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Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Pet is my second book by Akwaeke Emezi and while I did find it to be an engaging read it didn’t quite hit me the way as their The Death of Vivek Oji did. I had a similar experience when I read All Our Hidden Gifts, Caroline O’Donoghue’s foray into the MG/YA genre. I couldn’t…
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No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull
My review for No Gods, No Monsters will not make a lot of sense. The main reason for this is that, to be quite frank, I did not ‘get’ this novel. I did try, I persevered in spite of my mounting confusion, hoping that at some point I would be able to understand the what/why/who/hows…
3 STARS, Adult, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, Black & Black heritage authors, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, Cadwell Turnbull, confusing for the sake of being confusing, Contemporary, cults, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), FANTASY, gay side characters, HORROR, lgbtq+, MAGIC, male authors, monsters, My reviews, MYSTERY, No Gods No Monsters, PARANORMAL, polyamory, published in 2021, queer, read in 2021, reading, social issues, SPECULATIVE FICTION, SUPERNATURAL, TRANSGENDER, URBAN FANTASY, violence, werewolves -
The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
“He wasn’t sure if parents had limits to their love, but he was worried that one day something would push them too far and he’d find out.” After a horrible experience at his old high school Spencer Harris is ready to turn a new leaf. He’s Black, fifteen, a bit of a nerd, and good…
3.5 STARS, 3rd pov, America, American, Black & Black heritage authors, boarding/private school, bullying, Contemporary, FLUFFY READ, friendships, HIGH SCHOOL, Isaac Fitzsimons, lgbtq+, LGBTQ+ Author, light reads, m/m, male authors, netgalley, neurodivergent side characters, non-binary side characters, ohio, published in 2021, queer, read in 2021, Religion, ROMANCE, sports, The Passing Playbook, TRANSGENDER, uplifting reads, YOUNG ADULT -
Who’s Loving You by Sareeta Domingo
Who’s Loving You? is a wonderfully inclusive collection that sadly falls into the common pitfalls of short story collections: some stories are good, others not so much. Each story in Who’s Loving You? was written and focuses on women of colour (most of them British). You could definitely tell that many of the authors…
3 STARS, Adult, Amna Saleem, British author, collection of short stories, Contemporary, Danielle Dash, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), Dorothy Koomson, drama, england, f/f, female authors, insta love, Kelechi Okafor, Kuchenga, lgbtq+, LGBTQ+ Author, meet cute, netgalley, published in 2021, queer, RACE, read in 2021, ROMANCE, Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, sapphic, Sara Jafari, Sareeta Domingo, short stories, social issues, star-crossed lovers, TRANSGENDER, Varaidzo, weak prose -
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Felix Ever After is a refreshing, relevant, validating and super-inclusive YA novel. This also happens to be one of the few YA books (the only other one I can think of is Camp by Lev A.C. Rosen) that focuses exclusively on queer teens (there a few straight parents in the background). Kacen Callender’s portrayal of…
1st pov, 3.75 stars, America, American, ANGST, ART/CREATIVITY, ARTISTS, Black & Black heritage authors, caribbean author, coming of age, drama, fathers & sons, Felix Ever After, FRIENDS TO LOVERS, friendships, gender identity, HIGH SCHOOL, Kacen Callender, lgbtq+, LGBTQ+ Author, m/m, NEW YORK, published in 2020, queer, read in 2020, ROMANCE, Saint Thomian author, SEXUALITY, Summer, summer reads, TRANSGENDER, YOUNG ADULT -
Monstress by Lysley Tenorio — book review
Monstress is an evocative collection of short stories, most of which are set in the United States and the Philippines. These stories revolve around Filipino and Filipino-American characters as they try acclimatise and make a living outside of their homeland or as they try to reconcile cultural and familial expectations with their personal desires. Lysley…
1960s, 1980s, 20th century, 3 STARS, Adult, America, American, California, collection of short stories, Contemporary, cultural dissonance, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), family, Filipino, filipino american author, film industry, gay side characters, HISTORICAL FICTION, LGBTQ+ Author, lgbtq+ side, loneliness, los angeles, Lysley Tenorio, m/m side, male authors, migration/immigration, Monstress, philippines, read in 2020, short stories, trans side characters, TRANSGENDER -
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi — book review
The Death of Vivek Oji is an enthralling novel. Akwaeke Emezi’s lyrical prose is by turns evocative, sensual, and heart-wrenching. With empathy and understanding Emezi writes about characters who are grappling with grief and otherness, as well as with their gender identity and sexuality. “Did it feel like terror? More like horror, actually. Terrible sounded…
1990s, 20th century, 4 STARS, Adult, Akwaeke Emezi, arc, Black & Black heritage authors, Contemporary, DEATH, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), friendships, gender identity, GRIEF, incest, intergenerational, lgbtq+, LGBTQ+ Author, LITERARY FICTION, mental health, MYSTERY, netgalley, Nigeria, Nigerian author, published in 2020, queer, read in 2020, SEXUALITY, social issues, The Death of Vivek Oji, tragedy, TRANSGENDER, trauma -
The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan — book review
“When I closed my eyes, I could still hear her sharp, stubborn voice and surprisingly unbridled laugh.” With grace and clarity Clarissa Goenawan’s The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida tells a tragic yet tender tale, one that begins with an ending: Miwako Sumida, a university student, has committed suicide. “I hadn’t thought I would use…
1980s, 20th century, 3.5 STARS, abuse, Adult, ARTISTS, BOOK REVIEWS, Clarissa Goenawan, female authors, friendships, ghosts/spirits, GRIEF, Indonesian Singaporean author, introspective, japan, lgbtq+ side, LITERARY FICTION, loneliness, MAGICAL REALISM, MEMORY, mental health, MYSTERY, orphans, published in 2020, rape, read in 2020, sexual assault/abuse/rape, siblings, suicide, The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida, tokyo, tragedy, trans side characters, TRANSGENDER, trauma, UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE -
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak — book review
Shafak never disappoints! In her newest novel Shafak explores many of the themes she has already touched upon in previous novels in an innovative manner as the narrative bridges the gap between the life and death of its protagonist. There is something about Shafak’s prose that really resonates with me. She can address serious and…
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World, 4.25 stars, afterlife, BOOK REVIEW, class, Contemporary, DEATH, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), ELIF SHAFAK, favourite authors, female authors, female friendships, friendships, GRIEF, introspective, istanbul, lgbtq+ side, LITERARY FICTION, MAGICAL REALISM, MEMORY, Poverty, prostitution, sexual assault/abuse/rape, social issues, trans side characters, TRANSGENDER, Turkey, turkish author, violence against women
luce [is reading] 