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smokedshelves's reviews
573 reviews
The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan
5.0
the symbolism of the covers of this series!!! in this essay, i will...
Full Shift by Jennifer Dugan, Kit Seaton
4.0
thank you for penguin teen and gp putnam's sons books for young readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this was easily my favorite jennifer dugan yet. from the art style to the story i really did enjoy the story overall. while this was short and sweet it truly packed a punch as i teared up a few times followings tessa's story. i think this graphic novel is a great metaphor for dealing with mental illness, specifically depression, while giving it a quirky supernational spin and explanation.
tessa goes from a tough time, grieving the loss of her father and feeling like a misfit to growing more into herself and finding her people so to speak. it was a beautiful little story and makes me feel redeemed and excited to try again with dugan's graphic novels in the future after not being so successful in the past.
this was easily my favorite jennifer dugan yet. from the art style to the story i really did enjoy the story overall. while this was short and sweet it truly packed a punch as i teared up a few times followings tessa's story. i think this graphic novel is a great metaphor for dealing with mental illness, specifically depression, while giving it a quirky supernational spin and explanation.
tessa goes from a tough time, grieving the loss of her father and feeling like a misfit to growing more into herself and finding her people so to speak. it was a beautiful little story and makes me feel redeemed and excited to try again with dugan's graphic novels in the future after not being so successful in the past.
The Brightness Between Us by Eliot Schrefer
5.0
i’m gonna need a moment, my god.
cover review:
i’m going to need another 1-3 months to process that cover reveal. pls respect my time
cover review:
i’m going to need another 1-3 months to process that cover reveal. pls respect my time
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century by Alice Wong
4.0
this is genuinely one of those books i recommend reading a physical copy if you're able to. i felt so lost during the narration and wish there were at least 2 narrators to switch between the stories so there was a better divide. otherwise you might get a bit lost like i did.
Exes & Foes by Amanda Woody
3.0
thank you to penguin teen and viking books for young readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
it’s been a little while since i’ve read this book before i felt ready to discuss this book and write my review. honestly, i needed some time away to piece out my thoughts. and honestly, i hate to say i’m a bit disappointed with this book. i honestly think we could’ve had so much more given the premise of the book, two ex-friends pine after the same girl and make it into a competition to see who can progress their friendships to the next stage.
i’ve seen other people mention that they wish we had all three POVs since it would’ve made it a bit more ambiguous about who we should root for. maybe it would’ve ruined some surprises and developments to have the love interest’s POV. maybe it would’ve made it better since it’d be less obvious who we should root for. i don’t know. i’m leaning towards agreeing with those who said to have three POVs. because i spent the first 60+ percent of the book waiting to see how these exes will turn friendly/romantic with each other.
it’s clear there’s history we’re skirting around and its clear who we’ll see together in the end. so how could i believe the “competition” that emma and caleb create. both “pine” over juliet while really truly hashing out their unfinished business and overcoming their previous hurdles. despite my apprehension (and disbelief) throughout most of the book, it was still satisfying to see it all come to a head when they confess their feelings. it did have an emotional pay out that i do think saved the story. and with the love caleb and emma have, this pure intensity, i just know that they can work forward past what we see of them at the end there.
that and the amazing friend group (and a-spec rep) were truly the highlights of the story. i always love a good found family and boy would i consider this a good one!! jas and alice (and juliet) are truly amazing friends and are the type of friends i hope to have and be. it was so beautiful seeing their lil group get together and just be queer teens. it was so heartwarming. genuinely and easily my favorite parts of the story. (what can i say, i’m but a simple human!)
it’s been a little while since i’ve read this book before i felt ready to discuss this book and write my review. honestly, i needed some time away to piece out my thoughts. and honestly, i hate to say i’m a bit disappointed with this book. i honestly think we could’ve had so much more given the premise of the book, two ex-friends pine after the same girl and make it into a competition to see who can progress their friendships to the next stage.
i’ve seen other people mention that they wish we had all three POVs since it would’ve made it a bit more ambiguous about who we should root for. maybe it would’ve ruined some surprises and developments to have the love interest’s POV. maybe it would’ve made it better since it’d be less obvious who we should root for. i don’t know. i’m leaning towards agreeing with those who said to have three POVs. because i spent the first 60+ percent of the book waiting to see how these exes will turn friendly/romantic with each other.
it’s clear there’s history we’re skirting around and its clear who we’ll see together in the end. so how could i believe the “competition” that emma and caleb create. both “pine” over juliet while really truly hashing out their unfinished business and overcoming their previous hurdles. despite my apprehension (and disbelief) throughout most of the book, it was still satisfying to see it all come to a head when they confess their feelings. it did have an emotional pay out that i do think saved the story. and with the love caleb and emma have, this pure intensity, i just know that they can work forward past what we see of them at the end there.
that and the amazing friend group (and a-spec rep) were truly the highlights of the story. i always love a good found family and boy would i consider this a good one!! jas and alice (and juliet) are truly amazing friends and are the type of friends i hope to have and be. it was so beautiful seeing their lil group get together and just be queer teens. it was so heartwarming. genuinely and easily my favorite parts of the story. (what can i say, i’m but a simple human!)