readtomea97's reviews
43 reviews

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

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

4.0

This book was beautiful written, and gives a very unique insight into the lives of slave women, specifically mulatto/white passing women. This story is based on the life of slave concubine Mary Lumpkin, the bully trader (a.k.a. Master Robert Lumpkin), the Devil’s Acre plantation, Anthony Burns, and the experiences they had during slavery and her survival story. Look up Virginia Union University. I appreciate this perspective on her history however I will warn future readers interested this is a VERY heavy read. Be prepared for heartbreak, anger, and grief throughout this story. I can’t count how many times I wanted to put this down because black trauma continues to be too much to experience over and over again, but this was so beautifully written, I had to know how it ends. I respect Pheby’s journey because it wouldn’t have been an easy one for anyone by any means. 
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We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

So good! So SO good! A great looks at adolescents and how they process grief and mental health. There’s so much I could say about this book, but I’ll just say it’s a short book that really packs a punch. So many lessons on grief, sorrow, learning to forgive yourself and how these feelings present themselves from different cultural aspects. Just great! 5 🌟
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Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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dark funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Straightening Iron by Paige Townsend

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-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



So I won this book in a giveaway from the author Paige on bookstagram. I would have to give this 3.5 ⭐️… it was a cool story about a young black/Haitian girl learning to love herself and be more confident in who she is rather than who she thinks she should be. I’m not gonna lie, Nyla got on my nerves because she just cried about EVERYTHING. I was like girl come on…. Please get a grip! Her relationship with her sister Trisha was complicated and I just really wanted her to stand up for herself. From the bullying, forcing her to keep their relation a secret, to heat damaging her hair?? If that was my sister, we would’ve had more than words. 

Thank God for Gregory, Ginger, Austin and Ken. They were really Nyla’s saving graces throughout this story. Ginger is a friend everyone needs. Sometimes you don’t realize the funny and strong friend needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes too. Nyla learned a lot about her own selfish choices, how to work through hardships with people she loved, how to handle jealousy, what falling in love feels like, and how to be a better version of herself in a very short time. I appreciated her character development throughout this. If she didn’t cry about every little thing I would’ve enjoyed her character a little more, but overall this was a good story! 
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These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

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

3.5

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Worthy by Jada Pinkett Smith

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challenging informative inspiring lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

I thought it was very reflective and very her. I expected her book to be a lot similar to how Will later out his memoir but you see their personality in each. She has some questionable times, some relatable times, and just some where I was thoroughly surprised/intrigued. I liked hearing about her motherhood. I didn’t like her defense of Tupac during his assault trial, I did side eye her for that. I loved her Aya journey. I’ve wanted to try it but it sounds like a more terrifying trip than caps. Idk if I could do it. I like how her mind works. Good read! 
Almost There by Farrah Rochon

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Ehh.. I was bored. I made it to chapter 13 but there was nothing really grabbing my attention. Maybe I’ll try again later.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Quick read, it was pretty cute. I like Litoski’s character, it took me a while to lighten up to Fab because she just seemed like she was playing games. She had commitment issues, but she did have character development. I liked the end. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. 
Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

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adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

If I could give this book 10 ⭐️ I would!!

Ughh I have so much to say yet I don’t even know how to put it into words. All I will say is thank you Kalynn, for seeing us. The girls who aren’t afraid to ask questions, who aren’t afraid to say no I don’t want this/im not doing that, those of us who know we deserve better. This book is truly a testament to you always have a choice to make a better path for yourself, it just depends on what you’re willing to risk to get there. The journey may not be easy, fun, or even safe but it could very well be worth it if you’re willing to jump. Thank you for showing that sometimes no matter how badly you want something for someone you love, you sometimes have to let them go and love/choose yourself more. Sometimes closure isn’t needed, accept things at face value and continue on with what you want for yourself. 

Ugh.. this book brought up so many emotions and gave me so many gems to ponder one I’m surprised I made it through without crying. Thank you Kalynn. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!🥹🥰❤️🏳️‍🌈
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Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert

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

3.5

One of the spicier books I’ve read. It was very chaotic, but a pretty good read. I would’ve loved it be more of a sapphic read than a bisexual/hetero trouble situation. Of course Achilles was my least favorite character