weslaybookclub's reviews
146 reviews

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

2.92 ⭐

Brandon: 3.5
Jessica: 3.5
Quandra: 3.5
Deborah: 3
Kelly: 3
Tracey: 3
Shanti: 1

Majority of the group felt bamboozled that the book wasn't entirely told from Medusa's POV.  

Verity by Colleen Hoover

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Trinity: 4.25 
Brandon: 4
Chibuzo: 4
Deborah: 4 
Jessica: 4
Quandra: 4
Shanti: 3.5
Tracey: 3.5
Kelly: 3

This is a white woman in crisis novel if there ever was one. The group differed on whether the "twist" was effective or not. No one really connected with the characters but were intrigued with the mystery. 

Cubana by JaQuavis Coleman

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

1.5

1.5 star avg rating

Quandra: 3.5 stars
Shanti: 1.5 stars
Tracey: 1.5 stars
Kelly: 1 star
Brandon: 1 star
Jessica: 1 star

Poorly written, we were all disappointed because the foundation of the story is interesting. We all could have used more Pandora in the main story. Tay is underserved as a character and the "twist" is in poor taste. We were all entertained by the mess though. 

Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous fast-paced

4.5

 Kelly: 5 stars
Jessica & Quandra: 4.5 stars
Brandon: 4 stars

Peaked interest in reading the series for some. No one had seen the Netflix series adaptation of Shadow and Bone but would be interested in seeing this story on screen. 

Love, Honor, Betray by Mary Monroe

emotional medium-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

2.25

Trisha: 5 stars
Angela: 4 stars
Letisha: 3 stars
Brandon & Kelly: 1 star
Tracey: .5 star

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Rape and Grief

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

4.0

 Kelly: 4.25 stars
Quandra & Shanti: 4 stars
Jessica: 3.75 stars
Ariel (1ST MEETING!): 3.5 stars

Everyone agreed this would make a great adapted limited series. The multiple POV chapters were appreciated. If judging the book by its cover, we would have skipped over this pick. 

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

dark tense fast-paced

3.0

Brandon: 3.5 stars
Jessica, Kelly, Quandra: 3 stars
Tracey, Trinity: 2.75 stars
Shanti: 2 stars

Book Club Avg: 2.86 stars

The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous challenging reflective 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? Yes

3.0

Tracey: 3.75 stars
Brandon: 3.5 stars
Kelly: 3 stars
Shanti: 2 stars

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

4.5

Kelly & Shanti: 5 stars
Tracey: 4.25 stars
Brandon: 4 stars

Our second favorite Tiffany D. Jackson book, right after Allegedly. 

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 

4.5 star average

Kelly, Jackie, Shanti, Chibuzo: 5 stars 

Brandon: 4 stars 

Tracey: 3.75 stars 

Trinity: 3.5 stars