jennireadsmaybe's Reviews (678)

Wow wow wow!!! Talk about slow burn, rival to lovers. Azara and Michael are rivals with an actual reason. They butt heads and banter a ton throughout Veiled. By the time they finally acknowledge their feelings for each other, it's like screaming into a void because you knew it all along. The tension was off the charts from start to finish. I love that Azara is a strong, powerful, independent woman, and yet Michael wants to care for her. Her learning to be cared for by others is so eldest daughter coded. 

Secret society shenanigans add a bit of dark, mysterious, charm to the story. They definitely sucked me into the book. I'm extremely intrigued to see what happens within the Atlas society after the end of this book. Michael definitely goes through a lot of shit throughout this book. It endears him to me that much more. He's got his mission, but you can see just how much this affects him. 

Read this if you like rival to lovers, slow burn, secret society shenanigans, medical dramas, and letting yourself be taken care of. 

Not in the headspace to finish this now, will get back to it later 

There isn't a ton of literature on aromanticism, so most of the references in this book are straight from Wikipedia. I get it. I liked this book. I think if you're coming in with a bit more knowledge that it probably won't serve you well. Overall, I think this is a pretty great introduction to aromanticism. It really helped me to understand my own aro-ness more confidently. 

A great introductory text for the Harlem Renaissance. George M. Johnson introduces readers to several key figures from the HR and shares their queerness with us. A phenomenal way to learn more about people you've probably heard incomplete histories of. Quick, easy-to-follow, and full of connections to Johnson's own experiences. I definitely recommend picking this up! 

Did I read this book or did it read me!?!? Holy crap y'all Jonny Garza Villa kintsugied the crap out of me throughout Futbolista!!! I was invested from the first page. Gabi's the kind of once in a life time character that changes you at your core. He's funny and flirty and full of so much love. His story is about more than football and falling in love. It's about learning who you are, coming out while coming of age, and reconciling the fact that the world doesn't always want you to be who you are. Gabi doesn't want to be the player that changes the game, but maybe he has to. 

Gabi and Vale's romance is everything I wanted— no needed— and more. It's slow, built off a genuine friendship, and not to quote the bible but it's patient, kind, protective, trusting, hopeful, and persevering. While so many awful, hateful things are happening to Gabi, Vale becomes home for him. They have tough conversations and get to know each other so deeply that their love feels inevitable in the end. If I loved someone even half as much as these two love each other, I could move mountains. 

Read this if you like sports romance, Latine and queer representation, a love that heals, finally understanding philosophy (if only just a little bit), young men just trying their best, and crying (a lot).  

Blessed by the Cupid Distribution System made a day of driving way more entertaining. The trans woman FMC Iris is the perfect character for a Valentine's day, cupid romance. She wants to finally experience romantic love, and the fat, Black cupid Jaya gives her just that. I adored these two and their honesty about being new to relationships and navigating these changes in a way that fits them. Such a cute story!

Sapphic, sugar baby, single mom, monster romance????? I was sat from the cover reveal. I'm so happy I finally got to this thanks to my monthly buddy read with a friend. Tentacles kind of (mostly) creep me out, but A.A. Fairview might have me convinced lmao. Mother of Pearl is a hot and sweet good time from start to finish. I'm a fan of mommy, but I get that that might sway others. Overall, I really liked this one. 

The ghost of Sigmund Freud watching over my shoulder as I listened to this audiobook was happy to say I told you so. Sometimes Cinderella needs to fuck the prince and her step sister, and since Sara Cate wrote it, I had to read it. This was hot, dark, and just a wildly easy book to listen to. I'm excited to read others in the Black Rose Auction. 

I'm so mad at myself for putting this off as long as I did!!! S.A. Chakraborty always delivers, and Amina Al-Sirafi is her latest masterpiece. Set in and around the Indian Ocean during the Middle Ages, this book is full of a diverse cast of characters; each one is so unique and you can't help but love them. Amina the titular character has to get her pirate gang back together after several years of retirement to find young, kidnapped girl. The getting the gang back together sequences were fun and full of hijinks. I can definitely see this getting an adaptation because it reads like it's on the screen already. 

This blends my two great loves history and pirates, adds a splash of fantasy, and a bunch of the struggles of single motherhood to make the most delectable fantasy book I've read in quite a while. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, and I fell in love with this whole story. I can't wait to see where the gang has to go next. I read it physically while listening to the audio and I definitely recommend. The audio is stunning, but there's something about words on a page telling Amina's story that is so special. 

Read this if you want pirates, a found family gang of misfits, highly researched historical fantasy, single mom's living their best (kind of) life, and fantasy grounded in reality. 

Thank you to Kacen Callender for writing the fantasy book a younger me dreamed of. A trans man mc, genderqueer LI, and a polyamorous love triangle. Transness is built into the magic system, so Ash and Ramsay can choose how they are represented each time they interact with someone. It's amazing! There all multiple scenes that show Ash's partners gentle and swoony care as he experiences body dysmorphia and discomfort. 

Callender tackles grief, classism, trauma, and so much more throughout Infinity Alchemist without ever weighing down the book's plot. I'm interested to see how things will continue to build in this world following the end of this book. This is such a powerful novel about magic and who in a society is deserving of magic and power. 

Read this if you're looking for queer and trans fantasy, polyamorous love triangles, partners that share openly with each other and check for consent constantly, and overthrowing tyrannical governments..