4.5 Stars

I love me a messy story!!!

So, our girl Leah is married with 4 kids. Her husband is not supportive, romantic, or involved. After 15 years he's basically a roommate. (Been there, felt that)

Practicing self-care, she checks herself into a hotel for the weekend so she can decompress. All of that is innocent, understandable, something MORE women should practice because we all need a break.

However, when her boss shows up in the middle of the night knocking on her door bringing pizza and good dick, I was like WHATTTTTTTT!!!!!! What's even crazier is she has NEVER met this man in person, they have only ever tele-worked, and he's married too!!

She did NOT ask this man to show up. She had not been flirting or dropping hints. But the attraction and opportunity was there and I was NOT mad at our girl when she ceased it.

IF cheating is a trigger for you don't read this. It's HOT, very spicy and other then the mention of their home lives and ONE phone call, their respective significant others aren't really factors in this story. This is fiction/fantasy and I while I personally live a straight and boring life. I love reading/watching dramatic shit.

** I confirmed with the author that Leah and Dean will be getting a full-length book and Dean's wife will get her HEA as well. When you read Leah's husband, you'll be like Yeah F this guy lol**

**** Side Note: If you have met the author in real life, you would know she is a tiny adorable little thing. I was NOT expecting all that pipe from her. Well Done!! **** 

 I have mixed feeling about this one. It came very highly recommended by the speaker at the group boudoir shoot I did in February. And the speaker said how this book helped her love herself. 

I was on the Libby wait list for 2 months before this popped up and derailed my Last, Now, Next plans. I just knew it was going to be good. Especially coming off the high from Hood Feminism I was excited to jump into more educational and empowering rhetoric. 

Don't get me wrong this book was informative AF. The author speaks about love being more than just a feeling but an intentional act that one chooses to participate in. She examines childhoods, parental issues, and how unfair it is to expect a partner that loves us flaws and all when we tear ourselves down and don't give ourselves the love we deserve despite said flaws. 

It made me think of the saying "Do as I Say, Not as I Do" 

Anyways feel like I learned a lot but it was not an enjoyable read. I struggle with non-fiction books when they are clinical, and this one felt very clinical. Despite her references to Lil Kim and other relatable persons and circumstances. I lacked excitement. 

But again, it was informative, and I feel like I benefited from reading it. It has helped change and validate my perspective on love. Not just romantic love, but platonic and familiar love as well. 

I would recommend this book with the warning that you may feel like you are reading a textbook. But in the end you will be better for reading it. 

 Beautifully written, horrifying, frustrating, empathetic, and full of emotion.

Growing up Toni Morrison's name was always mentioned when talking about the greats, but as a reader I tended to stay clear of the classics. I made excuses about how I couldn't relate, or the dialect was too difficult. However, as I grew into an adult woman, one who lives with mental health issues and has had to heal and continues to heal from trauma, it was highly recommended that I read Toni's work.

After attending a bookish event where The Bluest Eye was discussed I knew I was missing out.

I'm not sure what I expected. The event I had attended gave a brief summary. But having completed the book I realize that it barely touched the surface.

There are soo many topics that are presented and analyzed. Toni wrote this in a way that makes you want to sympathize with the antagonists. Which is really impressive because a lot of these people were piles of shit.

For me this book hit really hard because it triggered a lot of memories and emotions from the traumas I both experienced and witnessed within my own small town. I laid witness to my elders disparaging young girls for being ugly and at fault for the horrors that grown men and society forced upon them.

This book was everything for me. It will live rent free in my head and heart for the rest of my life. 

 I really wish a professional narrator had read this. I am loud and excitable. I am in no way hating on Sonya's speech. I could tell she was incredibly passionate about this book, her words, and beliefs. She was very expressive.

However, I struggled with her tone over time. At times I felt like she was talking down to the reader which I know was NOT her intentions.

There were several positive points in this book. Many of which I had heard before. Some of her suggestions I could not get on board with. Other were fantastic and noted for me to incorporate in my interactions. 

 Please tell me this is the first in a series because I need more. Iggy was a very likable, family focused, and business minded. I really enjoyed the family interactions well not with Armando but fuck him. I appreciated everyone but him. But I know men like him and I think my instant hate and unwillingness to see things from his side is a ME issue and not a BOOK issue.

I would love to see this adapted for TV. Not a movie, this would be a fantastic series to watch. 

 

Laure is a Black American/French black dancer in the Paris Ballet School. Doesn't matter that she's been there since childhood or that she's been at the top of her class the last six years. Doesn't matter that her still is unmatched. She doesn't fit in and is not accepted by her peers. Directors say her look isn't a good fit for classical dance. 

How does one overcome nepotism and wealth? She makes a deal with the God of Chaos. She just wants to be seen, she wants to be accepted and respected. 

Laure is an unlikable character. She has a lot of anger and she's frustrating AF. 

There are side characters to make up for this but we don't see more interaction until half way through the book.

This story is broken into 4 parts. Parts 1&2 were informative. Parts 3&4 are where the action comes is in. There are a few dead bodies, bully ballerinas, killer ballerinas, betrayal, and a supernatural showdown. 

The ending was chef's kiss fantastic. 

 This started off kind of slow. Not gonna lie the first 20% or so I was like okay awkward meet cute, he's a bit paranoid but whatever.

Then lockdown started, their relationship popped off and secrets were revealed. Then MORE shit was revealed. THEN what I thought was right was wrong and a bigger reveal went down, and I was like WOW....... In the end I couldn't even pick sides.

This was a good thriller that kept you guessing. I wish I had read it during lock down to heighten my reading experience. 

 Very Much YES! Lots of emotion, loved the connection and the OPEN communication! 

 Holy Fking Shit ya'll. This book is insane. Our boy Oliver is physically assaulted after visiting a Bath Haus while his super controlling, crazy af, rich, silver fox boyfriend is out of town.

Oliver reports the assault to the police but asks for discretion. His Sexy Grandpa boyfriend Nathan can't know the details that lead to the assault.

Problem is Nathan is crazy and he's on this like a dog with a bone. The assailant got away but is now stalking and taunting poor Oliver. And the cherry on top is Hector, the abusive ex who has tracked Oliver down and his interest is far from innocent.

This man can NOT catch a break. I have had idea who is more dangerous. My heart broke again and again as events of Oliver's past and present were brought to light. He was victimized over and over again, and it made me want to scream.

I once read that 46% of R@PE/SA victims are repeat victims. Oliver's history with addiction made him vulnerable to predators and they came HARD.

Do not read this without reading trigger warnings. The ending was sufficient, I had figured out who the biggest danger was and finishing the book provided validation in my theory. 

 This came highly recommended and did not live up to the hype for me. It's very sad and tragic. Gave me vintage occult vibes. It left me feeling sad.