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Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe
“Our friendships started with “What’s your name?” The answer carried with it looks that I can still see clearly: Stacia’s begged me not to talk to her, and Tonya’s asked, “Is she talking to me?!” We got past those facial expressions and gave our names. Names that sound like heartbeats: Fe Fe, Precious, Stacia, Tonya.”…
1990s, 20th century, 4 STARS, America, AMERICAN AUTHOR, atmospheric, Black & Black heritage authors, Chicago, CHILDHOOD, Christianity, coming of age, family, female authors, female friendships, friendships, girlhood, growing up, Illinois, Last Summer on State Street, lyrical prose, missing girls, missing persons, RACE, read in 2022, Religion, siblings, social issues, strong sense of place, summer reads, Toya Wolfe, violence against women, YOUNG ADULT, youth -
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph is a wholesome and thoughtful YA coming-of-age. Within the first chapter I was invested in Dove and her story. There was something so tender about her sensible yet sensitive narration that made me immediately care for her.The Revolution of Birdie Randolph follows sixteen-year-old Dove, also knows as Birdie, who is…
3.75 stars, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, Black & Black heritage authors, BOOK REVIEWS, Brandy Colbert, Chicago, coming of age, Contemporary, family, female authors, HIGH SCHOOL, identity, Illinois, lgbtq+, lgbtq+ side, mothers & daughters, published in 2020, read in 2020, ROMANCE, social issues, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, YOUNG ADULT -
The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig
…and I thought that vampires were passé. The Fell of Dark is a fun take that on vampires and ‘the chosen one’ trope. Usually, I’m a nitpicking reader but with The Fell of Dark I was happy to suspend my disbelief. Is this novel perfect? Definitely not. Is it entertaining? Hell yes!Our narrator and protagonist,…
3.75 stars, adventure, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, BOOK REVIEWS, Caleb Roehrig, chosen one, Contemporary, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), drama, FANTASY, gay, HIGH SCHOOL, HUMOR, Illinois, lgbtq+, LGBTQ+ Author, m/m, m/m/m, MAGIC, male authors, PARANORMAL, published in 2020, queer, read in 2020, ROMANCE, SMALL TOWN, The Fell of Dark, URBAN FANTASY, VAMPIRES, WITCHES, YOUNG ADULT -
Passing by Nella Larsen — book review
“It’s funny about ‘passing.’ We disapprove of it and at the same time condone it. It excites our contempt and yet we rather admire it. We shy away from it with an odd kind of revulsion, but we protect it.” At once alluring and disquieting Nella Larsen’s Passing presents its readers with a piercing examination of the…
1920s, 20th century, 4 STARS, ambiguous protagonist, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, Black & Black heritage authors, Chicago, CLASSICS, cold tone, colorism, female authors, female friendships, feverish, friendships, Harlem, harlem renaissance, HISTORICAL FICTION, Illinois, jealousy, lgbtq+, Longing, MARRIAGE, modern classics, Nella Larsen, NEW YORK, obsession, passing, psychological, published in 1929, queer undercurrents, RACE, re-reads, read in 2020, read in 2021, read in 2022, SUSPENSE, terrific prose, toxic relationships, tragedy -
American Gods by Neil Gaiman — book review
“Gods die. And when they truly die they are unmourned and unremembered. Ideas are more difficult to kill than people, but they can be killed, in the end.” It isn’t surprising that American Gods is regarded as one of the genre-bending novels of all time. Over the course of 500 pages Neil Gaiman deftly blends…
2000s, 3rd pov, 5 STARS, ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE, Adult, adventure, affairs, afterlife, ambiguous protagonist, America, American, American Gods, BOOK REVIEW, Booklr, British author, Chicago, Contemporary, DEATH, Dreams, FANTASY, fathers & sons, favourite authors, FOLKLORE, gay side characters, gods, great storytelling, heist, HISTORICAL FICTION, history, Illinois, lgbtq+ side, MAGIC, MAGICAL REALISM, male authors, minnesota, MYSTERY, myths, Neil Gaiman, PARANORMAL, prison, published in 2001, re-reads, read in 2016, read in 2020, Religion, road trip, SOCIAL COMMENTARY, SPECULATIVE FICTION, story within a story, Storytelling, SUPERNATURAL, tennessee, URBAN FANTASY, violence, Wisconsin, zombies & undead -
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
“Actors are by nature volatile–alchemic creatures composed of incendiary elements, emotion and ego and envy. Heat them up stir them together, and sometimes you get gold. Sometimes disaster.” An enjoyable debut novel that delivers plenty of Shakespearean ‘nuggets’.To label this story a mystery is a mistake. It isn’t. It is quite obvious what has happened,…
1990s, 20th century, 3.75 stars, academia, actors, Adult, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, BISEXUAL/PANSEXUAL, books about books, campus, cliques, Contemporary, CRIME, dark, dark academia, drama, female authors, friendships, IF WE WERE VILLAINS, Illinois, it’s about the *yearning*, jealousy, lgbtq+, LITERARY FICTION, literary references, Longing, M. L. RIO, m/m, MURDER, murder mystery, MYSTERY, obsession, psychological, queer, read in 2017, ROMANCE, shakespeare, SUSPENSE, theatre, toxic relationships, UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE, unreliable narrators, whydunnit
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