Reviews by takarakeireads | The StoryGraph

632 reviews by:

takarakeireads

The Charm Offensive

Alison Cochrun

4.5

emotional funny 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

MLM
dual POV
Reality tv (Bachelor-like) setting
amazing LGBTQIA+ rep
phenomenal mental health rep

THIS WAS SO STINKIN' CUTE!!! I'm honestly obsessed! Charlie and Dev have my heart forever. A MUST for anyone who watches reality tv shows it was such a fun take on that setting. (I don't watch them, and still loved this, so really it's for any queer romcom fans!). I really enjoyed both Dev and Charlie's journey through self-discovery, finding their identities and mental well-being.
Ok one caveat with the audiobook is that the narrator *kinda* makes it sounds like Dev's name is Dave (Dev is just pronounced D-ay-v) - so I just had to mentally picture 'Dev' every time.

3/5🌶️

Content Warnings

Mortal Follies

Alexis Hall

DID NOT FINISH: 38%

I didn’t see the purpose of the outside narrator, not enough backstory was given so I was just confused by their interjections and they often just took me out of the story. Generally it was moving a bit too slow, and while I did get a bit mildly interested once it became clear what the main plot/conflict was, it still was not attention keeping enough. The romance wasn’t really selling me either. Possibly on audio it might be a bit more interesting but I just wasn’t invested enough in the outcome of the characters.

Jade Legacy

Fonda Lee

5.0

adventurous emotional 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

FONDA LEE I AM IN YOUR WALLS. GOOD GODS.

This is quite possibly the best series end book I've read. Fonda is a true master of political intrigue and character development. I was sobbing. I am in awe. It's worth every one of the 700 pages.

Content Warnings

Felix Ever After

Kacen Callender

4.0

emotional hopeful 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 really loved Felix's journey to finding his/their identity, one which I know many people will likely see themselves in. I also liked that I thought I knew where this book was going (romance wise) and I actually didn't! There are some beautiful scenes of pure queer joy towards the end that had me teary eyed.

Content Warnings

A Lesson in Vengeance

Victoria Lee

3.0

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I wished this was more dark academia, which to me is a critique of academic institutions. I didn't really feel like this book critiqued boarding schools - it just talked about the dark history of this particular one. It's kinda hard to say a lot more about this book without spoilers because it's very mysterious. Definitely there's a lot of 'you don't know who to trust'. Sapphic. I think there was a lot of potential here, but it didn't quite hit it out of the park for me. I'm also not a thriller person so take that how you will, but I have read other YA thrillers that I liked more.

In the end there not being any magic was not where I wanted it to go. But I guess it's not fantasy tagged so maybe that was the giveaway? But 'witchcraft' is literally also used in the description, so...

Content Warnings

The Priory of the Orange Tree

Samantha Shannon

4.5

adventurous 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

EPIC fantasy
sapphic slow burn
dragons
fate/destiny
battle against 'evil'

I honestly highly recommend reading A Day of Fallen Night first if you haven't. I believe SS recommends that you try and it does make ADOFN a bit of an uphill struggle with all the world building, but it pays off when you get to TPOTOT and you're just breezing on through (well... it's easier at least)!

My biggest critique of this book is the Niclays POV - I just did not care enough about him as a character and I felt his was the weakest POV and that side of the story could have been told differently. Also slight pacing issues as the end feels a bit rushed and doesn't match the pace of the rest of the book.

Content Warnings

The Romantic Agenda

Claire Kann

3.5

lighthearted 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

ACE main character(s)
MC is in love with her bff
kind of a blind date set up (sort of)

It was actually interesting to read a nonfiction book about ACE representation (by Angela Chen) at the same time of reading this. I think that really informed my own ability to understand Joy as a main character. This book reminded me of that movie 27 dresses (only in the like pining after someone kind of off limits and then falling for someone unexpected). The pining over Joy's bff was a bit much at times, and while I did really like the eventual ending it felt a bit convoluted. I cannot speak to the ACE representation myself and if it was done well (and every ACE person's experience is unique), but there were many things echoed from the nonfiction read in this book, so it seemed well done to me...

3/5🌶️

Content Warnings

Freshwater

Akwaeke Emezi

DID NOT FINISH: 52%

I am sad to DNF this. I have read 3 other (newer) of Emezi’s books which I think are much better or at least were more attention holding for me. This one just wasn’t really my style and I could not get into it. Again it saddens me cause I’ve really enjoyed their other books, so I def recommend PET and their memoir Dear Senthuran !! And I will continue to read their other books

Content Warnings

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex

Angela Chen

4.5

informative medium-paced

I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. This is a fascinating examination of our wider (mostly American) culture, and how sex obsessed it is. As someone who is alo (not ace), there was so much I gained from listening. I really enjoyed the intersectionality of acephobia and homophobia, racism, ableism, transphobia - basically the oppression of all marginalized groups.

Content Warnings

The Whispering Dark

Kelly Andrew

4.5

dark mysterious 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

(reread) tbh the audio narration was just ok (no difference between POV voices) BUT I love this book so, just read a physical copy!

The ROMANCE *screams*
Deaf MC
Dark academia
A little spooky
A lot mysterious
Dual POV

My original review:
This book will keep you on questioning everything until the end it's super mysterious. You're gonna be like "wtf is going on" for 80% of the book, but in the best way possible.

THE ROMANCE.
What are these YA Fantasy Romance authors doing to me???? I have *feelings* How do they keep everything so PG but I am sweating?! IT'S SO GOOD.

Protect Colton at all costs. That is all.

If you're a fan of: Belladonna by Adalyn Grace (new adult) or Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (NOT YA) I think you'll really enjoy this.

IDK where to even put the spice cause it's completely 'closed door' if anything even really happens it's vague in the most beautiful way. So 1.5-2/5 🌶️??

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