jaduhluhdabooks's Reviews (333)

Go on a journey with local Asian market worker, Alan Chong Lau and you will learn just how beautiful the mundane can be. This set of poems taught me about the community I live in, in Seattle. Not just about the people, but the cultures, the tensions, the purpose of the schedules that folx keep and the beauty of the language that speak. From words to food to moments and traditions. 

Alan retaught me joy in soft and silent moments. When we’re thinking we’re bored but really just missing out on an opportunity of observe the moments around us. To glimps moments, finding meaning in them, or create meaning. Because meaning always exists and that just beautiful.

Creativity is a pivotal part of who we are and Alan retaught the power of activating mine in the simplicity of everyday life.

Ok, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I am a Chaol Westfall girly and I loved this for him. I loved the development of his character and the fruition of SJMs story telling coming to light. Also, I just appreciate how powerful it is to address such taboo subjects like pride and disability and the fracturing that comes with stereotyping and assuming the inability of someone who possess different abilities than you.

I think that the twist made me audibly gasp, as SJM makes me do often and that the tenderness of Chaol and Yrene, Sartaq and Nesryn, Hasar and Renia, and even Yeran and Borte… it’s just all so tender and real and gentle. Yrene is JUST. THAT. GIRL. and a powerhouse at that. Perrrrr. 

Anyways, Chaol tearing up at the end with the note made me tear up and then I literally just couldn’t. He will always love Cealana, and possess deep care and respect for Aelin, and that just felt comforting. For him to recall all that she endured then, but still carried the humility and wholesomeness of her past self within her masked self. That’s beautiful. And I cry. I love. I live. 

Now ready for this last book to break me in half.

As a big girl who has often struggled with her own relationship with food, Kennedy Ryan writes yet another character whom I identify with alll too closely. Ugh. I would rate this higher but I LOAAATTHHEEE the cheating trope 🙃

I’m all for getting and taking what you want. Claim that sis. But you can do it morally and not risk hurting others in the process, including yourself.

Friendship. Loss. Family. Grief. This is a story, a series of lines strung together much like ZJs songs about knowing someone but no longer having them around, even though they’re physically present. 

This short series of poems follows an NFL player who slowly suffers from CTE, narrated through the lens of his son and his three best friends. It’s powerful and rich and gut wrenching. Finished this one quickly and felt all the tugs in my heart.

There’s just something about middle grade fiction and fantasy that just heals the soul of an adult. I know for a fact that if badass Black girl protagonist like Amari Peters existed when I was going through adolescence, I wouldn’t have had to fight so hard to find belief in my courage. I am powerful and capable of being exactly who I am BECAUSE of my Black skin not in spite of it. 

This books journeys alongside a Black family who are living in a low income neighborhood, filled predominately with Black families. Two brilliant  siblings who travel far outside of their school zone jurisdiction to attend a predominately white private school, full of high income students who hold prejudice views toward the scholarship kids and the school upholds these views with racist policies that leaves Amari in a predicament early on. 

Leave it to the supernatural world to have its own prejudices just maybe not with the color of powers skin … initially. Magicians and supernatural agents, this books HAS IT ALL. 

Easily my favorite part was following Amari’s growth as a world of that good ole #Blackgirlmagic and watching white Supra next fall to the whit and beauty of Amari and Elsie’s epic dual partnership. Twists and turns all over. I think I gave it 4.5 stars just because wit was predictable, but then again I am only 23 sooo eh what do I know lol.

And and and let me just say dis …. When it comes to a Talia Hibbert romance… imma read it. PERIODT. 

BECAUSE. SHE. NEVER. DISAPPOINTS. Like. Jasmine and I, emotionally are one in the same. The way that Talia captures and deconstructs the stereotype of a “strong Black woman” just makes me feel so seen and SO KNOWN. Also, like - Black women are deserving of spiraling moments without being deemed, dramatic, frantic, emotional, angry, loud, and disruptive. They’re allowed to wander and wonder and dream and be held accountable for chasing those dreams. The right people will remind you that you’re capable and worthy of dreaming. And that’s what Rahul knows and see’s and loved about her. I just - I cry.