Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.84k reviews by:
caseythereader
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Excrement, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
✨REVIEW✨ [ @celadonbooks #partner ]
The Last Call Killer preyed upon gay men in New York in the ‘80s and ‘90s and had all the hallmarks of the most notorious serial killers. Yet because of the sexuality of his victims, the skyhigh murder rates, and the AIDS epidemic, his murders have been almost entirely forgotten. (via Goodreads) 📚
•
LAST CALL is not your typical portrait of a killer. Yes, there is some examination of his life, but this book is primarily a look at the Last Call Killer's known victims. We read about their daily lives, their personalities, and how they simply tried to cope with being gay in an era when people often even refused to touch gay people for fear of catching AIDS. 📚
•
Green has managed to distill a huge amount of information - this book is clearly so deeply reported - into an easy to follow narrative. No small feat for a story that includes police and investigators from multiple states and precincts, victims with double lives, and more than a few dead ends. 📚
•
LAST CALL is also a loving look at New York and its many subcultures. I could practically see the bar districts discussed here, feel the sticky floors and mourn the loss of gay bars with their patrons. 📚
•
On top of all that, the final sections of the book, when the clues are coming together and the court case is proceeding had me on the edge of my seat. If you have any interest in true crime and/or queer history, put LAST CALL on your list. 📚
•
Content warnings: Addiction, alcoholism, deat), gore (it's REALLY gory, y'all), hate crime, homophobia, physical abuse, torture, violence, police brutality, kidnapping. 📚
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
📚 THE HENNA WARS is a coming out story, but Nishat is so sure and comfortable in her identity as a lesbian. I loved that she never wavered and refused to retreat even when faced with shaming and bullying.
📚 I don't think I've ever seen a book, especially a YA book, address cultural appropriation so clearly and directly.
📚 The relationship between Nishat and Flavia isn't a given, isn't a meant-to-be story. They struggle through a lot - and work through a lot - with teaching and learning happening on both sides.
📚 Similarly, I loved how Nishat's relationship with her sister was one of deep love and support, but they disagreed and fought and made the wrong choices, and still loved each other throughout.
📚It did feel like it took a long time for Flavia to understand why Nishat disapproved of Flavia and Chyna's henna business.
📚 I don't think I've ever seen a book, especially a YA book, address cultural appropriation so clearly and directly.
📚 The relationship between Nishat and Flavia isn't a given, isn't a meant-to-be story. They struggle through a lot - and work through a lot - with teaching and learning happening on both sides.
📚 Similarly, I loved how Nishat's relationship with her sister was one of deep love and support, but they disagreed and fought and made the wrong choices, and still loved each other throughout.
📚It did feel like it took a long time for Flavia to understand why Nishat disapproved of Flavia and Chyna's henna business.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
📚 This book is pitched as THE WESTING GAME for adults and it absolutely is. Twisty, clever, funny, and populated with wonderfully unique characters.
📚 Tuesday is fantastic. I love that she leads a full, fulfilling life and is openly happy being single and without children. Her love interest in this story is an intriguing side quest, not the main objective.
📚 This book is also a love letter to Boston, both its history and its modern incarnation.
📚 On top of the wild mystery, this book also gets deep into some serious topics, most of them centering around the costumes we wear to present ourselves to the world every day and how we can break free of them to be our authentic selves.
📚 It dragged a little in the middle, in particular a few chapters where it seemed unlikely that they could take this much time off from the game to deal with other plots and not be overtaken by other players.
📚 Tuesday is fantastic. I love that she leads a full, fulfilling life and is openly happy being single and without children. Her love interest in this story is an intriguing side quest, not the main objective.
📚 This book is also a love letter to Boston, both its history and its modern incarnation.
📚 On top of the wild mystery, this book also gets deep into some serious topics, most of them centering around the costumes we wear to present ourselves to the world every day and how we can break free of them to be our authentic selves.
📚 It dragged a little in the middle, in particular a few chapters where it seemed unlikely that they could take this much time off from the game to deal with other plots and not be overtaken by other players.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
✨MINI REVIEW✨ [ @littlebrown | #partner ]
After the election of Donald J. Trump, journalist Seyward Darby went looking for the women of the so-called alt-right--really just white nationalism with a new label. The mainstream media depicted the alt-right as a bastion of angry white men, but was it? As women headlined resistance to the Trump administration's bigotry and sexism, most notably at the women's marches, Darby wanted to know why others were joining a movement espousing racism and anti-feminism. Who were these women, and what did their activism reveal about America's past, present, and future? (via Goodreads) 📚
•
What I liked:
- Darby does not soft-pedal any of the horrific views and actions of the people she profiles. She labels things racist when they are - no "racially tinged" language here - and often debunks her subjects' claims right after quoting them.
- Contains a lot of discussion about the types of people drawn to conspiracy theories and white nationalism along with how these ideas spread and why certain people latch onto them.
- Darby also breaks down why people stay in the hate movement. These women are primarily looking for a place where they can feel like they belong and be heard - some were even self-proclaimed, vocal feminists in past years. The ability to be openly racist is often just a bonus for them - they join and stay because they are seeking community and validation, and this movement answered the call.
- This is a really close look at the two ways white women are used to promote hate: with the idea that we must protect white women from dangerous non-white men and also with the idea that these people can't be all that bad if those nice moms are part of their group, right?
•
What I didn't like:
- There were a few aspects of these womens' lives I wish had been explored just a little more, but on the other hand this was certainly a close enough look for me, now I'm going to go scream for a bit, bye!
•
Content warnings: antisemitism, body shaming, bullying, cursing, emotional abuse, fatphobia, genocide, gun violence, hate crime, homophobia, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, misogyny, physical abuse, racial slurs, racism, rape, religious bigotry, sexism, slavery, transphobia, xenophobia, and violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
📚 Butler returns to themes of consent and power in this book - it read very much as a continuation of her explorations in the LILITH'S BROOD series.
📚 There is so much going on, dissecting power structures in terms of race, age, gender, bloodlines and more, and she's doing it all inside a story about vampires.
📚 Unfortunately, things got repetitive very fast, with Shori having to explain and reexplain her amnesia and the events surrounding it to new people every few pages.
📚 Hooooo boy the sex is so uncomfortable given that the protagonist is in the body of a child! Do not want!
📚 There is so much going on, dissecting power structures in terms of race, age, gender, bloodlines and more, and she's doing it all inside a story about vampires.
📚 Unfortunately, things got repetitive very fast, with Shori having to explain and reexplain her amnesia and the events surrounding it to new people every few pages.
📚 Hooooo boy the sex is so uncomfortable given that the protagonist is in the body of a child! Do not want!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thanks to Atria Books for the free advance copy of this book.
📚 Beautiful writing, particularly the descriptions of birds and the paintings of them.
📚 This is an #ownvoices book, and the portrayal of a trans boy who isn't out yet feels so real - the delicacy of the situation is tangible.
📚 The way the two storylines interweaved was masterful, and I was in tears at the end.
📚 I don't think I've ever read a story about a queer Syrian American and I'm so glad this book exists now.
📚 I just cannot find the words to adequately express to you how beautiful THE THIRTY NAMES OF NIGHT is. Please read it if you can.
Content warnings: miscarriage, deadnaming, Islamophobia, animal death, death, grief, xenophobia, transphobia, sexual assault.
📚 Beautiful writing, particularly the descriptions of birds and the paintings of them.
📚 This is an #ownvoices book, and the portrayal of a trans boy who isn't out yet feels so real - the delicacy of the situation is tangible.
📚 The way the two storylines interweaved was masterful, and I was in tears at the end.
📚 I don't think I've ever read a story about a queer Syrian American and I'm so glad this book exists now.
📚 I just cannot find the words to adequately express to you how beautiful THE THIRTY NAMES OF NIGHT is. Please read it if you can.
Content warnings: miscarriage, deadnaming, Islamophobia, animal death, death, grief, xenophobia, transphobia, sexual assault.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Miscarriage, Islamophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Deadnaming, Death, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Grief
Minor: Sexual assault
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
📚 I felt like shouting YES TO ALL OF THIS about every page.
📚 Petersen links a lot of seemingly disparate events and situations together, showing how they weave together to bring us to the point of burnout.
📚 While I know I have fared better than many people my age, it's still deeply validating to see my experiences and those of my peers laid out on the page and have someone saying "it's not all in your head."
📚 Petersen does make some effort to discuss how these situations can be compounded for BIPOC and/or lower class millennials, but I do think it could have been investigated further.
📚 Petersen links a lot of seemingly disparate events and situations together, showing how they weave together to bring us to the point of burnout.
📚 While I know I have fared better than many people my age, it's still deeply validating to see my experiences and those of my peers laid out on the page and have someone saying "it's not all in your head."
📚 Petersen does make some effort to discuss how these situations can be compounded for BIPOC and/or lower class millennials, but I do think it could have been investigated further.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
📚 Wow, what a premise! Multiverse travel, but make it hinge on race and class. If being dead in many worlds makes you a good traverser, then the poor and oppressed who are more likely to die are the best traversers, not the rich and privileged.
📚 Casual, built-in queerness, but it's not a coming out story.
📚 Several excellent twists, some of which I did not see coming.
📚 The writing is just superb. Excellent dialogue, and I could envision the world perfectly.
📚 I'll follow Micaiah Johnson into any world she creates.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual content