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allysonw_'s reviews
44 reviews
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I listened to the audiobook of Nightcrawling and was thoroughly impressed by the narration work. It helped to breathe life into the character of Kiara. The story was written well, but it was hard to read hardship after hardship Kiara had to go through and the little respite she was given. I think the author is a talented writer and I would read her future work. I also applaud her for bringing attention to victims and survivors like Kiara, young Black women who often go overlooked. Going into this book, I thought it was going to lean more into true crime, and I was a little disappointed that I didn't get that. Although the ending was pretty realistic, it didn't feel that different from other books I've read about similar experiences with POC main characters, and I would've liked to see the author experiment with a different sort of ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, and Trafficking
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Self harm
Treble by Rilzy Adams
3.25
"Treble" was a juicy read that kept me intrigued. The steam level was HIGH. (Which is not a bad thing lol) My book club chose to read this book last month, and we gave it mixed reviews. I'd never read a poly-romance before so this was a new experience for me. Although the book and plot were entertaining, I felt like there could've been more character development. After finishing it, I still had more questions than answers. Also, it felt like the two women, Sadie and Nova, had a much stronger connection and Hendrix just sort of felt like filler and he didn't have much of a personality in comparison to the two women. This book was more on the novella side and you could easily finish it in a day. It's a short, sweet read but it will likely leave you wanting more.
Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is like a group chat come to life! I think it's been a while since I've outwardly laughed while reading a book. I appreciated how unapologetic Aaliyah is about what she wants in life and learned how to stand up for herself against meddling family members. Her and Ahmad's continuous back and forth and jokes were so cute, and their relationship was a slow burn I actually didn't mind. Usually, I'm not a fan of slow-burn romances, but I appreciated how their budding friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship. I also wasn't expecting grief to be a theme of this novel. Danielle Allen did a tasteful job in approaching the topic and the healthy ways to address grief. This book was a comforting balm and just what I needed for a great summertime read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Fatphobia
An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was the first book I read by Adriana Herrera, and this definitely won't be my last. Herrera's ability to intertwine history with romance is top-notch and reminds me of my favorite historical romance author Beverly Jenkins. Also, the banter between Manuela and Cora was electric. You see their growth in different ways throughout the novel via their unique talents— like Manuela's art and Cora's business dealings. Also, I had no idea about the culture and art scene during the 1889 Paris Exposition. I heard Hererra speak at a romance writing workshop and was so impressed with her guidance, and now that I've finally read her work I can see why she's such a master of her craft.
Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This story made me want to get back into graphic novels. I enjoyed the balance of humor and emotional moments. Bitty is such a loveable character, and if he was a real person I'd definitely want to be his friend. (I also related to his obsession with Beyoncé lol) There were strong supporting characters like Bitty's teammates and potential love interest Jack (who's very brooding and swoon-worthy!), which I appreciated because sometimes authors can make supporting characters an afterthought. I would've liked a little more backstory into Bitty's life before he got to college, but that didn't deter me from finishing the novel, and I plan to read book 2.
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Prior to reading this book I had read a review that mentioned this novel felt more like women’s fiction rather than romance, and after having finished it I can see why someone would come to that conclusion. Although the romance plot was an important part to the story the MMC, Spencer, felt more like a support character rather than a male protagonist. Now the book did end with an HEA so I’d still classify it as romance, and I think the message it sent about self-love and self-exploration was great! As a thicker Black woman, I related to Savvy a lot when it came to being comfortable in your own skin and traversing the dating scene and looking for someone who accepts you as you are. I was satisfied with the ending and that Savvy was able to find her person in Spencer. This book is a solid body of work. I just would’ve fixed some of the pacing because it felt like the book kickstarted off well but sort of petered out and then picked-up a little over halfway through. I would’ve maybe liked some chapters from Spencer’s perspective instead of us only learning about bits and pieces of his life here and there or for there to have been even more moments of connection between him and Savvy. This is the first book I’ve read by Taj McCoy, and it’s definitely motivated me to look more into her work and see if what I felt missing in this one I can find in one of her other novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book had me kicking my feet giggling so much! Rebekah Weatherspoon knows how to write some spice! I loved how she wrote Rafe! Like talk about a man that knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to admit it, which I really think the female protagonist Sloane needed! Although I usually like my books in the 300-400 range this book was the perfect length and it balance lightheartedness with depth perfectly! Looking forward to reading the rest of the books about Sloane’s friends!