sunshinestark's Reviews (376)

Bethany C. Morrow gives a story that is both fantastical and rooted in the harsh reality of the #SayHerName movement with A Song Below Water. 

In a world where Black girls and women are routinely pushed to the side when it comes to talking about police brutality and the overall injustices Black people endure, things are worse because the feared supernatural beings known as sirens also happen to be Black. Tavia is one such siren, forced to conceal her identity lest it give the public reason to say "she got what she deserved" if she were ever to fall victim to violence. This becomes even more important when a woman who was recently murdered is revealed to be a siren and the public turns against her, siding with the man who took her life. As Tavia navigates these increasingly dangerous waters, her adopted sister Effie is forced to embark on a journey of self-discovery to find out who, and what, she really is. Together they find the strength to face hardships and come out the other side stronger than ever.

Liz Lighty lives in a small town and is need of a scholarship for college. The plan? Run for Prom Queen and win. Only that's not as easy as some people might think. Liz has always drawn away from the spotlight and isn't a typical candidate for her high school's royal court. But not wanting to put more financial burden on her grandparents, especially with a brother who is chronically ill with sickle cell, Liz decides to brave the waters and put herself out there. What she doesn't expect is to fall hard for a fellow Prom Queen candidate, or for it to be the beginning of a journey to let her true self finally shine.

Leah Johnson gives us a wonderfully written queer romance mixed with a story that shows the importance of friends and family. Anyone who wants a good dose of fun, and a happily ever after, will want to read this. It's definitely my favorite book I've read so far in 2020.

Talia Hibbert hits it out of the park once again with Take a Hint, Dani Brown! Much like Chloe's story, her sister Dani's has the same wit and fantastic writing from the very first page. Fans of fake dating can rejoice at getting to see Dani and her coworker Zafir mutually pine over each other as they pretend to date after a video of them goes viral and assumptions about their relationship are made. 

Perfect for anyone who is new to roller derby, just like Astrid. Dive into the world along with her as she learns about the sport, finds her place among new teammates, and struggles with old friendships all while finding the personal strength to persevere even when it might be easier to quit.

Having read nearly all of Alyssa Cole's novels and novellas, I knew to expect great things from the first in her Loyal League series and wasn't disappointed.

An Extraordinary Union is filled with both romance and the harsh realities of the Civil War era, this is a wonderful story about the sacrifices we must make in order to help our country not fall into the hands of those who would uplift racism and of embracing love, even if others disapprove or it's dangerous.  

I'm constantly looking for books that reinforce the idea that fat is not a bad word. Faith: Taking Flight is one of those books. Faith Herbert is a hero who knows her own value and hasn't let society's expectations (and prejudices) limit her aspirations. It's simply a bonus she also has superpowers! This book is great for anyone new to Faith, or for those who already know her from her comics it's a fun origin story. 

Spinning Silver perfectly captures the magic infused in fairytales of old, whether it's in the world of the humans or that of the cold, unyielding Staryk, all while deftly weaving supernatural threats with those that come from our world: greed, antisemitism, poverty, and more. Having never read Naomi Novik's work before, this has made me want to devour everything she's written as fast as possible.   

Fans of Heartless by Marissa Meyer will enjoy this dark, sapphic take on Sleeping Beauty that allows its characters to be deeply flawed and not fit neatly into the boxes of hero and villain.  Follow the journey of Alyce, a sorceress descended from the same magical beings that cursed the Briar throne's daughters to die on their twenty-first birthdays if they haven't been given true love's kiss. All her life Alyce has been told she is evil, capable of only destruction, but when she meets Aurora, the crown princess and only living heir left in Briar, she begins to question that. Amid terrible betrayals, Alyce fights to overcome the darkness of her heritage in order to save herself, Aurora, and the kingdom of Briar itself.  

Alyssa Cole has long been among my favorite romance authors. Naturally my excitement over seeing her dip her toes into the thriller waters was overwhelming. Just like I knew she would, she hit the ball way out of the park. When No One is Watching is a chilling look at gentrification, racism, and the parties complicit in inflicting violence on Black people in the United States. I can't wait to see what other thrillers she might have in the works.  

When a Scot Ties the Knot is as hilarious as it is romantic. For years Maddie sent letters to a Scottish suitor she'd made up until one day she decided to write him out of the story by killing him off. Then, years later, a real man with the same name as her fictional suitor shows up at her doorstep, revealing he wound up receiving each and every one of her letters. As they navigate a marriage of convenience, each for different reasons, they go from strangers to something more.