sarajoe80's reviews
126 reviews

Beyoncé by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara

inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

This is a very cute children book about Beyoncé. While the book is clearly targeted to small children, I found the book to be inspiring and showing a good diversity representation.

Rainbows, Unicorns, and Triangles: Queer Symbols Throughout History by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

First of all, thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as ARC.

This is a light-hearted yet informative book about LGBTQIA+ Symbolism, which explains some of the most common and used symbols in a clear yet simple and understandable manner. While the book is targeted to middle-grade / children, I believe it could be a nice introduction to the topic for everyone. The book is inclusive and includes less-represented categories. If there is anything I would change it would be to add even more symbols as I found the book to be on the short side.

Read if: you want to learn more about LGBT Symbolism and its origin 
Don't read if: you are looking for an extensive explanation behind symbols, as the book is only scratching the surface.

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things by Naomi Wood

reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

First of all, thank you to the author and Net Galley for allowing me a digital copy as ARC.

This book was a peculiar short story collection with the shared topic of pregnancy, motherhood and its related struggles. While some stories were interesting, I found a couple of them to be confusing (especially Dino Moms) and bland. Overall it was a nice read into the slice of life of motherhood, where mothers are not portrayed as perfect people, but rather complex and faulty.

Read if: you are interested in short stories around motherhood
Don't read if: you do not like stories that are not linear or do not have a conclusion; those stories are rather a slice of life and do not have conclusions

The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky

funny lighthearted 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

3.0

First of all, thank you NetGalley, Timothy Janovsky, and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this book via ARC.

TL/DR: solid fake-dating romance, but the game show plot was not plotting.
Read if: you are looking for a queer fake-dating with a small plot and supportive family
Don't read if: you are working trough family grief. While the author deals with it respectfully, one of the main aspects of this book is Holden's grief around his late mother.
 
This book was a 3-star read for me. While there were some elements that I liked, it had a lot of elements that made me roll my eyes throughout the reading.

What I liked: first of all, I am a Leo fan, he is immaculate and lovely and way more mature than the main character. I liked the dynamic between Holden and Leo, even more the scenes with Leo's mother. I also loved that this book dealt a lot with family issues and trauma (especially around Grief), and I genuinely teared up a chapter from the end. Both guys have very supportive families and there was no "coming-out" trope, which, as a queer person myself, found relieving.

What I did not like: I did not like some of the tropes of this book, especially

the third-act breakup 3 chapters from the end, and the miscommunication that Holden has

. What mainly made me pick 3 stars is because the book seems to be all focused around the game show, yet there is only one or two chapters 70% into the book where there is an actual game show, it made me want to know more about it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Sexual content

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. I had the chance to read this book through ARC with Net Galley, and while there were some elements I usually do not like in books, I found this book entertaining and funny.

The dynamics between the two main characters seem a bit forced at the beginning until you realize they are just two massive dorks with communication issues, yet somehow really work together throughout the book. Mabel is insecure and "scarred" from previous relationships/situationships, Alfie has no clue how to communicate his feelings and is clueless about his surroundings, which leads to a series of incidents, such as trying to hack into the Norwegian Government by mistake.

The story overall has funny and light-hearted moments, the two characters have a lot of banter together and I found myself laughing at times and tearing up towards the end. This is perfect if you are looking for a romance novel without too much of a plot (it seems like, for most of the book, the actual plot goes on a secondary level to make space for the other dynamic (Spoiler:

this book starts as a ghost-writer/celebrity plot but the main part will actually be fake dating

), yet I liked how things developed).

Now for the part I did not like (Spoiler alert):

I am really not a fan of the miscommunication trope. I find it annoying and, while Mabel had somehow a reason for not saying her feelings out loud, everything could have been solved with a simple adult conversation. This would have avoided the third act break up, which is also something I generally don't like in a book since it is clear that the two main characters are ending up together at the end

TL/DR:
I recommend this book if: you are someone who is looking for a light-hearted romantic novel and a good plus-size representation
I do not recommend this book if: you do not like miscommunications

#WhenGrumpyMetSunshine #NetGalley

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

funny lighthearted 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

5.0

The plot is what it is, don't expect a complex book. However it's so refreshing to read about a male main character not being a walking red flag

Twisted Love by Ana Huang

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The plot itself is what it is, this book does its job of entertaining, got me out of a reading slump and the smut is shutting. Alex is not redeemable in my opinion though, not only

for being posessive even when he is no with Ava anymore. But bestie killed two people...thats a bit much to look over

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.

Respectfully, watching the popcorn heat in the microwave is less boring. I read the whole summary online and I do not regret DNFing. Hope the other books are more entertaining. Also the age gap gave me the ick

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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? No

5.0