30something_reads's Reviews (820)

I do love a good "God, you're so annoying and pretentious and I can't stand you but also, I want to ravish you in this dark secluded cellar" vibe and this one give's off that energy perfectly. 

And unrelated- I  see there is another book coming and I kind of hope it's about Anthony's best friend because he seems like a sad boy who deserves a second-chance romance. 

 Despite this being classified as a Romance, the actual romance felt more like a catalyst for the dynamic family story that revolves around Soraya, her siblings, and their Iranian immigrant parents. And while yes, it does technically meet the genre parameters, the romantic plot between Soraya and Magnus felt far less impactful (or important) than the multigenerational story of her family.

This is further emphasized by the POVs we get - a present day POV from Soraya as she's navigating her relationship with Magnus/her interactions with family and a past POV from her mother as we put together the story of her marriage and their immigration to Britain.

So overall, I would not fully recommend this strictly based on the romance, but I would absolutely recommend if you're interested in a multigenerational story that tackles the challenges of growing up in the Iranian diaspora with a splash of romance on the side.

CWs: anxiety, depression, physical abuse, threats of violence, infidelity, racism 

 Overall, I think I had a fun time with this one.

A silly, low angst historical romance with fake courting, lots of debating, and an abundance of the word 'flibbertigibbet'. Honestly though, my favorite part was the all boys best friends book club dynamics Bram had with his friends.

Also, the review that convinced me to read it said ✨ she ripped HIS bodice✨ and that is 100% accurate. I loved that.

Didn't love the narrator for the audiobook though. It felt like she was whining at me 80% of the time. 

 4.25 ⭐

Ahhh Papo Vega strikes again! I swear, there is nothing better than meddling granddads playing matchmaker.

I think I liked this one even more than the first book.

✅Bisexual badass activist FMC
✅Single dad MMC
✅Reunited first loves and second chance romance
✅PTSD and anxiety rep
✅Really great mental health rep
✅"Good girl" AND "Good boy" ?!?!!!

I loved Lola and Saint's character development throughout this book. They both had A LOT of growing to do and all of the conflicts felt very natural. (I adore a third act conflict that does not center around poorly executed miscommunication.)

And as always, the family dynamics in this one were top notch. And I love the set up for book 3. (and did I detect a potential couple for a fourth book??) 

4.25 ⭐

My only complaint is that it's over?!? 😭

The art is gorgeous and the story is so powerful. I wish there was a sequel- I want to continue on this adventure with Aiza and her group of ragtag exiles.

 This was honestly just what I needed. *chef's kiss* (no pun intended)

I love Kamilah and Liam.
I love their feisty meddling granddads.
I love the family dynamics and food culture.
I love the characters that I think will show up in later books 

 

DNF @ 57%

I don't know. I'm bored. It shouldn't feel like a chore to get through 121 pages.

 

DNF @ 38%

I hate to do this but I don't think I'm in the right headspace for this one. 

 

This YA Romance is such a sweet story that had me smiling, giggling, and cringing right alongside the FMC, Jessie, the entire time. 

Jessie is such a loveable and wholly relatable character. At 15, she is a young Palestinian-Canadian student entering her first year of high school after being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder over the summer. We follow Jessie’s story throughout her freshman year as she navigates new friend groups, crushes on classmates, and learning to embrace the things that make her unique. 

When I read books like this, I am reminded of how grateful I am for young readers to have access to these kinds of intersectional stories. It not only speaks to the experiences of the Palestinian diaspora but also to the understanding and awareness of autism and how it presents differently across the spectrum. All the while reading a relatable story about high school and finding your first love. 

This book was not written for me, but I absolutely appreciate everything the author is doing with this story. Knowing how comforted I was, I can only imagine how young readers might feel seeing themselves in Jessie.