lit_vibrations's Reviews (365)

Why did Amy snap with this book like that though‼️ Engaged is not the word for this it’s more like this book had me stuck unable to put it down. The sarcasm, the mind games, the lies, the voice, the dark humor, sinister thoughts, and the rumors made this book so worth the read. After a while I was like well hell did Lucy do it? There’s a fine line between truth and deception so when you read the book you’ll understand why I questioned her innocence.

With no memory of what’s transpired imagine being found wandering the streets covered in blood that isn’t yours. Only to discover your best friend is dead and everyone thinks you killed her, even you. That’s the situation Lucy’s currently in. Five years have passed since leaving her hometown in Texas behind and all the memories that came with it especially that horrific night. But when someone goes digging in the past Lucy is forced to return home and confront the inevitable. When Ben Owens the true crime podcast host of “Listen for the Lie” decides to investigate Savvy’s murder it’s a must she solve the case before he does even if she’s the one who did it. 

The way this book was structured and written was so well done. I loved the creativity with incorporating the podcast into the book. The way Tintera uses Lucy’s internal thoughts with those from the podcast makes this such a page-turner. Usually I dislike when there are multiple characters introduced but the author executed everything so well. Hearing everyone’s thoughts on what happened the night Savvy died added the right amount of suspense and doubt needed in a murder mystery. The small-town feel, their judgement of Lucy’s character, and their suspicions surrounding her innocence brought this book to life in so many ways.

Overall, the book was amazing and I highly recommend y’all give this one a read. Who do you believe? Who can you trust? Who’s really lying? It’s the spine-tingling suspense that will suck you in and leave you wanting more. Special thanks to the author & @celadonbooks for my gifted copy‼️

This author does NOT miss‼️ If you’ve never read any books by Morris I beg you to get into it ASAP. The way she crafts her stories to tackle real life issues offers a narrative that is thrilling, authentic, and thought-provoking. This one was a when not minding your business goes wrong but works in your favor in the end type vibe.

The novel follows Deena Wood’s returning to her hometown in Brunswick, Georgia after the loss of her mother and a nasty divorce. Returning home should’ve been a fresh start for Deena. But when she has a hostile encounter with Holcomb Gardner after trespassing on his land. 

Her presence puts him in defense mode because she’s unaware Holcomb’s been in a constant battle over the ownership of his property. Threatening her never to return provokes Deena to do a little snooping. But when she discovers Holcomb’s gone missing, his property is now up for sale, and his sister died a few months back Deena gets suspicious and suspects foul play. Digging through thick layers of lies, secrets in the family, and illegal land grabs that date back to Reconstruction. Deena is in a race against time to uncover the truth before it’s too late and she too may become a victim. 

Exploring how heirs properties have become a serious problem in low income black and brown communities there’s so much you can learn from this book. We even get a glimpse of a spiritual entity that kind of assists and protects Deena along the way. 

Overall, I loved the book with its vivid depictions and complex characters tension rises with each chapter. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, with a compelling plot, and a strong FMC this the one. Special thanks to the author @wandamorris & the publisher @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy‼️ 

For this book to be YA it was definitely a wild story. Nobody expects a teen to go through or deal with situations both Deja and Gabriel encountered in this book. But these are the harsh realities for many growing up in Jamaica. The struggle to survive, a desire to provide, but being forced to take on adult responsibilities was something Deja honestly wasn’t prepared for. 

Taking the drug money might have been a mistake that could’ve cost her and her family their lives. But when you’re in a tough spot and have others depending on you like her siblings then you do what you got to do to make it. Gabriel had no one so being apart of a posse was a way to take care of himself. He wanted a way out of that life but it seemed the only way out would’ve been in a box. When he and Deja met there was an instant connection and maybe being around her gave him hope. But when the drug money got involved they were left on two different sides of the fence. This is where I felt the author did well tying all the characters' together with the missing drug money. 

Overall, I thought the book was okay the author sets this intense tone from the very beginning. I just felt the pacing was a tad bit slow for a thriller but it’s engaging enough to keep you going until the end.  I also loved how the story unfolded the dark-side of life in Jamaica shedding light on many topics surrounding the consequences of right and wrong, drug abuse, gang violence, dirty cops, the struggle to survive, Jamaican culture, and living conditions. Special thanks to @coloredpagesbt, the publisher @simonteen and the author @desmondhallauthor for my gifted copy‼️

It only took me five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes to finally read this book‼️ It was just sitting on my shelf filled with all this greatness, collecting dust, patiently waiting for me to crack it open. I can FINALLY say I read Queenie and I loved every moment of it.

This book was wild, raw, and hilarious. Don’t get it twisted Queenie was a piece of work. I wanted to pop her upside the head a few times for her poor decisions and choices in men. She mentioned Tom so many times I know I screamed get the fuck OVER IT Queenie a million times. Her sexual encounters were horrible Adi was cringey, Guy was to damn aggressive, and Ted was the quick pumper. All of em were slaps in the face‼️ Cassandra deserved a slap in the face . . . Her other friends were the right people in her corner though loved Kyazike. 

While Queenie irked me at times by the end of the book I sympathized with her more. She was a young woman in her early twenties who was in need of guidance. A lot of things she did were a result of her upbringing, seeing her mother abused, experiencing verbal and physical abuse herself, and being abandoned at such a young age. She was looking for love and comfort in all the wrong places trying to fill this void of loneliness. When what she needed to do was self-reflect, love herself, and find a way to deal with her past trauma. 

Overall, if you have the book and haven’t read it listen when I say PICK IT UP AND READ IT‼️ I still don’t get why so many people disliked this book because I would definitely reread it. Can’t wait for the series to air on Hulu.

Welcome to the Blackgical Revolution . . .

Whhhhhy was this book so good though? The representation was everything it’s definitely giving Black boy magic. I mean if all fantasy books came like this I would devour them every time‼️ We get so much from this one a magical HBCU, generational trauma, betrayal from both family and friends, new found community, brotherly love, feuding covens, magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries. 

Living most of his life being blamed but also blaming himself for the disappearance/death of his mother Malik was left to look after himself. For years he tried to forget about his magic and not show anyone because when he thought about it all it brought him was pain. Now, that he’s of age he’s finally ready to start a new life for him and his foster brother Taye. In an attempt to rescue his brother connections to a long-lost grandmother are revealed to Malik which will result in him attending the same magical university his mother had. While at Caiman University Malik’s future will open up to more than he could have imagined. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution.

This is a book I highly recommend for anyone interested in reading fantasy. The magic will keep you engaged, the action will keep you on edge, but the hidden secrets and past trauma will keep you invested. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Loved the cover so much I had to purchase a copy. Special thanks to the author, @penguinrandomhouse #LabyrinthRoad, & @libro.fm for my advanced listening copy‼️

Survivor meets The Bachelor in Attached at the Hip, an irresistible romantic adventure. The novel follows Orie Lennox having spent most of her life prepping for her happily ever after. Now that she’s graduated, she’s low-key wondering, when the heck is it gonna hit. Her life is not quite what she envisioned it to be. So, on a whim she applies for a reality show to play a game of human chess for a shot at a million dollars. After being casted for the show Orie discovers it’s an experimental romantic edition of the show: and even more surprised to find that her old high school crush, Remy, has been cast as well.

I really enjoyed reading this book it was fun, adventurous, and filled with humor. Building on a unique premise Riccio crafted the perfect rom-com I could barely put it down. Making the book reflect a reality tv show was also perfectly executed. Everything had an even flow from Orie’s personal life to the way the author wove the game show and the scripting into the story. You really feel like you’re watching everything take place right in front of you. The dialogue was witty, the pacing is steady, the characters are all well-developed, and the writing was so descriptive.

Orie was a lovable character just a little annoying at times especially when she called Remy by his WHOLE NAME Remy Orlando Lasorsa!!! But I love that the author gave Orie this co-dependent personality and we actually see growth in her character by the end of the book. Now when it came to the romance I liked the way the author changed up the dynamics with Orie having two potential love interests  which allowed things to fall in the hands of fate. Remy seemed like Orie’s perfect match because their chemistry was palpable from the beginning. But when she’s partnered with Osprey we get a more authentic connection between the two.  

Overall, loved the book highly recommend you guys read it especially if you’re a fan of reality tv. The way each chapter builds and compliments the next I swear you’re in for a fun reading experience . Special thanks to the author, @macmillan.audio for my gifted listening copy, & @Wednesdaybooks for my e-ARC‼️

She’s done it again‼️ Shining light on the drowned Black towns of the American South Penelope creates a powerful MC  who journeys into a submerged world of gods and myth to save her home. 

Daughter of the Merciful Deep was nothing short of amazing for me. I can’t say it topped The Monsters We Defy but it came really close. The way she twisted spirituality, religion, folklore, Black history, diasporic traditions , and myths in this historical fantasy was pure genius. I was probably around Ch. 17 or so when I realized what she was doing and honestly it was quite clever. It was also the character names and the way she put certain things into context that really made it click for me. 

Another thing Penelope is really good at is world building. It was so easy to envision everything and what was happening around the town of Awenasa and New Ile. The character development itself was chef’s kiss 🤌🏽 so many memorable characters and their personalities gave so much life to book. 

Watching Jane finally come to terms with her past trauma, having faith in herself, and finding her voice again was everything. The suspense surrounding the town’s mystery man Moses was also well done. 

My only cons with this one:

Overall, I enjoyed this one and highly recommend especially if you’re a fan of her work sis didn’t miss‼️ Special thanks to the author & @redhookbooks for my advanced copy.

The novel follows Mika Tabor the baby in the family as she spends time with her loved ones listening to their stories and witnessing their struggles. Throughout the book Mika will learn some important lessons from her family. Like her parents who often work long hours and multiple jobs to ensure their kids get to experience all that life has to offer. Or her amazing grandparents who were born during the Jim Crow era and envisioned early on the success they wanted for their family and generations to come. Together they help Mika understand her family history, the meaning of community, and how ordinary people strive to achieve their own American dream. 

Whew this book and the full cast of characters were a lot to take in. I love a good multigenerational family story but when to many characters are involved it leaves room for confusion. I had to reference back to the beginning a few times to remember who is who. But after a while most of the book is told from Mika’s POV which helps keep things in perspective. 

The timeline jumped around quite a bit which I didn’t like because I felt the author could’ve gone in more depth on certain things before changing the topic. I did love the characters and getting to know their backstories especially the grandparents. Grandma was the glue that held the family and community together which many people can relate to. 

The pacing was rather up and down for me and I felt the last quarter of the book didn’t hold up like the rest. I think what may throw many off is how the book is written.  Rather than it solely focusing on a single topic we get a lot of stories told about or from specific family members that make up their family history. Which was probably done purposely since many Black families can’t trace far back in their lineage. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book I increased my rating from a 3.5 to a 4 by the end of it. If you’re a fan of family sagas or books about multigenerational families you’ll enjoy this one. Special thanks to the author & @thedialpress for my gifted copy‼️