Reviews by lavenderluvsbooks

449 reviews by:

lavenderluvsbooks

6 Did Not Finish

Filter

Jay's Gay Agenda

Jason June

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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 is my first Jason June work to read thanks to the rainbow book bus and it is fantastic. I felt so loved and seen reading this story. The characters surrounding it as well made the story better and realistic. I can't wait to read more in the future.

Content Warnings

Of Blood and Lightning

Micki Janae

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Review of the arc version.This is a well done adaption of modernizing Greek mythology lore. I was not sure i would enjoy it in the beginning. Reminds me a lot of the bloodmarked trilogy. A lot of grief death and devastation. I'm not sure it should be considered young adult in the current state of the world with the very small intimate scene. I did not enjoy the willing to die to avenge situation felt very avengers to me. I'm interested to see how it's develops if the books continue.

Content Warnings

Cinderella Is Dead

Kalynn Bayron

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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

There is something about bipoc and queer retelling of stories from your childhood that feels perfect. As I finished this story at my job full of homophobic Healthcare workers where I am professionally straight. I am Sophia. I am Cinderella. So often the argument of straight parents and people is they dont want their kids exposed to it. Its inappropriate & to that I saw i hope no queer child is unlucky enough to have you as parents. We suffer enough. I have suffered enough.

Oath of Fire

K. Arsenault Rivera

4.75

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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 is the second psyche & eros retelling I've read but my first queer version. This arc is so delectable. It makes me want to visit the gods of joy. The smut scene was superb. Very well done. The emotional aspects really hit home.

Content Warnings

And Then There Was Us

Kern Carter

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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: Complicated

This review is dedicated to me & my younger self. This book is heavy for me. My parent-mom is still alive but we have a terrible relationship. It wasn't always so rough. Like most west indian-jamaican mothers she is strict, physically and verbally disciplines (to put it nicely) , and has trauma from her own life. Otherwise she was always there doing for me not herself. Then I grew up wanted better from my family as I emotionally and mentally evolved. She didn't like the person I was becoming. Therapy and my friends kept me alive. She kicked me out. I can blame her husband, the family that abused her, my queerness, etc but it doesn't matter she made the choices. Our relationship will never be the same whether she is dead or alive. But im choosing to live for me. I dont want to make the mistakes of those before me. Thats what this book is about. Its interesting that a male author wrote from the pov of a fmc. But he did a really good job. I havent read a book by a cis man in years. I might just cry from how this book made me feel.

Content Warnings

L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future, Vol. 40

L. Ron Hubbard

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

There is something about reading a audio book that makes everything more immersive. I have never heard of this series. I went to a book festival and wore the shirt and was asked about what it was. The older black women recognized l Ron Hubbard name. Because this volume have only one black authors story im really hope over the past four decades the series has been more diverse than this year. The crowd is also older and I wonder beyond writing spaces in the traditional sense if other generations know about this. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the stories. I didn't love bipoc characters being read but white voices. I like more effort to be put in who correctly represents identities & cultures. Most if not all of the stories were incredible and unique. Reading the physical book would have been longer. It was like reading black mirror or dystopia. I particularly like the stories about revenge or humans making very human choices. Not every story is a happy ending. Most have cliffhangers. I can see myself reading this again or recommending it to others. Hopefully more people hear about this and submit a story.

Content Warnings

The Boyfriend Project

Farrah Rochon

5.0

lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I have finished this series backwards weird but worth it. The 1st & 3rd book is my fav. It is so good not as much smut in the beginning of the story only two scenes in the end but its so good. My new favorite author

And She Was Never the Same Again: A Multigenerational Memoir

Natasha Pryde Trujillo

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

When I read about this book I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I don't read much nonfiction but the family trauma aspect resonated with me. My own experiences as a nurse and person with poor relationships have made me who I am. The losses in my family for the people I care about have not happened yet. I condone the authors rawness. I felt the discomfort. This book will be helpful to others hoping to help themselves or those with traumatic loss intertwined with family lives. I will be thinking about this book and my own stories for the rest of my life. And I will never be the same again.

Content Warnings

The Dating Playbook

Farrah Rochon

5.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I have no idea why I'm reading this series backwards but I love it lol. This wasn't my favorite. But I can acknowledge as a pagan the use of the character and author being Christian but not making the story unpalatable. The sex scenes are superb. I do wish there was a toy usage scene. Otherwise for a book with Christianity military and hetero usage its not overdoing it. The disability deaf representation was good addition.

Content Warnings

The Hookup Plan

Farrah Rochon

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

Aspects of this book hit close to home. Learning to take care of yourself is very important. An absent parent can impact your life but you can change it to be happy and not please the person. Taking your health seriously especially as a health professional is very uncommon but can be done. I also agree that getting your back blown out well can be stress relieving. I'm so happy for these characters.

Content Warnings

More...