theelizabethjoy's Reviews (527)

The Never King

Nikki St. Crowe

5.0

challenging dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Very dirty, nearly porn without plot BUT there is plot! A dark and gritty retelling of Peter Pan with sex, drugs, and violence. Not for the faint of heart.

Witch Please

Ann Aguirre

4.75

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Adorable! The resolution was not was I expected but a fun "twist".

Yerba Buena

Nina LaCour

4.5

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

Sorry, Bro

Taleen Voskuni

4.5

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I'll be honest and say that I was worried about this book because I peaked at some reviews before I started. But this book resonated with me hard. I may not be Armenian but I did grow up in a conservative Christian home with parents who continually said "Love the sinner, Hate the sin" in regards to gay people AND I have had crushes on girls and boys since I was 5. I still haven't come out to my parents, about anything: I'm pansexual, polyamorous, and pagan but they don't know. I absolutely relate to everything Nar was feeling about coming out and can perfectly understand not wanting to rush it in anyway.

Its still hard to come out as queer in many societal circles, even dangerous for some in 2024 and she didn't want to shame her family despite hating the idea of it. She shouldn't have lied about the almost-engagement but I can't fault her in trying to stay in the good graces of her family. I am immensely glad that we got a happy ending since for a bit I wasn't sure we were.

A Dash of Salt and Pepper

Kosoko Jackson

3.75

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Xavier acted like a child throughout the entire book. As someone closer to Logan's age than Xavier's I was annoyed by him.

I was really hoping that Xavier would still go to Berlin, they could work on getting to know each other long-distance, while X worked towards his life-time goal; he could have still ended up in the Cove AND with L but I think I would have enjoyed the ending a lot more.