shereadytoread's Reviews (806)

This book is a very personal look at a path to body liberation and what dismantling diet culture in our own lives can look like. In addition to memoir and information it provides personal exercises to complete as well as simple guides to steps you can take. The book doesn’t dismiss the difficulty of divorcing ourselves from systems and concepts that are ingrained in us from a young age, but encourages small, purposeful and decisive action. 

Disclaimer: I received a gifted ARC and finished copy from the publisher. 

The Evidence of Things Not Seen by James Baldwin is a analysis of the crimes now known as “The Atlanta Child Murders” and the scene for this period set by failed integration. I am planning to do an annotated reread this summer!

This book was such a good reflection of the intersection of identity with crime and the legal section (both as a victim and perpetrator). He also offers general reflections on identity and history of black people in the city. 

As a confessed “outsider” who isn’t from the south, he offers specific and astute observations of the victims, their families, the treatment of the crimes and the legal process.

Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy from the publisher

This is a historical piece of magical realism that focuses on identity, sacrifice and power in golden age Hollywood. Our main character takes on a persona to become a star and has to navigate difficult sacrifices as she tries to explore her own identity without losing herself to the studio. 

This was a fun little horror about social class and privilege. The artwork is great. The story is such that if you pull at a thread, it falls apart a bit, but it helps itself by not over-explaining what is happening. The character is believable and fun with villains you love to hate.

This was a book that worked until the last 15% of the book. It tries to comment on socio-economic inequity but doesn't really say anything. The pattern of deaths remains unresolved and the main character doesn't even solve the mystery herself. It felt like it was really building to something and then all fell apart. 

Disclaimer: I received a gifted finished copy from the publisher. 

This book is a fun sequel that is much more action packed than the first book, but feels like it’s more focused on the fighting than the relationships that were so vital to the first book. Definitely worth reading to finish the duology.

This book was such a fun read! Great humor, and interesting premise and characters that you can’t help but love. I mean you have to love your friends a lot to risk alien abduction! 

This book has some excellent mental health and disability rep along with queer representation. See below: 

Rep: Bisexual female MC that has anxiety and ADHD and uses mobility aid. Black lesbian, gender-fluid and nonbinary side characters.

This book is good but you can tell her newer books are more polished. The supernatural and romance elements are a bit heavy handed to the point that the story feels disjointed instead of flowing with the mystery. But overall it is interesting with a couple good plot twists.

This was an easy YA urban fic with a big cast and a lot of action. I think the action scenes were pretty well done and some of my favorites in the book.

This book lays out overlapping plot lines and a large cast (5 MCs, 3 older supporting characters plus siblings and parents of the MCs which have their own personalities). I think it was a tiny bit too much for a rather short book and so there isn't as much development for any of the characters because they are almost always together and we are constantly switching between characters. The fantastical elements are rather simple, and presented as a straightforward mission to stop an evil character from acquiring the powers the MCs have acquired. 

I read a lot of YA, but it seemed like the characters were all written very young. The MCs are juniors and seniors but read more like 7-8th graders and the younger siblings are middle schoolers (I think) but read as elementary age kids. The dialogue was a little jilted because of that. 

Disclaimer: I received a free finished copy.