Grew on me. With every page, I enjoyed this book more- the characters became more enjoyable to read about and I could sense the way LaCour developed as an Adult novelist. I enjoyed the fact that I never knew what would happen next. I also enjoyed the Sara chapters more than the Emilie chapters, but both women and their complex emotions and the way their view of the world was shaped by their lived experiences was relatable and well written. The chapters were too long for my liking, but overall it was a solid read and LaCour is clearly talented. I know exactly the angsty sapphic reader types I’m going to sell this to at work. 

I don’t think I was in the right mood for this. Some aspects felt outdated, naturally, while other aspects that are eerily similar to today, 50 years later) left me unsettled and inspired. Chisholm is a woman is strength and grit and our nation would not look the way it does today without her tenacity and unwavering commitment to marginalized people. Happy to have learned more of her story. 

Can I say this is one of my favorite books of the year when it’s only January 3rd? This book was truly amazing and I hope it sets the tone for the books I’ll read this year.
Nović is an insanely good writer, weaving together a compelling plot, complex and beautiful characters, and a telling of a long history and culture of deaf people.
About a lesbian headmistress of a deaf school, a deaf girl of hearing parents who quickly learns ASL and learns the beauty of deaf culture, and a fifth generation and consequently posted-child of a deaf boy, Nović educates and shares deaf joy. I learned so much from this book. The sporadic informative chapters about deafness, including diagrams of everyday ASL language and grammar, were helpful, fun, and inspiring. 
There are so many ways to describe this book. Funny- I was laughing out loud from page one. Complex- how parents, regardless of ability, support their children through deafness is not easy and Nović captures it beautifully, leaving you empathetic and frustrated with everyone. Joyful- Even in moments of angst, the beauty of deaf culture and friendship and family comes alive and off the pages. 
My only critique, the last 50-80 pages were a bit rushed. I would’ve read more for more. 

So happy I get to finish 2022 with this book. It was absolutely adorable! I already love the stories Claribel tells and this book made me feel so seen. As someone who struggles with hair and the way my hair is perceived as an Indian person and as a trans person, Marlene's struggles and anxieties reflect my own experiences. I want so so many people to read this. 

UPDATE: review has been changed because she's literally a TERF
Definitely reflective of its time. Felt one dimensional and very 2017 feminism. 

So much could be said about Call Us What We Carry, but I'm left speechless. Gorman's poetry, her heart, is harrowing and vulnerable and honest and extraordinary. Every poem stands out to me as a new moment and way of pulling back the current on the horrors and criminality of our world, specifically the US, juxtaposed by the beauty and strength and hope of our world's people, specifically minorities and more specifically Black people. Gorman's portrayal of war, vastness and Covid and her commentary on them are themes that stand out to me throughout the book. As a 24 year old woman of color, its striking (and unsettling in some ways but reassuring in others) how similar her experiences over the last couple years and the way they've shaped her views are to my own. I listened to this and thorough recommend, for Gorman's voice is essential to understanding the story(s) she tells. I also want to add this to my physical library, for I know it's something I will return to. 5 stars always.
Stand out poems: Essez I, Another Nautical, Cordage, or Atonement, Pan, Pre-Memory, Survey, _ _ _ _ _ [Gated], Monomyth, and of course, The Hill We Climb

I was really excited about this book, but unfortunately didn't like it much. Jenna and Angela are cute and it was fun to listen to them bounce off each other as they talk about The Office, but I almost was immediately given the ick by how problematic, for a lack of a better word, it was. Rainn starts it with an Anti-Semitic joke, they talk about how funny the Diwali episode and the Oscar/Michael kiss was without any nuance, and Jenna makes a cheeky JK Rowling reference. Combined, this made me very frustrated. (Also, and this is arguably nit-picky but can we please say people who give birth and talk about sexism with some nuance?) I stuck with it because, well, I love them and the show and love a famous person's memoir. But I am extremely disappointed. 

God I love them so fucking much. Oseman strikes out again with the cutest, best Nick and Charlie story. I agree... they are the type of couple that makes you believe soulmates are real. 

Really moving, beautiful personal poetry book. Elok's experience as a South Asian Queer Enby is very relatable and I enjoyed hearing their reflections on some of their experiences. 
My favorites: identity blues, the bible belt, massage, and fill
I also like that they included trigger warnings on the relevant poems. 

Pretty standard intro to gender stuff. Some of it was validating, while other times it felt very "I know this already." So, it felt inconsistent in who it was written for- is it for other trans people who have some background knowledge or for people who are looking to learn more and be allies. This lack of consistency made it confusing and the a bit inaccessible. However, the ending moved me and they had some very important reminders for me and my existence.