z_bookfluencer's reviews
897 reviews

The Ghost of Us feels reminiscent of a chick flick that I read in one sitting. The plot, while familiar, is engaging and filled with emotional highs and lows, with moments of humor that keep the story lively.

The main cast includes an overprotective dead brother, a bullied queer outcast whose life isn’t going as she hoped, a beloved best friend, and the younger sister who serves as the love interest but struggles with social interactions. 

The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own quirks and complexities to the narrative as they navigate love, loss, and friendship. The tone was crafted to resonate with the target age group, addressing themes such as bullying, coming out as queer, teen awkwardness, social hierarchy, and various types of relationships, while also incorporating some spicy elements that will engage the audience.

The Ghost of Us is an entertaining read that I would recommend to anyone seeking a contemporary sapphic novel for teens, reminiscent of a chick flick. 

I was given a copy of the book through Wednesday Books, and I give my honest review voluntarily. My review is my own thoughts and opinion; my experience in reading this story.

Content Guide: sibling loss, grief, bullying, sex, smoking

"If you don't want a relationship, you don't need one. And you certainly don't need a relationship to define who you are. And you don't even need to define who you are if you don't want to, especially not to a group of drunk people playing a game. You can just be you." - Laura Kay, Making It

Making It by Laura Kay is a captivating sapphic contemporary novel that explores themes of new beginnings, opportunities, sexuality, queerness, community, self-acceptance, and the realities of living with clinical depression. Initially, I anticipated a delightful rom-com that I could easily devour, and I was not disappointed.

"Art is being human; it's expression and feeling and meaning beyond skill or criticism or this industry." - Laura Kay, Making It

I could see the author’s artistic passion in every aspect of the story, which resonates deeply with me and could also resonate with other passionate artists.

"I thought about the majority of my life... Quietly disassociating... Alone in my room. Existing." - Laura Kay, Making It

"I have a complicated relationship with watching the world go by. Sometimes it's a good place for me.... But sometimes... my raw thoughts creep in, like parasites looking for a host." - Laura Kay, Making It

One of the several central themes in Making It is the portrayal of clinical depression. The story effectively captures the highs and lows of battling this condition in a relatable, thoughtful, and sensitive manner. While it is a rom-com, the book balances moments of humor and witty banter with deeper emotional experiences, creating a well-rounded narrative.

"We told each other about where we'd been before. Where we were going, or where we hoped to go. It was exciting to be among these beautiful, worldly people. It made me feel beautiful and worldly too." - Laura Kay, Making It

"It was oddly comforting... The wonderful proximity to queerness, being immersed in it." - Laura Kay, Making It

"Everyone was beautiful-that was the thing that struck me the most. There was a beauty in all these people and the way they wore their clothes on their different kinds of bodies and the way they cut their hair and held themselves and each other." - Laura Kay, Making It

The characters in Making It are endearing and immensely likable. The story revolves around a queer found family and an artistic community, and each character is well-rounded with distinct personalities that leap off the page. I found that many aspects of their journeys resonated with me, making them relatable and relatable to a wide audience.

Kay's writing style is easy to engage with and drew me in from the very beginning. The pacing accommodates both a slow, thoughtful reading experience that encourages discussion and self-reflection, as well as a quick read for those who prefer to enjoy the story in one sitting.

"...I have always, always been swimming. And I am still swimming now. And that's what the group is about. It's about doing something that brings joy in a world where some of use are expending every single iota of energy we have on trying to get through the day.

When putting one foot in front of the other can feel impossible, it is a miracle to create something outside of your body, outside of your mind, that can not only spark joy in yourself but in others too." - Laura Kay, Making It

I connected with many elements of Making It, which enhanced my enjoyment of the book. I even did an annotated read, highlighting the passages that struck a chord with me.

"Love is love." - Laura Kay, Making It

Overall, I highly enjoyed my reading experience with Making It. I would recommend it to contemporary romance readers, especially those who appreciate queer found family and sapphic romance.

I was given a copy of the book through Tandem Collective Global, and I give my honest review voluntarily. My review is my own thoughts and opinion; my experience in reading this story. 

I thoroughly enjoyed The Gilded Ones and found my reading experience to be exceptional. The world-building is both spectacular and richly developed. Deka emerges as a fascinating character, and I appreciate the diverse cast that supports her journey. Ixa, the animal companion, is particularly endearing. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists that maintain engagement throughout. The friendships, particularly among the Bloodsisters and the character of Britta, are memorable. The love interest adds significant depth to the story. The themes explored, such as grief, torture, self-empowerment, and equality, resonate powerfully. Overall, I appreciate how The Gilded Ones concludes while effectively setting the stage for the next installment in the Deathless Trilogy, The Merciless Ones.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a brilliantly crafted mystery set in a boarding school, infused with elements of horror and revenge. I was immediately drawn into the story, quickly establishing an engaging reading rhythm that kept me hooked. The author expertly plants nuances and clues throughout the narrative, and the reveals and twists unfold at just the right moments, adding to the overall suspense. 

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is filled with deep emotions, exploring themes of trauma and grief through exceptional writing. One of the central themes was the journey of working through trauma and grief, ultimately aiming for self-healing. I found the ending somewhat unsatisfying and bittersweet—not because of the writing style or the author’s choices, but because it reflected a stark reality of injustice and the lack of consequences for the choices individuals make in our society.

I would highly recommend Where Sleeping Girls Lie to other readers who enjoy dark and twisted mystery stories featuring a diverse cast in a boarding school. I would suggest reading the content guide provided by the author before continuing with the story.

I will be reading more works from the author. 

Bride was delightfully entertaining and compelling. I saved many quotes, enjoyed the reveals and mystery, and appreciated the moments of heartfelt emotion and humor.

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is truly reminiscent of drinking a nice cup of tea.

I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience and made detailed annotations because I wanted to fully digest this captivating sapphic story—I was hanging off every word. I feel Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is a book truly made by a reader for readers. I appreciated how the author depicted anxiety and panic through Kianthe's magic mishaps—it was a beautiful analogy. Kianthe and Reyna were endearing, and I enjoyed their relationship dynamics and communication style. The griffins were also enjoyable, and the puns were a delight! I adored the found family Kianthe and Reyna found throughout the course of the story.

I cannot wait for the next installment for Tomes & Tea!

I highly recommend Can't Spell Treason Without Tea to fans of sapphic cozy fantasy with low-stakes plots. 

I enjoyed how Nine Tailed seamlessly blended urban fantasy with epic adventure, evoking the captivating essence of a K-drama and giving off portal fantasy vibes. The mythology woven into the storyline was fascinating, and its fast-paced narrative kept me engaged from start to finish. There were some intriguing reveals. The satisfying ending also hinted at the potential for a sequel. I would highly recommend Nine Tailed to other readers of NA Romantasy. As a fan of fox spirits in fantasy and mythology, I believe Nine Tailed stands out as an excellent example featuring these fascinating creatures. Nine Tailed is a very quick read.

Red Rising, an enthralling adult space opera, captivated me with its gripping narrative and emotional depth, keeping me engrossed from start to finish. It vividly portrays a world in flux, where every event sharpens a new blade of destiny.