter picks a fight with Aiden where someone calls the police and the situation escalates. Aiden and his other black teammates are assaulted by the police for “resisting arrest,” and Brandon is arrested for assaulting an officer trying to save Aiden from being hurt. Aiden now has to navigate school without him brother while Brandon prepares for his trial after finding out the police are trying him as an adult. This story allows both brothers to navigate grief of the familiar, understanding new feelings they’ve never dealt with, learning who really had your back or not, pushing back, and about what resilience truly means. 

- I loved Aiden and Brandon’s relationship. The random animal facts and how Brandon looks out for him. 
- I love Isabella 
- I love Aiden’s ability to understand more than people give autistic people credit for
- the pushback of authority 
- questions the norms of privilege and fairness 


Thank you DeAndra Davis And Netgalley for this ARC. 
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Overall the plot was cute as far as the enemies to lovers trope and the two MCs discovering their love for each other. I just want to know more about Iris’s brother and what is happening with this war going on around them. It seems like you’re just falling into this  love story in the middle of the war. 
Prince of the Palisades by Julian Winters

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challenging 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

4.0

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

I like the focus on Black people through the Harlem Renaissance era, and how Louise got wrapped up in solving this crime. I zoned in and out of this story, and figured out who the killer was about 60% of the way through. 
The Cure of Us by Monique Goode

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5