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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received an e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: By Sea & Sky
Author: Antoine Bandele
Book Series: The Sky Pirate Chronicles Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: pirates, romance, rescue, revenge
Publication Date: June 19, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, kidnapping TW, romance)
Publisher: Bandele Books
Pages: 414
Synopsis: With no magic, no brawn, and no pirate crew, Zala seeks to steal back the one treasure that matters to her most: her husband.
To succeed she needs a ship—and not just any ship, but the latest, secret invention by the Vaaji Empire. An airship.
Zala will have to use her wits to overcome scoundrels and nobles alike on her journey through the clouds.
But if she's smart enough, she may just have what it takes to save her husband—and go down in history as the first sky pirate.
Delve into a pirate fantasy inspired by the West Indies, The Swahili Coast, and Arabia, where Zala will encounter ruthless raiders, arrogant aristocrats, and imperial secrets.
Review: Overall, this was a great read! The book had some great character development and I really liked how Karim was set up in this book. The book had an intriguing plot as well and the book was amazing for people, like me, who crave more pirate books!
However, I thought that the world building could have been built up a little bit more and that the plot could have been built up better. The plot and pacing made the book really slow and I think it could have been done a bit better if things happened sooner in the novel.
Verdict: A great pirate read!
Book: By Sea & Sky
Author: Antoine Bandele
Book Series: The Sky Pirate Chronicles Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: pirates, romance, rescue, revenge
Publication Date: June 19, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, kidnapping TW, romance)
Publisher: Bandele Books
Pages: 414
Synopsis: With no magic, no brawn, and no pirate crew, Zala seeks to steal back the one treasure that matters to her most: her husband.
To succeed she needs a ship—and not just any ship, but the latest, secret invention by the Vaaji Empire. An airship.
Zala will have to use her wits to overcome scoundrels and nobles alike on her journey through the clouds.
But if she's smart enough, she may just have what it takes to save her husband—and go down in history as the first sky pirate.
Delve into a pirate fantasy inspired by the West Indies, The Swahili Coast, and Arabia, where Zala will encounter ruthless raiders, arrogant aristocrats, and imperial secrets.
Review: Overall, this was a great read! The book had some great character development and I really liked how Karim was set up in this book. The book had an intriguing plot as well and the book was amazing for people, like me, who crave more pirate books!
However, I thought that the world building could have been built up a little bit more and that the plot could have been built up better. The plot and pacing made the book really slow and I think it could have been done a bit better if things happened sooner in the novel.
Verdict: A great pirate read!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this novel from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Henna Wars
Author: Adiba Jaigirdar
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Bangladeshi characters, Black Brazilian love interest, Queer Bangladeshi main character, Korean side character
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 405
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, racism, homophobia, language, and getting outted TW)
Synopsis: Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.
As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! I thought the characters were intriguing and well developed. The romance was cute and I was here for it! I loved the world building and I loved how the book was written. It was an amazing read and it was so swoon-worthy! I loved that the author wrote this as well! You don't see a lot of queer representation with POC and Bangladeshi and Brazilian are both those I've never read before to my knowledge. I hope that the tides will change in publishing were we get more stories and more ownvoice from POC and minority writers. The book also does well to talk about the importance of culture and how certain things/activities (like henna) are very important to a culture. The book did well to show how ignorance can make someone accidentally culturally appropriate something, but also didn't shy away from showing that some people are just blatantly racist and/or homophobic.
My only issue is that I wish some of the words were explained. I got the gist of most of them, especially the terms of relationship and endearment used in the main characters own language, but there was a scene where our main and her love interest speak French to each other and I wish that was explained, but again I got like 60% of what was said. I'd also to have liked to see the person who outted our main character get punished, but the unfortunate reality of our current lives is that some people get away with their actions because it causes more harm on the victim to come forward than to not. This definitely needs to change, but then again I think people's closed mindedness needs to change as well.
Verdict: Definitely worth the read!!
Book: The Henna Wars
Author: Adiba Jaigirdar
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Bangladeshi characters, Black Brazilian love interest, Queer Bangladeshi main character, Korean side character
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 405
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, racism, homophobia, language, and getting outted TW)
Synopsis: Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.
As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! I thought the characters were intriguing and well developed. The romance was cute and I was here for it! I loved the world building and I loved how the book was written. It was an amazing read and it was so swoon-worthy! I loved that the author wrote this as well! You don't see a lot of queer representation with POC and Bangladeshi and Brazilian are both those I've never read before to my knowledge. I hope that the tides will change in publishing were we get more stories and more ownvoice from POC and minority writers. The book also does well to talk about the importance of culture and how certain things/activities (like henna) are very important to a culture. The book did well to show how ignorance can make someone accidentally culturally appropriate something, but also didn't shy away from showing that some people are just blatantly racist and/or homophobic.
My only issue is that I wish some of the words were explained. I got the gist of most of them, especially the terms of relationship and endearment used in the main characters own language, but there was a scene where our main and her love interest speak French to each other and I wish that was explained, but again I got like 60% of what was said. I'd also to have liked to see the person who outted our main character get punished, but the unfortunate reality of our current lives is that some people get away with their actions because it causes more harm on the victim to come forward than to not. This definitely needs to change, but then again I think people's closed mindedness needs to change as well.
Verdict: Definitely worth the read!!
Disclaimer: I received this from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: All Your Twisted Secrets
Author: Diana Urban
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, murder, gore)
Synopsis: "Welcome to dinner, and again, congratulations on being selected. Now you must do the selecting."
What do the queen bee, star athlete, valedictorian, stoner, loner, and music geek all have in common? They were all invited to a scholarship dinner, only to discover it's a trap. Someone has locked them into a room with a bomb, a syringe filled with poison, and a note saying they have an hour to pick someone to kill ... or else everyone dies.
Amber Prescott is determined to get her classmates and herself out of the room alive, but that might be easier said than done. No one knows how they're all connected or who would want them dead. As they retrace the events over the past year that might have triggered their captor's ultimatum, it becomes clear that everyone is hiding something. And with the clock ticking down, confusion turns into fear, and fear morphs into panic as they race to answer the biggest question: Who will they choose to die?
Review: I really liked this book! It was fun and compelling. The book was fast paced and it was a pretty good mystery!
However, I did think the ending was very long and unnecessary. It was a huge monologue and I didn't care for it. I also had issues connecting with the characters.
Verdict: Its a great mystery for the most part!
Book: All Your Twisted Secrets
Author: Diana Urban
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, murder, gore)
Synopsis: "Welcome to dinner, and again, congratulations on being selected. Now you must do the selecting."
What do the queen bee, star athlete, valedictorian, stoner, loner, and music geek all have in common? They were all invited to a scholarship dinner, only to discover it's a trap. Someone has locked them into a room with a bomb, a syringe filled with poison, and a note saying they have an hour to pick someone to kill ... or else everyone dies.
Amber Prescott is determined to get her classmates and herself out of the room alive, but that might be easier said than done. No one knows how they're all connected or who would want them dead. As they retrace the events over the past year that might have triggered their captor's ultimatum, it becomes clear that everyone is hiding something. And with the clock ticking down, confusion turns into fear, and fear morphs into panic as they race to answer the biggest question: Who will they choose to die?
Review: I really liked this book! It was fun and compelling. The book was fast paced and it was a pretty good mystery!
However, I did think the ending was very long and unnecessary. It was a huge monologue and I didn't care for it. I also had issues connecting with the characters.
Verdict: Its a great mystery for the most part!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Touch of Death
Author: Rebecca Crunden
Book Series: The Outlands Pentalogy Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian
Publication Date: February 24, 2017
Genre: Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, death, slight gore, famine, illness)
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 306
Synopsis: A thousand years in the future, the last of humanity live inside the walls of the totalitarian Kingdom of Cutta. The rich live in Anais, the capital city of Cutta, sheltered from the famine and disease which ravage the rest of the Kingdom. Yet riches and power only go so far, and even Anaitians can be executed. It is only by the will of the King that Nate Anteros, son of the King’s favourite, is spared from the gallows after openly dissenting. But when he’s released from prison, Nate disappears.
A stark contrast, Catherine Taenia has spent her entire life comfortable and content. The daughter of the King’s Hangman and in love with Thom, Nate’s younger brother, her life has always been easy, ordered and comfortable. That is, where it doesn’t concern Nate. His actions sullied not only his future, but theirs. And unlike Thom, Catherine has never forgiven him.
Two years pass without a word, and then one night Nate returns. But things with Nate are never simple, and when one wrong move turns their lives upside down, the only thing left to do is run where the King’s guards cannot find them – the Outlands. Those wild, untamed lands which stretch around the great walls of the Kingdom, filled with mutants and rabids.
Review: For the most part this was a great book. I really liked the world building in this book and it was a super fun book to read. The character development was also well done and the plot kept me intrigued throughout the whole time.
However, I had such issues getting into the book. The book was so slow in the beginning and throughout the book it was just really hard to get into.
Verdict: It was an interesting read!
Book: A Touch of Death
Author: Rebecca Crunden
Book Series: The Outlands Pentalogy Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian
Publication Date: February 24, 2017
Genre: Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, death, slight gore, famine, illness)
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 306
Synopsis: A thousand years in the future, the last of humanity live inside the walls of the totalitarian Kingdom of Cutta. The rich live in Anais, the capital city of Cutta, sheltered from the famine and disease which ravage the rest of the Kingdom. Yet riches and power only go so far, and even Anaitians can be executed. It is only by the will of the King that Nate Anteros, son of the King’s favourite, is spared from the gallows after openly dissenting. But when he’s released from prison, Nate disappears.
A stark contrast, Catherine Taenia has spent her entire life comfortable and content. The daughter of the King’s Hangman and in love with Thom, Nate’s younger brother, her life has always been easy, ordered and comfortable. That is, where it doesn’t concern Nate. His actions sullied not only his future, but theirs. And unlike Thom, Catherine has never forgiven him.
Two years pass without a word, and then one night Nate returns. But things with Nate are never simple, and when one wrong move turns their lives upside down, the only thing left to do is run where the King’s guards cannot find them – the Outlands. Those wild, untamed lands which stretch around the great walls of the Kingdom, filled with mutants and rabids.
Review: For the most part this was a great book. I really liked the world building in this book and it was a super fun book to read. The character development was also well done and the plot kept me intrigued throughout the whole time.
However, I had such issues getting into the book. The book was so slow in the beginning and throughout the book it was just really hard to get into.
Verdict: It was an interesting read!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: How To Live on the Edge
Author: Sarah Lynn Scheerger
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: contemporary
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, very dangerous activities that can get you killed, language, cancer TW)
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Pages: 312
Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Cayenne barely remembers her mother, who died of breast cancer when Cayenne was four. The women in her family have a history of dying young. Cayenne figures she'll meet the same fate, so she might as well enjoy life now, engaging in death-defying risks like dodging trains and jumping off cliffs with her boyfriend.
When Cayenne receives a series of video messages her mother made for her before dying, she isn't sure she wants them. Her aunt Tee has been her true mother figure. But then Aunt Tee tests positive for a BRCA gene mutation--the one that doomed Cayenne's mom--and decides to get a mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing cancer. As Cayenne helps her aunt prepare for the surgery, she finds herself drawn to her mother's messages, with their musings on life, love, and perseverance. For the first time, Cayenne starts to question what it truly means to live life to the fullest, even when death might be written into her DNA.
Review: For the most part this was a well done book. The book has a very interesting story and it’s very informational. You can tell the author is very informed and passionate about learning and teaching about the BRCA gene, which is the gene that causes cancer. The book has great pacing as well.
However, I don’t think the characters are well developed in this book and it was really hard to understand the motives of Cayenne. The book also doesn’t have great world building.
Verdict: It was a good book!
Book: How To Live on the Edge
Author: Sarah Lynn Scheerger
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: contemporary
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, very dangerous activities that can get you killed, language, cancer TW)
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Pages: 312
Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Cayenne barely remembers her mother, who died of breast cancer when Cayenne was four. The women in her family have a history of dying young. Cayenne figures she'll meet the same fate, so she might as well enjoy life now, engaging in death-defying risks like dodging trains and jumping off cliffs with her boyfriend.
When Cayenne receives a series of video messages her mother made for her before dying, she isn't sure she wants them. Her aunt Tee has been her true mother figure. But then Aunt Tee tests positive for a BRCA gene mutation--the one that doomed Cayenne's mom--and decides to get a mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing cancer. As Cayenne helps her aunt prepare for the surgery, she finds herself drawn to her mother's messages, with their musings on life, love, and perseverance. For the first time, Cayenne starts to question what it truly means to live life to the fullest, even when death might be written into her DNA.
Review: For the most part this was a well done book. The book has a very interesting story and it’s very informational. You can tell the author is very informed and passionate about learning and teaching about the BRCA gene, which is the gene that causes cancer. The book has great pacing as well.
However, I don’t think the characters are well developed in this book and it was really hard to understand the motives of Cayenne. The book also doesn’t have great world building.
Verdict: It was a good book!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Lobizona
Author: Romina Garber
Book Series: Wolves of No World Book 1
Diversity: Argentina characters, lesbian couple
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Werewolves, witches, other planets, Argentinian characters And lore
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, drugging, drugs mentioned, rape mention)
Synopsis: Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.
Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.
Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past--a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong.
As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it's her entire existence.
Review: Overall, I thought the book was amazing. I loved the mythology and lore of Lobizones and Brujas (werewolves and witches basically). I liked how the author intermingled issues of ICE into this story and also sexism. The book had a well done story arc and plot and I loved the world building. Other things of note are that the book addresses sexism and homophobia and the menstrual cycle is important to the storyline.
However, I did think the pacing was a bit too fast for me and I think the book had a lot of characters that weren't fully developed.
Verdict: Recommended read! I can't wait for the next one!!
Book: Lobizona
Author: Romina Garber
Book Series: Wolves of No World Book 1
Diversity: Argentina characters, lesbian couple
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Werewolves, witches, other planets, Argentinian characters And lore
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, drugging, drugs mentioned, rape mention)
Synopsis: Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.
Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.
Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past--a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong.
As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it's her entire existence.
Review: Overall, I thought the book was amazing. I loved the mythology and lore of Lobizones and Brujas (werewolves and witches basically). I liked how the author intermingled issues of ICE into this story and also sexism. The book had a well done story arc and plot and I loved the world building. Other things of note are that the book addresses sexism and homophobia and the menstrual cycle is important to the storyline.
However, I did think the pacing was a bit too fast for me and I think the book had a lot of characters that weren't fully developed.
Verdict: Recommended read! I can't wait for the next one!!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: This Little Light
Author: Lori Lansens
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian, feminist, cults, like The Handmaid’s Tale
Publication Date: January 1, 2019
Genre: YA Dystopian/Feminist
Recommended Age: 16+ (rape TW, sexual content, sexism, violence, gore)
Publisher: Random House Canada
Pages: 257
Synopsis: Taking place over 48 hours in the year 2023, this is the story of Rory Ann Miller, on the run with her best friend because they are accused of bombing their posh Californian high school during an American Virtue Ball. There's a bounty on their heads, and a social media storm of trolls flying around them, not to mention a posse of law enforcement, attack helicopters and drones trying to track them down. Rory's mom, a social activist and lawyer, has been arrested and implicated in her daughter's "crimes" whereas her dad (who betrayed his wife and daughter in a nasty divorce) is cooperating with the authorities. The story exists in a universe of gated communities, born-again Christians, Probationary Citizens (once known as "Dreamers"), re-criminalized abortion and birth control, teenage virginity oaths and something called the Red Market, which is either a Conservative bogey-man created to further polarize the "base" or a criminal network making money from selling unwanted babies to whomever wants them and fetal tissue to cosmetics and drug companies.
Rory is cynical and scared, furious and scathing, betrayed and looking for something or someone to trust. What she has to say about the dads and bosses and politicians lining up to keep women in their place, and about the ways women collaborate in their own undermining, is fierce, and funny, and sad, and true.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. I liked the dystopian vibes and I liked how the book took inspiration from The Handmaid’s Tale. The book did well to talk about feminism, sexism, cults, and rape culture. The book was written well for the most part and the book kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
However, the book rambles on and on so much. It suffers a little from what I dubbed Stephen King syndrome (where you get stuck on a topic for a few pages). The book is very hard to make your way through it when the “rambles” happen and while it’s a great book with an interesting story, I wish that the rambles had been edited down a bit. It distracts from the rest of the story in my opinion, BUT it is very true to the voice of the character.
Verdict: It’s a good book, just a bit rambly.
Book: This Little Light
Author: Lori Lansens
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian, feminist, cults, like The Handmaid’s Tale
Publication Date: January 1, 2019
Genre: YA Dystopian/Feminist
Recommended Age: 16+ (rape TW, sexual content, sexism, violence, gore)
Publisher: Random House Canada
Pages: 257
Synopsis: Taking place over 48 hours in the year 2023, this is the story of Rory Ann Miller, on the run with her best friend because they are accused of bombing their posh Californian high school during an American Virtue Ball. There's a bounty on their heads, and a social media storm of trolls flying around them, not to mention a posse of law enforcement, attack helicopters and drones trying to track them down. Rory's mom, a social activist and lawyer, has been arrested and implicated in her daughter's "crimes" whereas her dad (who betrayed his wife and daughter in a nasty divorce) is cooperating with the authorities. The story exists in a universe of gated communities, born-again Christians, Probationary Citizens (once known as "Dreamers"), re-criminalized abortion and birth control, teenage virginity oaths and something called the Red Market, which is either a Conservative bogey-man created to further polarize the "base" or a criminal network making money from selling unwanted babies to whomever wants them and fetal tissue to cosmetics and drug companies.
Rory is cynical and scared, furious and scathing, betrayed and looking for something or someone to trust. What she has to say about the dads and bosses and politicians lining up to keep women in their place, and about the ways women collaborate in their own undermining, is fierce, and funny, and sad, and true.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. I liked the dystopian vibes and I liked how the book took inspiration from The Handmaid’s Tale. The book did well to talk about feminism, sexism, cults, and rape culture. The book was written well for the most part and the book kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
However, the book rambles on and on so much. It suffers a little from what I dubbed Stephen King syndrome (where you get stuck on a topic for a few pages). The book is very hard to make your way through it when the “rambles” happen and while it’s a great book with an interesting story, I wish that the rambles had been edited down a bit. It distracts from the rest of the story in my opinion, BUT it is very true to the voice of the character.
Verdict: It’s a good book, just a bit rambly.
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher and I would love to pass it onto an ownvoice reader. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: His Only Wife
Author: Peace Adzo Medie
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Ghanaian ownvoice characters!
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, women’s fiction, chick lit
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content)
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Afi Tekple is a young seamstress whose life is narrowing rapidly. She lives in a small town in Ghana with her widowed mother, spending much of her time in her uncle Pious’s house with his many wives and children. Then one day she is offered a life-changing opportunity—a proposal of marriage from the wealthy family of Elikem Ganyo, a man she doesn’t truly know. She acquiesces, but soon realizes that Elikem is not quite the catch he seemed. He sends a stand-in to his own wedding, and only weeks after Afi is married and installed in a plush apartment in the capital city of Accra does she meet her new husband. It turns out that he is in love with another woman, whom his family disapproves of; Afi is supposed to win him back on their behalf. But it is Accra that eventually wins Afi’s heart and gives her a life of independence that she never could have imagined for herself.
Review: Overall, I thought this was a well done book! I loved the characters and the story was entertaining. I also loved learning about the Ghanaian culture and I think the pacing was also well done as well.
The only issue I really had was that the ending was unexpected and I think a sequel would be great!
Verdict: It’s a great story! Highly recommend!
Book: His Only Wife
Author: Peace Adzo Medie
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Ghanaian ownvoice characters!
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, women’s fiction, chick lit
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content)
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Afi Tekple is a young seamstress whose life is narrowing rapidly. She lives in a small town in Ghana with her widowed mother, spending much of her time in her uncle Pious’s house with his many wives and children. Then one day she is offered a life-changing opportunity—a proposal of marriage from the wealthy family of Elikem Ganyo, a man she doesn’t truly know. She acquiesces, but soon realizes that Elikem is not quite the catch he seemed. He sends a stand-in to his own wedding, and only weeks after Afi is married and installed in a plush apartment in the capital city of Accra does she meet her new husband. It turns out that he is in love with another woman, whom his family disapproves of; Afi is supposed to win him back on their behalf. But it is Accra that eventually wins Afi’s heart and gives her a life of independence that she never could have imagined for herself.
Review: Overall, I thought this was a well done book! I loved the characters and the story was entertaining. I also loved learning about the Ghanaian culture and I think the pacing was also well done as well.
The only issue I really had was that the ending was unexpected and I think a sequel would be great!
Verdict: It’s a great story! Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors and buy diversely!
Book: You Should See Me In A Crown
Author: Leah Johnson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black lesbian MC, lesbian love interest, sapphic read, anxiety rep in MC, 2 characters with sickle cell
Recommended For...: contemporary, LGBT+, prom reads
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 14+ (slight sexual content, racism, homophobia, bullying TW, death)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 328
Synopsis: Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.
But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.
The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?
Review: Oh my goodness this book was absolutely amazing! I loved Liz and I immediately fell in love with her. The book was well written and it talked about the issues children face today, mainly that college is too expensive and that scholarships and grants have become lottery like. The book addresses homophobia that is still in schools, mainly in terms of prom. Most schools do not allow for same sex couples to attend together, disallow female presenting people to wear tuxes and male presenting people to wear dresses, and disallow female presenting people to run for king and male presenting to run for queen. The book also showed racism through the main antagonist and in how people talked about Liz’s natural hair. I also loved that the book talked about sickle cell, had two characters with sickle cell, and had an anxiety rep. The romance between Liz and Mack was so cute and I loved both of them.
The only issue I had with the book is that the main antagonist wasn’t properly punished. It sadly reflects the real world, but I wanted her racist homophobic ass to suffer so much.
Verdict: Highly recommended read!
Book: You Should See Me In A Crown
Author: Leah Johnson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black lesbian MC, lesbian love interest, sapphic read, anxiety rep in MC, 2 characters with sickle cell
Recommended For...: contemporary, LGBT+, prom reads
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 14+ (slight sexual content, racism, homophobia, bullying TW, death)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 328
Synopsis: Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.
But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.
The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?
Review: Oh my goodness this book was absolutely amazing! I loved Liz and I immediately fell in love with her. The book was well written and it talked about the issues children face today, mainly that college is too expensive and that scholarships and grants have become lottery like. The book addresses homophobia that is still in schools, mainly in terms of prom. Most schools do not allow for same sex couples to attend together, disallow female presenting people to wear tuxes and male presenting people to wear dresses, and disallow female presenting people to run for king and male presenting to run for queen. The book also showed racism through the main antagonist and in how people talked about Liz’s natural hair. I also loved that the book talked about sickle cell, had two characters with sickle cell, and had an anxiety rep. The romance between Liz and Mack was so cute and I loved both of them.
The only issue I had with the book is that the main antagonist wasn’t properly punished. It sadly reflects the real world, but I wanted her racist homophobic ass to suffer so much.
Verdict: Highly recommended read!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Fable
Author: Adrienne Young
Book Series: Fable Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT side characters
Recommended For...: pirate fans, LGBT, insta love
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, gore, drinking, murder, death, romance, sexual content)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 368
Synopsis: As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.
Review: I really loved this book! I thought it was very different from Adrienne Young's other books and I loved that. The book had some great moments, strong character development for main characters, and tons of world building.
However, I do think that some of the other side characters in the book could have been better developed. They existed for the plot and I wanted to know more about them.
Verdict: Highly recommend this pirate-like book!
Book: Fable
Author: Adrienne Young
Book Series: Fable Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT side characters
Recommended For...: pirate fans, LGBT, insta love
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, gore, drinking, murder, death, romance, sexual content)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 368
Synopsis: As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.
Review: I really loved this book! I thought it was very different from Adrienne Young's other books and I loved that. The book had some great moments, strong character development for main characters, and tons of world building.
However, I do think that some of the other side characters in the book could have been better developed. They existed for the plot and I wanted to know more about them.
Verdict: Highly recommend this pirate-like book!