You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

imstephtacular's reviews
1261 reviews

When We Become Ours: A YA Adoptee Anthology by Shannon Gibney, Nicole Chung

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I usually struggle with anthologies and story collection, but this piqued my interest. I was fascinated by the differing stories and found this collection helpful as a white woman for understanding and unlearning some of the harmful language I’ve use myself when interacting with adoptees in the past. I am glad this book exists, even if not every story was a knockout in my opinion. I appreciated the variety of stories even though they shared similar themes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
How You Get The Girl by Anita Kelly

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I will read this series forever. Every entry continues to be wild and unique and riveting and I am glad this particular installment was a return to a group of already lover characters 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Wren Martin Ruins It All by Amanda DeWitt

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Oh I loved this! You’ve got mail vibes, but make it YA and modern. Wren is kind of a pain in the ass, but I also love him so much. This is just full of smooshy feelings, tropes, and real life stuff and I thought the combination was excellent. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
No Place Like Home by James Bird

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

This was a tough, but excellent read. Opin’s perspective was both full of childlike wonder and shadowed by the horrors of growing up quickly and knowing your history and the reality of your situation. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Clouds over California by Karyn Parsons

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
I Swear: Politics Is Messier Than My Minivan by Katie Porter

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

Really enjoyed this! Porter is smart, honest, and no nonsense and I appreciated her approach to exposing the truth of politics and her style of educating the public in a way that’s approachable and entertaining 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
My Flawless Life by Yvonne Woon

Go to review page

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

I got PLL vibes from this, but with more nuance and more commentary on race and class

Overall an enjoyable read with twists and turns about secrets and the lengths we go to to protect others 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings