Rachel Reid really is a romance master! I loved the elements of this book that were clearly so thoughtfully done. The perspective on sex and what thatRachel Reid really is a romance master! I loved the elements of this book that were clearly so thoughtfully done. The perspective on sex and what that means for different people and the representation of anxiety, phobia, and grief were wonderful to read. These characters were so endearing and complex. Casey has big golden retriever energy, and I like how flirty he is with everyone and isn’t afraid to compliment people. He treats everyone equally, but also respects when they set boundaries with him regarding the compliments and flirting. It was also nice to see that juxtaposed with Landon, who struggled with how he would be perceived and received but made his boundaries known and spoke up for himself even though it was difficult. I will read anything Ms. Reid lays before me and say thank you....more
First of all, everyone say “Thank you, Nia.” Out of Body is a Jordan Peele-esque YA thriller coming after Nia Davenport’s previous Blood Gift duology.First of all, everyone say “Thank you, Nia.” Out of Body is a Jordan Peele-esque YA thriller coming after Nia Davenport’s previous Blood Gift duology. I have yet to read a book written by Nia and not give it five stars. This author has me by the throat, and I’m asking for more. This story is intriguing from the start with a tease of a prologue to get you hooked in. Then from there, there are shockingly casual twists woven in. The way she had me saying “wait what” as the story progressed was really like nothing I’ve read before. The story and the tension build for the reader as much as it does for the main character, and it doesn’t stop. Davenport trusts the reader and does not rely on being blunt and direct with the themes in this book. This is one of my favorite aspects of her writing. She has me questioning if the themes are intentional or not until I finally see they were intentional all along. It’s SUBTLE but so impactful. While I don't mind themes being very obvious (sometimes I don't get it unless I'm hit over the head), I love the quiet way that Nia can make an outrageous body-swapping story relatable and real to many. Davenport expertly represents the way Whiteness - especially when weaponized by White women - steals the bodies, features, speech, mannerisms of Black women, and then discards them when they no longer serve their intended purpose. “It feels like not existing as an actual person but as some insubstantial, artificial thing that can be plucked from one casing and plopped into a new one at a whim.” She speaks directly to the commodification of Blackness in an artful way. Seeing the Black girls in this book claim their power and be lifted up by their Black women elders was incredibly empowering to read, even as a woman of the colorless variety. Now for an even more personal note: Nia Davenport, for your true representation of mental health and therapy (the good, the bad, and the ugly), you will always be famous. I am a mental heath counselor, who specializes in childhood trauma. I was blown away by the care Nia took to present these issues thoughtfully and accurately. I have never read a book that I felt captured trauma, counseling, AND the process so well. I typically have a hard time reading representations of those aspects because I am easily bothered by how they are depicted inaccurately, often unintentionally I assume. And Davenport does not cut corners on the trauma and the realities of abuse and abusers. She does not shy away from the fact that those who are vulnerable may never really be safe, even if the threat is relegated to the background. Even if they have worked though a lot of aspects of their trauma, some symptoms will always remain. Out of Body is a GIFT. Everything Nia writes is a GIFT. And I could not be more grateful that she continues to give us her stories. This one cemented her as an auto-buy author, and I look forward to putting a physical copy on my shelves in February. Absolutely blesst.
Absolutely one of the best memoirs I've ever read. I would recommend this to anyone. Please listen to Viola tell her story on audiobook if you can! ItAbsolutely one of the best memoirs I've ever read. I would recommend this to anyone. Please listen to Viola tell her story on audiobook if you can! It is truly incredible what she overcame in her life. ...more
RTC but Ikenna and Reed forever and I love my two dads ----------- My first thought upon finishing this book is that this duology deserved to be the seRTC but Ikenna and Reed forever and I love my two dads ----------- My first thought upon finishing this book is that this duology deserved to be the series/trilogy that was intended by the author. The only qualms I have with this book and the first are ones that would likely have never been issues, if N.E. Davenport would have been given the space to write the books as she originally planned. Despite all of that, she wrote these books masterfully, and I will continue to think on this story for a long time to come. There are time jumps that allow for more of the story to be told in the two books allotted, but I would have loved to see everything play out in a longer timeframe of at least three books. Events are described after the fact, where they could have been told on page in detail. Davenport's commitment to intersectionality and feminism in her works is one of the aspects that drew me in and will keep me reading from her as long as she continues to publish. Some of the ways this shows up in The Blood Gift is how Kadiya Dannica retains her girlishness and femininity alongside being an incredible warrior, the way Selene Rhysien is portrayed (which I will not describe with any detail because of spoilers), and Ikenna’s physical versus mental power. Repeatedly throughout this book we are shown how there is not necessarily a contrast between soft and hard, strong and week. Rather these qualities are allowed to exist in the same person, and they don't cancel each other out. The Blood Trials duology exhibits this is ways I rarely see within other stories. I find it incredibly empowering and freeing to see definitions and characteristics expanded to how people truly are instead of being capped at the sake of archetype’s or trope’s expense. Further concepts explored that I appreciated deeply were the difference and importance of both emotional and physical intimacy within relationships (not just romantic) and how resistance to change and overcoming/working through that resistance was portrayed by the main character in Davenport’s writing. I can’t wait to own a physical copy of this sequel, which I already pre-ordered and will proudly display in my personal library. Thank you, Nia, for these incredible stories and the gift of reading them. Dedicating this review to my two dads and ...more
I adored Talia Hibbert’s YA debut, Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute. Thank you to Joy Revolution and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book.
Talia’s I adored Talia Hibbert’s YA debut, Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute. Thank you to Joy Revolution and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book.
Talia’s writing is exactly my style. I connected so quickly to both the writing and the character, Celine and Bradley. I was almost immediately laughing out loud, which is a great sign that I will end up giving a book five stars. Celine and Bradley have incredible banter, and Talia’s dialogue is so witty. It was giving Bant and Dec, the Archbishop of Banterbury, Bantersaurus Rex. An absolute delight. I also highlighted a tremendous about in this book, which is another great sign that I’m having the time of my life. The closing lines!!! To die for.
Talia is so descriptive in her writing style, and it easy to slide right into the story and feel as though you are right there with the characters. There’s a lyrical feels to some of those descriptions and her words are beautiful.
Just My Type started out with a bang! Several indeed. The first few chapters were a wild ride and set up the novel so well! I loved and related to LanJust My Type started out with a bang! Several indeed. The first few chapters were a wild ride and set up the novel so well! I loved and related to Lana immediately and easily even though there are many differences between us. Falon Ballard does a great job of focusing on the feelings rather than the circumstances, which are likely to be relatable to almost anyone. The initial build up of the competition, description of the former relationship, and where the heroine and hero stand now created a lot of good tension in the beginning. I had butterflies in my stomach as I got to know these characters and spent time in Lana’s thoughts. After every chapter, I found myself putting the book down to stop and just process what I read and prepare myself to move forward. I absolutely love that tension between me and what I’m reading. One thing Ballard does in this book and her debut, Lease On Love, is write emotional men well. Normalize men crying and expressing their emotions! Additionally, these characters both went to counseling in the story, and it was an accurate depiction where you get to see the reality of therapy (hiding things from your therapist, not being ready to acknowledge difficult truths, questioning the therapist, and therapy that comes from places other than the traditional counseling office). As a therapist myself, I loved this and hope others feel free to explore therapy and themselves in similar ways. Just My Type was predictable…IN A GOOD WAY! In a way that I had gotten to know the characters and thus, when they made decisions or took action, I had an idea of what they’d choose or do because that was consistent with who they were. Ballard shows her characters, what they care about, how they protect themselves. Lastly, my main takeaway from this fantastic read was the theme of vulnerability. True vulnerability of not simply learning to trust others, but instead learning to trust yourself; that if you’re hurt, you will be able to make it through. I believe with that, there will always be a happy ending. I’m ate this book up *licks all five fingers.* Five Massive Stars!!!
------------------ Oh my gooooooodddddd RTC...more
Shannon Chakraborty's The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was without a doubt the most fun book I've read this year! I love the narrative style, and AmiShannon Chakraborty's The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was without a doubt the most fun book I've read this year! I love the narrative style, and Amina telling her story to her scribe. The banter added to the fun and allowed for quick building of personality. This story wastes no time jumping into the intrigue and has hints of backstory that leave you wondering and seeking more. Amina is a unique character who is self-confident and recognizes her significance in her world, but she doesn’t let that lead her to make overconfident decisions. Typically, I believe we tend to see one of the other: a cocky, fallible heroine or a reluctant heroine who does not believe in her abilities. Amina al-Sirafi is a breath of fresh air that I look forward to getting to know over the course of this series. There were so many themes that added depth to this story and that, in my opinion, are often missing from many novels. Chakraborty not only shows the reader the lost and neglected relationships, but also what it looks like to successfully repair those relationships. I found it moving and meaningful to read those over the course of the book. Some of the more fun aspects were the “getting the gang back together” moments, Raksh being such a himbo husband with an unintentional (?) sense of humor, and the connections to the Daevabad Trilogy. Those connections were like Easter eggs to those readers that spent time with that series. I loved this book, I cannot wait to read more from this series, and Ms. Chakraborty can do no wrong in my eyes! Lastly, PROTECT JAMAL AT ALL COSTS!!!...more
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