How many Asian actors did you see on the cover of Vanity Fair’s latest Rising Young Hollywood issue? When’s the last time you saw an Asian actor ca
How many Asian actors did you see on the cover of Vanity Fair’s latest Rising Young Hollywood issue? When’s the last time you saw an Asian actor carry a movie that wasn’t about martial arts? My only shot at being in a rom-com is getting thirty seconds of one of those massive ensemble things like… St. Patrick’s Day. So, yeah, it’s hard for me, and I really don’t need anything making it harder.
I requested this arc from the publisher mostly because I'd heard the main f/f romance is really cute and fluffy which is definitely is. Under the Lights revolves around a group of young people in Hollywood and is split between chapters about Josh Chester, a bad boy player born into the Hollywood life and Vanessa Park, a Korean-American actress who finds herself falling for another girl.
I have to say I was much more invested in Vanessa's storyline than Josh's. Josh is a Hollywood bad boy and his arc is essentially him becoming less of a shit person. His character annoyed me so much and I don't think I ever felt he was redeemed. Calling Vanessa K-Drama was never called out and no one ever commented on it even though Vanessa says she doesn't like it at the beginning. It annoyed me every time I had to read it. He also made so many misogynistic comments. While I did hate him less at the end, I definitely don't think his growth made up for all the beginning.
However, I enjoyed Vanessa's storyline so much more. Vanessa is an actress on a teen drama who finds herself falling for a girl called Brianna. I thought the romance between the to girls was so cute and well done. There is instant chemistry and their interactions are sweet and fulfilling. I really liked how their relationship was slow burn and had a big focus on consent.
Under the Lights delves into many issues including representation in Hollywood and coming to terms with sexuality. I think these issues were definitely explored well with care and nuance. Vanessa's struggle to make it as a Korean actress, compared to Josh and Liam who are white is explored throughout the book and later what it means to be lgbt+ in Hollywood is also explored, as well as intersectionality.
I really enjoyed Vanessa's coming out arc and how her sexuality was dealt with. The exploration of how sexuality can be fluid and you can discover you aren't hetero at any age was really nice. I also think the sex scenes were so well written. They were tender and sweet without being overly vague, and they weren't cringey which was great. Brianna was also really good bi rep and I particularly liked this quote
“Like boys all you want, Park. It still won't fix this. I'm bi and I promise you, it's not a fucking light switch. You can't just set it on 'boy' because it's inconvenient that you like a girl right now.”
My one real big complaint about this book is that there are WAY too many characters introduced at first and it's soo confusing for a while.
But overall, I think this book was really fun. It delves into serious issues while having a fun "Hollywood drama" type plot line. I don't read Hollywood books, pretty much ever, so this was nice. I also liked that it was New Adult as that is a genre that appeals to me a lot as a 19 year old. I definitely recommend for a fluffy f/f romance and a fun Hollywood centric read. (Also, even though this is book 2 in the series you don't need to read book one. I didn't and it made perfect sense)
tw: misogynistic comments, racist and lesbophobic comments...more
“The land is old, the land is vast, he has no future, he has no past, his coat is sewn with many woes, he'll br
REREAD 2020 i lov my bitches so much
“The land is old, the land is vast, he has no future, he has no past, his coat is sewn with many woes, he'll bring the dead, the King of Crows.”
okay I love this series so much and just thinking about how it could be 2 years until the finale comes out makes me want to check out and live in a cave and this was me favourite of the series, which is an unpopular opinion. But oh my GOD the payoff !! the character development !! the threads coming together !! THE PLOT THICKENED THE FUCK UP AND I LOVE IT
So I've already explained why y'all should read this series in my review of both The Diviners and Lair of Dreams. BUT IM GONNA DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE THIS SERIES IS UNDERRATED AND DESERVES BETTER.
“Before the Devil breaks you, first he will make you love him.”
so what is this series about? a group of unique teenagers who unique powers. who become super involved in occult things accidentally. there's demons and ghosts (that are trying to kill people). and it's all set in 1920's america (YES, there's an abundance of flappers, bootlegged gin and jazz age slang) im sorry did you just hear me say it's a ensemble cast of superpowered kids who hunt demons and ghosts IN THE ROARING TWENTIES how does that premise NOT SELL YOU. But also, Libba Bray is sure to remove her rose-tinted glasses when writing the setting. She examines prohibition, Jim Crow laws, the eugenics movement, the resurgence of the KKK, segregation, poverty, racism, police brutality, gang crime and more. And doing so makes this book, overall, so much better. It's much more well rounded, and depicts America as it IS, not as it would have you think it is.
okay so the best thing is the characters. Evie, a flapper with a drinking problem who's a bit of a mess, but has a good heart. Memphis a black boy from Harlem who just wants to be a poet. Mabel Evie's best friend, who's overshadowed by her famous socialist parents. Theta a girl with a mysterious past who wants to be an actress her roommate Henry who's just trying to write songs and live his best gay life. Ling, a Chinese, lesbian-asexual girl with a disability who's trying to make it in Chinatown. Sam a jewish boy from Russia who'd do anything to find his missing mother Jericho an ex-soldier with a dangerous secret.
and I love them all SO MUCH. Seriously, if you love character driven stories, or just stories where the characters are really, really well fleshed out YOU'LL LOVE THIS BOOK. Also, they're all SO FUCKING FUNNY. The banter is amazing! Especially between Sam and .. well anyone. But all of them have awesome one liners and quips and things and oh my gOD I just love them all as a group so much.
“But isn’t that strange and wonderful unpredictability part of humanity? Aren’t all of our differences what already make us a great nation?”
so some thoughts about this book specifically I pretty much enjoyed every single second of this. I LOVE how Libba Bray just feeds us bits and pieces of the puzzle, it made trying to piece the whole thing together so fun and I'M STILL UNSURE WHAT TO THINK.
And I just LOVE how many different plots and subplots are tackled, it keeps it so interesting. the scope is truly impressive. I adored every.single.subplot. Mabel's story? LOVE! Memphis and Blind Bill? INCREDIBLE. Theta and Roy? AMAZING. Jericho at the mansion? ENTHRALLING.
This book shattered my emotions too many damn times. ESPECIALLY THE ROMANCE. and listen, I complain about book romances literally non-stop because they usually let me down. BUT THIS HAD ME SQUEALING LIKE A BABY. Seriously, everyone is too sweet and I want them to be happy. I literally said (screamed) "oh my goodddd they're so cuteeeeee in my car while listening to this AND THAT SAYS A LOT. I love these romances and that makes me so happy because I never do!
One thing I really loved as well as the SEX SCENES. Which I guess is a weird thing to pick out, but they were just written so, so well. They were so tender and sweet, and kind of awkward but in a good, realistic way. And I just think they were done so well. I'm gonna cry thinking about it.
Okay, but can we also talk about how CREEPY THIS IS. The basement scene??? ruined my life. The scene where you know who appeared to them. Ruined my life again. Libba Bray needs to, stop. FINALLY, WHY IS THIS BOOK SO DEVASTATING. Okay, I damn yelled/whined NOOO when something happened and oh my god, this book seriously destroyed my entire soul like fifty times I'm so upset. AND CONCERNED FOR BOOK FOUR. SO CONCERNED.
“If I have to look through one more of these, I’m throwing myself off that balcony,” he moaned. “Let me know if you need help,” Jericho said.”
Okay, I'm sorry this is so rambly. I'm so emotional I love my kids so much. And I'm literally desperate for book four (@LibbaBray if you're reading this .... DM me how much cash for the book 4 draft ... I'll send it)
ANYWAY I MADE A POST WITH THEORIES FOR BOOK FOUR SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT CLICK HERE...more
I read this is an afternoon so that was fun. this felt like it needed to be more epic and then start was too lengthy compared to the middle and end buI read this is an afternoon so that was fun. this felt like it needed to be more epic and then start was too lengthy compared to the middle and end but what the heck it was a pleasant few hours ...more
"And that's the thing, life is sometimes just another day, and sometimes it's moment after moment after moment that only paralyzes you if you let i
"And that's the thing, life is sometimes just another day, and sometimes it's moment after moment after moment that only paralyzes you if you let it."
no offense but this was so cute and my cold dead heart wasn't ready to so violently care about these angsty jocks I mean !! Sebastian, a bi disaster really going out there and Doing That, just snatching himself up a man over summer camp? Iconic!
So Running With Lions basically follows a team called The Lions who are at their summer sports camp. The main character Sebastian, wants to make captain but is blindsided by the new addition to the team - former best friend Emir Shah, who's terrible attitude has Sebastian wondering where their friendship went wrong. Whilst struggling to adapt to his new role as captain of the Lions, Sebastian, being the giant gay that he is, also finds himself super attracted to Emir and now he's got double shit to deal with. And it's just SO GOOD FROM THERE.
I seriously loved how cute this was like urgh!!! You know when the couple are so cute you gotta scream into a pillow to contain the feels? thats how I feel about Emir and Sebastian. They're so sweet and I just think they deserve the world. Honestly their whole romance was just pure fun, it had so many cheesy tropes and cliche moments but I LOVED IT. Julian Winters used to be a big fanfic writer and you can tell because it utilises those corny romance tropes so perfectly I love it.
"Why do people let things so precious to them turn into dark, unbearable secrets?"
I also love that this dealt with other issues outside of the romance body positivity and image, bullying, homophobia in sport and so much more came up. Sebastian's arc involving his self-image and his struggle with feeling worthy of being captain was something that really boosted this book from being a romance to something a bit more and I loved that. I also loved the diversity of this book - Sebastian is bi, Emir is a Muslim, Pakistani-American and gay. The team is also made up of two gay boys, one of whom is black.
The relationship between the team was also super well written and I loved these bro's so much. I think showing strong bonds between guys, and how they support eachother in a positive way, is really important. Found family tropes are my favourite and the focus on the team being a found family for all the boys, where they're free to express their sexualities without judgement, really warmed my heart.
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I had two main issues with this book which kept it from being a five star read: the writing, and the treatment of one of the characters.
The writing didn't always work for me, I found some sections a bit awkward and clunky and had to reread some parts to make sure I had it write because the transitions were a bit awkward. Julian Winters writes romance and fluff so well but chapter endings and the filler parts felt a bit messy, and I think you can tell he came from a fanfiction background because the transitions felt like the end of a fanfic chapter.
My other issue was the treatment of the only female character, Grey. Throughout the book her love interest Mason was SO mean to her and it was never really called out properly. And the whole "he's mean to you because he likes you" trope was at play, and I really hate that. I think there needed to be more repercussions for Mason's behaviour toward her and less romanticisation of it.
’You’re beautiful.’ Sebastian rolls his eyes. ‘Guys aren’t-‘ ‘Hey,’ Emir cuts in. ‘Guys are beautiful. And girls are handsome. Words aren’t gender-specific. Don’t be some jerk asshole about this.”
Overall this was so cute and sweet and jfghdf and I enjoyed reading it so much it's one of those books that just drags you in and forces you to be in a good mood feeling all warm and wholesome inside. It's the perfect feel-good sweet read and I just love this team and Emir/Sebastian SO MUCH. I would love a spin off about Grey or Willie! And I would definitely reread this to get all those warm ooey gooey feelings all over again....more
Claim the Throne. Demand the Crown. Rule the World.
I fucking adore this series so much. Sometimes a series just comes along and blows you away, it
Claim the Throne. Demand the Crown. Rule the World.
I fucking adore this series so much. Sometimes a series just comes along and blows you away, it forces you to fall in love with the characters, invest in their lives and eagerly await each new chapter with bated breath because you're so nervous and concerned for all the characters. Those series are literally the best and this series is one of those series.
If you asked me why I love it so much I would tell you this: I love it for it's impeccable character development. I love it for pushing characters to their absolute limits and showing up people who are simultaneously loveable and loathsome. I love it for it's excellent exploration of character dynamics. I love it for it's exploration of history that felt historical enough to be informative but alternative enough to be fun. I love it for representing queer Muslim characters and exploring misogyny and the commodification of women, especially in times of war. I love, a lot of things about this series. And it sure has become one of my favourites of all time.
But if I had to pinpoint just one thing I love the most it's the character workKiersten White is writing this epic historical retelling but shes concerned with people. Although she sets this series with the backdrop of the Ottoman Empires conquests of Europe and the fight for Wallachian Independence, most of it is about how these things effect people, and how people interact with losing their identities and their countries, losing their friends and their family, losing their agency and losing their childhood. Trust me, there's plenty of war, death, blood and bodies, but the core and the soul of this series is in it's characters. The individual characters, and their interactions with eachother, drive this book and for readers who love character driven stories like me that is ideal.
Who was she? She was the dragon. Her country had teeth and claws and fire, and she would use every last bit of them.
🔪 LADA
My relationship with Lada is complicated. I liked her a lot in the first book and disliked her a lot in the second. But in this third one I loved her, the most. Kiersten White stretches her character to it's absolute limits. She's always been an anti-heroine and in Bright We Burn she precariously leans on the edge of anti-heroine and straight up villain. That slight, slight inclination she has, where you know she could just go either way, kept this SO, so interesting. But the thing is, despite everything Lada did, I pitied her so much. This is a girl who's country has been systematically destroyed by an uncaring empire, who's own father betrayed her, who was stripped of her identity, grew up surrounded by enemies and who had to fight tooth and nail for every piece of recognition she got because no one was willing to give her anything. You have to admire her audacity, and the sheer determination that drove her actions throughout this book especially. Ultimately I felt enormous sympathy for her character despite knowing some things she did were Objectively Bad and I think that is a testament to Kiersten White's truly well constructed character construction.
🌻 RADU
I adore Radu and I always have, and I always will. What I love most about him is that his character growth is so consistent but the change in his character is so stark. His character development goes along this trajectory where you can see how he's changing and it's so logical and well written, but when you take a step back and look at the big picture you're really so blown away by how he went from this naive, obsessed and kind of weak character to a strong diplomat and respected figure and turned all that pain and turmoil into kindness. I am the hugest sucker for nice characters and Radu is the Ultimate Nice Character. Radu's arc around understanding that he deserves to be treated well and that he is allowed to forgive himself for some things just really was a lot for me. I just loved it a lot.
MEHMED/RADU/LADA
This three way friendship/relationship triangle has been consistently fascinating to me throughout this whole series and the payoff here is insanely good. With these three there is a weird dependency but it's mixed in with so much resentment. Like, none of them can live without eachother, but all of them can't let eachother live. The building of the tension leading up to their inevitable showdown kept me hanging onto every single word. And I loved how White created that inevitability, like there was no way any of this could end except with the three of them dealing with all their shit. The ending (THAT EPILOGUE) was .. absolutely perfect. And I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Honestly lets just stay on relationships for a minute because I got a few to talk about:
➢ RADU AND LADA:
“Do you think it was him that came between us? Or were we destined to end up on opposite sides?” Lada felt an unfamiliar heaviness behind her eyes. “We had to survive. We just figured out different ways to do it.”
I have always loved the relationship between these two. Lada being both protective and disdainful of Radu is interesting, and that tension that exists wherein Lada perceives Radu as abandoning his identity, and Radu perceives Lada as unable to accept change and recognise defeat is so interesting. Their sibling relationship kills me and the fact that the two of them are so intimately connected even though they hate it is FASCINATING.
➢ MEHMED AND LADA: These two are SO interesting and while there wasn't as much of them as And I Darken it was still enough to keep me happy. The epilogue, again, killed me. I love that Mehmed and Lada recognises eachother as equals whilst detesting the other is their equal. And the admiration for eachother behind opposite enemy lines created such an interesting dynamic.
➢ RADU AND CYPRIAN AND NAZIRA AND FATIMA ... Kiersten White really gave the gays everything they ever wanted with THIS pair up. First off, Nazira and Fatima are sapphic queens who deserve the world. The sheer wholesomeness of their relationship is enough to five star this book alone. Radu and Cyprian are similarly adorable and I'm not gonna lie, their scenes were so soft I wanted to sob. Radu and Nazira are iconic "we're platonically in love" soulmates and second in iconic-ness only to Aled and Frances from Radio Silence who are my children. I love Radu and Nazira's friendship so much and any scene of them teasing eachother and having eachothers back just made me .. so emo. I love them so much.
There was something to be said for having his heart broken so many times. Broken things healed thicker and stronger than they were before. Assuming one survived long enough to heal.
god I could genuinely just talk about this series forever and ever. I love it that much. I've never really fallen in love with historical fiction before, in fact only three times, with The Infernal Devices, The Diviners, and then this. And I Darken is much more of a straight historical fiction, while it reads like fantasy sometimes (another thing I love) it's not got any magic or anything and that isn't something I genuinely go for but I LOVE it so much. Kiersten White thought about everything, the character construction is just incredibly good, the characters are brutal and hard and unbelievably cruel to eachother at times, but there is also so much hope and goodness and happiness in these pages too.
My expectations for this were INSANELY high, because I had it hyped up to me a lot but it actually still managed to exceed my expectations. I feel like, genuinely, every singe word was in the right place here. Kiersten White had her vision and she executed it flawlessly and because of that I will always hold this series in such high regard.
Farewell for now to Lada and Radu and Mehmed and Nazira and Fatima and Cyprian! We went through a lot together folks but I'm sure I will be back for a reread soon. I cannot believe I am so whipped for this series but really, I would die for these murder stabby children without hesitation....more
“And I feel the anger deep inside of me as I begin to understand the notion – the idea of being proud of who you are in a world that tells you to b
“And I feel the anger deep inside of me as I begin to understand the notion – the idea of being proud of who you are in a world that tells you to be ashamed; brave enough to be seen when people wish you were invisible.”
so this cover catfished me into thinking this would be a fluffy f/f contemporary romance and to be honest, it was NOT. If I Tell You follows Alex, a girl living in rural Australia who knows she's a lesbian but doesn't want to come out in her homophobic town. While there is some romance, this book largely follows Alex and her struggle with coming to terms with her sexuality. There are many heavy scenes including repeated scenes of homophobia, use of homophobic slurs and child abuse. At times this book was honestly grim and I think if this wasn't an ownvoices author I would have been much more uncomfortable with these scenes, I am really glad this is written by a lesbian woman.
characters
My biggest issue with this book is probably that I didn't connect to characters as much as I would have liked to. This is a very character driven story and I think I needed more investment in the central characters. The only one I really connected to was Alex, I loved her arc and how she developed through the story. She was a good protagonist to follow and my favourite character
Phoenix I couldn't connect to as much. I think she was kind of a manic pixie dream girl. She was that quirky, cool, larger than life character and I think she mostly just existed to drive forward Alex's arc. Which was annoying. I really wanted her to have more of her own story and now just exist to heal & develop Alex. Also, the thing that happened at chapter 20 was Bad and I didn't like it. (view spoiler)[STOP with the TFIOS plot twists (hide spoiler)]. I didn't feel heartache over Phoenix because I just felt annoyed
The side characters like Van, Lin and Jason were okay. I couldn't really ever absolve Jason and Lin for the things they said at the beginning which made it hard for me to care about them, and I really lied Van but I think some of his plotline went nowhere.
relationship
I didn't really like the relationship as much as I wanted to. I think it was a bit too insta-lovey for me. I didn't really get the chemistry between the two main characters and never really got excited about them. I wanted it to be a bit more slow burn and fluffy. Also, again, the plot twist ruined all my enjoyment.
“Living with the memories you’ve got- and the one’s you’ll never make- is going to hurt, but pain is the privilege of the living.”
Lots of elements of this book didn't really work for me but I still think you could like it if you can handle the homophobia. Personally, I didn't really like the way the author handled the themes but at the same time I will not say it as done badly due to it being ownvoices. It's just not the kind of thing I typically reach for and enjoy reading.
I am really glad this book exists though because queer ownvoices #LoveOzYA books are so rare.
trigger warnings: lesbophobia/homophobia, use of slurs, child abuse/physical assault content warnings: sexual content, terminal illness...more
"If you'd asked me years ago what does love feel like I never would have guessed at our hearts beating, our chests heaving, and the unbearable ache
"If you'd asked me years ago what does love feel like I never would have guessed at our hearts beating, our chests heaving, and the unbearable ache of you leaving. Our hearts beating, our chests heaving, and the unbearable ache of you leaving"
listen, I'm gonna be straight up with you here I only added this to my TBR because Alisha Wainwright narrates one third of this audiobook and I'm super gay for her. (haha jokes I'm gay in general but SHE REALLY HAS A BEAUTIFUL VOICE)
So I generally DON'T go for books about grief? I just .. don't want to be sad? And I fully believe they can be done SO WELL and have so much impact but lots of the time I just don't feel like them. That being said, this book was surprisingly addictive to me. I was surprised by how often I was reaching for this over other books despite it's content. Ashley Woodfolk definitely managed to get me invested in the characters and their development and the trajectory of their grief as they slowly come to terms with whats happened and that's a damn good feat.
The Beauty that Remains follows three different teenagers who are all connected through music, and especially the band Unravelling Lovely to which they are all connected.
🍂 Logan is a gay boy who's ex-boyfriend and first love Bram has committed suicide. Logan has developed alcoholism and doesn't know how to cope with the loss, especially since he feels partly responsible. Logan is the lead singer of Unravelling Lovely but fell out with the band after Bram died 🍂 Shay is a black girl who's identical twin Sasha has just lost her long battle with Leukaemia. Shay doesn't know how to relate to her mum and what to do about the music blog her and Sasha shared. Shay is a fan of Unravelling Lovely and friends with the band members. 🍂 Autumn is Korean-American and is devastated after her best friend Tavia died in a car accident. Autumn feels guilty because she was secretly dating Tavia's brother and was with him the night she died. Tavia's brother, Dante, is one of the members of Unravelling Lovely.
The thing this book did best was make me invested in the characters growth I was definitely rooting for every single character and my need to know what happened to them next is what drove my interest. Shay was my favourite character to follow and Autumn my least favourite (she was so bland compared to Logan and Shay?) but I still enjoyed all of them overall. I liked that each was a very unique character and I love that this book had a strong focus on their hobbies, especially music.
This book did a good job at explaining the backstories of the characters and why their grief was especially palpable but I think that quickly wore off. While I was initially really sad, the grief aspect became a little bit repetitive, especially in Autumn and Logan's chapters. This book wasn't as emotionally impactful as you would have wanted in a book specifically about grief, but it actually kind of worked in this books favour since it meant I wasn't too sad to see what would happen next.
one thing I really utterly hated was the biphobia Logan's ex-boyfriend Bram is bisexual and in my opinion the portrayal was poorly done and quite hurtful. Bram cheats on both Logan and his new girlfriend which totally affirms the cheating bisexual sterotype. Also, Logan remarks how annoyed he is that "Bram isn't even totally gay" which is a really harmful thing to say about bisexual people since bisexual people are constantly fighting for their validity within the queer community. Logan also says this
But yeah, I guess it added insult to injury that it was some basic bitch cheerleader and not another guy. How could I even compete with a girl?” [...] “If it had been another guy, I could have convinced him I was the better choice. But if he wanted a girl, he couldn’t also want me.
I found this line to be both sexist and also biphobic. The implication that a bi person can be swayed from their relationships is harmful, and also the anger directed at bi boys for dating women. Although Logan later becomes friends with the cheerleader, the biphobia itself in any of these examples is never challenged and I found it upsetting to read and I'm still unsettled by it now. I think that this trope, which is really prevalent and quite harmful needed to be more directly challenged on page. I would NOT recommend this book to bisexual people for the bi rep specifically, but I also want to note this IS ownvoices for black rep so by no means do I think people shouldn't read it.
ADD ON: I discussed this book and the bi representation with the author, and I want to make a note that Bram is intended to be both bisexual and also polyam, and him falling in love with multiple people wasn't the same as cheating. I personally didn't pick up on this aspect, but I'm putting this note in here for others information <3
“The number of ifs and what-ifs are infinite, and I keep listing them – trying to convince myself or Dante, or maybe you, that I’m sorry, that life and death are random, that we can’t control anything except how we deal with it all now.”
Overall this is one of those books I enjoyed and mostly liked but that I wouldn't ever reread. I don't have LOTS of strong feelings toward it, but I would totally read another book by this author and actually I would love a spin-off about Shay or Logan.
trigger warnings: suicide, biphobia, drug use, grief, death, car accidents, leukaemia, physical violence
My Goodreads/Blog review will be put up closer to the release date as per the publishers arc preferences!
Some quick thoughts: This was the perfect endiMy Goodreads/Blog review will be put up closer to the release date as per the publishers arc preferences!
Some quick thoughts: This was the perfect ending to this duology but I also think there's so much room for another book (or more!) and I SO hope that can be the case. I love the characters so much, and the sapphic angst truly kept me going. I also appreciated the nuanced look at trauma and relationships throughout this duology
I think a lot of people are going to really love this !
“And I’m platonically in love with you.” “That was literally the boy-girl version of ‘no homo’, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
I have already done
“And I’m platonically in love with you.” “That was literally the boy-girl version of ‘no homo’, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
I have already done a full review of this book the first time I read it and if you're interested in reading that you should do so. It'll give you my in depth thoughts on this book and explain why I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
This is a reread, because I fucking love this book so much. So I'm just gonna do a dot point review TO EXPRESS MY EMOTIONS. Thanks
🌟 first of all this book is the best. the banter, the memes, the internet culture. oh boy i die for that shit !!! you can tell alice oseman is a teenager herself because IT'S SO AUTHENTIC 🌟 FRANCES. MY GIRL. MY LOVE. I relate to her so much. Especially when she's talking about schoolwork. I just see myself so much in her and it part makes me happy part makes me cringe 🌟 the platonic friendship between Aled and Frances is so pure. Need me a friendship like that. I love them so much. The bits of them hanging out writing art is my fave bit of this book 🌟 Okay this made me so much sadder the second time. Everything with Aled hit me a lot harder in this one. And Brian, god I nearly cried on the damn train 🌟 ALED AND DANIEL ARE TOO GOOD FOR THIS WORLD, TOO PURE 🌟 It was interesting reading this after going back and reading Solitaire, there's so many cool tie in references 🌟 RAINE SENGUPTA COULD HIT ME AND I'D THANK HER 🌟 I super love the first half of this book, I don't like the second half as much. But oh god the first half. I'd die for it 🌟 ALED IS SUCH A NERD LMAO BUT I LOVE HIM 🌟 the bit of them drunk in the field .... thats happened to me exactly like that its like reading a memory 🌟 I really would love to listen to Universe City. It sounds so fun 🌟 FRANCES MUM IS SO FUCKING NICE I LOV HER 🌟 I love it at "she tries to talk to me at the post office" every time 🌟 Also can Aled's mum .. *draws from cigarette* choke 🌟 honestly this is kinda melancholy and sad, but it's also hilarious and uplifting. the dichotomy of life 🌟 ICB ALED LAST HAVE I MENTIONED THAT 🌟 I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUUUUUUUCHHH ...more
“I guess I mean I always feel like I’m . . . waiting. Waiting until I get older so people will finally take me seriously and I can do what I want.”
“I guess I mean I always feel like I’m . . . waiting. Waiting until I get older so people will finally take me seriously and I can do what I want.”
Tash Hearts Tolstoy follows Tash, who, as the title suggests, loves Tolstoy. When the modern adaptation of Anna Karenina her and her best friend Jack are making for youtube goes semi-viral overnight and then is nominated for an award, Tash is suddenly thrust into the fandom spotlight.
This is a YA contemporary with almost everything I love in YA contemporaries! ➩ friends making art on the internet ➩ the internet playing a large role in the characters lives ➩ a queer main character ➩ complex family and friend drama ➩ references to classics and old-timey stuff ➩ nerds
This reminded me a lot of Fangirl, Eliza and Her Monsters and Radio Silence so if you like any of them you'll probably like this. For me it wasn't as great as Radio Silence, but I liked it more than Fangirl and about equal to Eliza and Her Monsters.
Although this is about Unhappy Families, the series Tash makes with Jack, it's more about Tash's shifting relationships with her friends and family. Tash is also asexual and how this affects her life and relationships, especially her budding relationship with a fellow vlogger, plays a large role in this.
The family and friend aspects are much the same to any other YA contemporary I've read. Aspects were predictable and the resolutions weren't special to me. But the inclusion of asexual representation and the strong focus of that rep, as well as the internet as a central plot point and all the Leo Tolstoy references elevated this a little for me. I ended up enjoying it a lot and it isn't just the typical YA contemporary. Although it probably didn't hit me as hard as similar books like Radio Silence, this is still really enjoyable and well worth the pick up if you like books that deal with fandom culture, online fame, and fraught family/friend dynamics. Also if you're looking for more books with asexual main characters.
look I really wanted to like this it has such a high rating on goodreads and all my friends gave it five stars and I HONESTLY thought it would be a filook I really wanted to like this it has such a high rating on goodreads and all my friends gave it five stars and I HONESTLY thought it would be a five star read for me but, alas. I probably would have dnf'ed this if I didn't need it for Magical Readathon
what didn't work
• never got over how icky I felt over the age gap. When the characters meet they're 11 and 16, and from that first meeting they're 'destined' to be mates. Even though they don't start dating until their 17 and 23 (which I still think is weird lol) it just didn't sit right. ESPECIALLY since a large portion of the 'angst' from the first half is the 11-13 year old being upset the 16-18 year old is dating people who aren't him.... and honestly even when they're adult I still found the whole "you've always been mine since I was ten" WEIRD not CUTE
• as a result never invested in the main couple and investing in the main couple really is 90% of the point of this book
• Couldn't get into the writing. Some people said they found it lyrical but I just found a lot of it corny and overly repetitive. The humour also wasn't my kind of humour so the funny parts sometimes read cringy to me
• all the women characters exist to be fridged for the male angst/pain or to be emotional soundboards with no personality except to soothe and console the men when they feel angsty and need advice
• honestly just found the story boring and the plot doesn't even kick in till well over 50% through
what I did like
• good casual representation I LOVE how everyone is queer and all the queer relationships we get and how normal and chill it is. ownvoices representation • the found family elements and the focus on the love between family and friends • my boy carter • reminded me of a teen wolf episode
Honestly it's probably me not this book because it has a 4.5 rating but urgh, sadly this just did not work for me...more
aaaahhhh yeah so people who said this was weird were hmm definitely right
The thing is, I really like sci-fi graphic novels so I wanted to try this butaaaahhhh yeah so people who said this was weird were hmm definitely right
The thing is, I really like sci-fi graphic novels so I wanted to try this but I was CONFUSED and also kinda ?? about what I was reading. This basically is about a group of pilots/fighters in space who are battling an alien species, but most of this book is taken up by the relationship between Cain and Abel
Cain and Abel (are given those matching names, for a start) and are basically pilot and co-pilot? Anyway, they're also fucking and it's really explicit so be aware of that. I'm kinda dubious on the romance because it was ... just on the border of being dub-con. I wouldn't say it IS dub-con but it's hovering in that area and that's kinda eeehhh.
Abel is gay and closeted and Cain is the first man he sleeps with, but Cain is kinda possessive and a little bit .. violent? He definitely dominated in the sexual scenes so Idk if I can recommend this ?? exactly ?? I don't know I'm a bit on the fence
So I think it's best to just say this comic has really explicit sex scenes with consent that borders on dubious. So be wary.
But damn, that ending. I want to continue because of the cliffhanger and see where it goes, and I like that each chapter is quite long because that suits my webcomic reading style better
Finally, the art is AMAZING. I loved the colours and the style and the way it's all drawn. Soo loved it...more
REREAD 16/1/2022 for personal reasons I'll be crying hysterically about evelyn hugo and harry cameron for several days
REREAD 3/1/2019 i love this bookREREAD 16/1/2022 for personal reasons I'll be crying hysterically about evelyn hugo and harry cameron for several days
REREAD 3/1/2019 i love this book so much i love this book so much i love this book so much THERE ARE TRULY NO WORDS FOR HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK
and YES I cried just as much the second time. WHAT. ABOUT. IT
::FULL REVIEW BELOW ::
Folks, this book just came into my home and murdered me personally I’m shaking
So, I literally cried for 20 minutes when listening this and not like cute little sniffles either I mean full on tears streaming down my face heaving sobs crying I'm talking having to keep wiping your eyes so you can see. I rarely get truly emotional in books so the fact this book drew that reaction from me is a testament to how fucking damn good it is. Like, please believe the hype people
Like genuinely, I 100% believe if the fucking bus I was on had just HIT ME that would have been less painful then what happened in the last 20% of this book
anyway, it's like day 8 of trying to write this review but I keep restarting it because I don't know how to communicate how much I just loved this book so much but here goes.
“It’s always been fascinating to me how things can be simultaneously true and false, how people can be good and bad all in one, how someone can love you in a way that is beautifully selfless while serving themselves ruthlessly.”
this is one of those books that you don't think you'll love so much and then it just surprises you and immediately steals your heart.
⭐ it's so hard to explain what this book is about because it's so, so much more than I ever expected
On the basic level, it follows Monique, an up and coming journalist who has been invited to write a tell-all about the life of Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn Hugo is a retired Old Hollywood actress, fashion icon, sex symbol and known for her glamorous and scandalous life that included seven different marriages.
Evelyn Hugo hasn't done an interview in decades but she insists that Monique write the tell-all and so the story is told both in flashbacks as Evelyn recounts her life through the seven marriages and current time as Monique tries to unravel why Evelyn Hugo, potentially the worlds most famous actress, wants her of all people to write this tell all.
And listen, there is so, so much more happening then that but it's so, SO hard to explain. You just have to read it and trust me. Seriously I'm begging you, I'll go full Rumpelstiltskin and trade my first born for everyone to read this book because it is seriously incredible.
“People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is 'you're safe with me'- that's intimacy.”
I think one thing that is so amazing about this is how real it is even though all these characters are fictitious they feel SO REAL. They're so well developed and nuanced. Evelyn Hugo, Harry Cameron, Celia St James and the other characters who appear are incredibly flawed and did some questionable things (especially Evelyn) and I loved that about it so much. The depth that Taylor Jenkins Reid gave these characters made them feel so, so alive. And it also made the pain I felt at their struggles and their joys that much more real.
This book absolutely broke me because I was SO, SO invested in these characters. I care about each one of them so much and even though eight days later I MISS them like they're real. I keep wondering what they're up to and how they're feeling. Because Taylor Jenkins Reid sets this book right in the heart of the old Hollywood era, and makes them so compelling and realistic, it honestly feels like they're real actresses and actors and producers and I have to keep reminding myself they're not. That sounds literally ridiculous but thats how WELL WRITTEN these characters are.
“Don't ignore half of me so you can fit me into a box. Don't do that.”
despite the hetero sounding title, this book is very gay a large portion of this is about Evelyn Hugo explaining her love and on/off relationship with fellow actress Celia St. James. And oh my god, I love them so much. And I loved the representation so much.
I've mentioned I'm queer here before and this book really had me thinking. The book explores a little what it was like to be queer in Hollywood in this era and what it cost both Evelyn and Harry to hide their relationships. The incorporation of events like the Stonewall riots and the AIDs crisis, and showing how the community reacted to that, was upsetting but important. And it really highlighted how hard it was to be gay or bi or lesbian like these characters at the time. I think that was just something really important in this book and again, brought it up a level from a regular literary fiction book to something a bit more.
I also just really loved the bisexual rep. Like, a lot. So many things Evelyn said really hit home for me, and the tensions betwene her and Celia were really relatable because I've experienced that that too. This is not OwnVoices but I did read an article in which Taylor Jenkins Reid explained her research, and you can definitely tell she took her time to gather first person experience, read memoirs and generally research to make sure she was doing this right and she did it SO RIGHT. This is probably one of my favourite lgbtq+ books of all time
“But I like you this way. I like you impure and scrappy and formidable. I like the Evelyn Hugo who sees the world for what it is and then goes out there and wrestles what she wants out of it. So, you know, put whatever label you want on it, just don't change. That would be the real tragedy.”
Okay, I'm getting emotional again so lets leave it here. I love these messy, beautiful characters so much and I just ..... my heart is exploding thinking about all the HAPPINESS they deserved.
If you think this book is something you won't like, I did too. I thought there was no way I would care about a literary fiction book focussing on Hollywood but OH. MY. gOD. It's so much more than you think it is and it truly both made and broke my heart. this is one of my favourite 2018 reads and also a new all time favourite, and I am so, so happy it exists....more
I definitely liked this edition more than the first one. The pacing, plot and characters were great. Thedeserved five star just for this moment [image]
I definitely liked this edition more than the first one. The pacing, plot and characters were great. These graphic novels capture the aesthetic and drama of the TV show so well. I love that the creators thought about how they could write these so that they read like the show watches (if that makes sense). This had great pacing, weaving together many stories and plots whilst maintaining funny and interesting character interactions and growth that didn't take away from the plot.
Republic City is such a rich world to mine plots from and I really like what they're doing with this. It's a fresh and interesting continuation of the story whilst also keeping some of the original themes and complications from the show - like urbanisation, gang violence and political corruption. These themes are really interesting in this series since they're not so big in the original A;TLA
Korra and Asami ARE MY EVERYTHING. I also am loving Bolin and Mako working together in this. We're hoping my kids Kai and Jinora get more action though because I love them. ...more
overall the concept was soo interesting and I really liked how it manifested in the book. This is kinda like sense8 in a way? I also really enjoyed Nooverall the concept was soo interesting and I really liked how it manifested in the book. This is kinda like sense8 in a way? I also really enjoyed Nolans chapters, but I found Amara's not as strong. The worldbuilding was also not all there for me
The Witch Sea had an interesting Concept, but I feel like this book was too short to really capitalise off of it. The worldbuilding was okay, but the The Witch Sea had an interesting Concept, but I feel like this book was too short to really capitalise off of it. The worldbuilding was okay, but the contents was outlandish and so there really needed to be more worldbuilding to not leave me so confused, I think.
But what I loved about this was the tone, it's melancholy and dark and uniquely told from a first person present tense which was interesting. I don't know how I feel about the writing, on one hand it was pretty, but on the other I think it was too flowery, and I say this as someone who likes flowery. I think it's just because this described eyes as limpid, and that violently took me back to my fanfiction days
This was interesting overall, but didn't blow me away (though the ending 'twist' kinda thing was cool). I would definitely read Sarah Diemer's other book The Dark Wife
she was a pistol wrapped in silk. she was a blade disguised as a girl
alright alrightalright listen up, listen here. This book is a whole lotta fu
she was a pistol wrapped in silk. she was a blade disguised as a girl
alright alrightalright listen up, listen here. This book is a whole lotta fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it! In fact I'm eagerly awaiting the official release so I can read a completed physical edition.
WHAT IS ACE OF SHADES? 🃏 a dark, complex, fantasy world where gangs run the streets and lure unsuspecting visitors into their gambling parlours, where crime rules and turf wars brew and at the heart of it all, a deadly history no one wants to talk about 🃏 a girl called Enne, who's looking for her mother in the City of Sin, and gets a lot more then she bargained for 🃏 a black, bisexual boy called Levi, a card dealing extraordinaire, who also keeps a closet full of lost things left behind after nights with strangers because he's just that SUAVE 🃏 a deadly game that threatens to take our heroes lives, unless they can do the impossible and win 🃏 mysteries, tricks and twists abound! 🃏 a book that definitively did NOT rip off soc, 1: because Amanda Foody has been writing this for YEARS and 2: because it's literally not anything like soc, so don't listen to those people
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this book is a RIDE and I loved it I admit at first it can be kinda hard to get into. There's a lot of information thrown at you, but there's not much happening.
But when this book gets into it's paces it FLIES by. I got so wrapped up in the mystery and intrigue of the plot. I really like that Amanda Foody gives you just enough to keep you interested but not enough to make this predictable.
The cast of characters are colourful and fun. Both hero and villain wise. Our heroes are easy to get behind, with realistic motivations, that makes you root for them even when they're doing bad. I think the villains are also done so well here. They've also given some depth but you totally loathe them. I also like that there is some interesting, not so well explored characters who will be explored more in the sequels. I'm super interested in seeing how these characters are used in the upcoming books.
Above all, Amanda Foody NAILED atmosphere. The City of Sin has such a tangible presence because Amanda Foody uses such detailed and interesting description to bring her setting to life. This made the entire setting so vivid in my mind and for me, world building is actually kind of a big deal. The division of the city amongst the gangs, and how the politics between each division affected the city and characters was really interesting too and I appreciated how well thought out and detailed it was.
I also APPRECIATED that damn romance. Slow burn and angsty as fuck !! I LOVE that.
“People do not play this game to win, my dear. They play this game not to lose.”
My favourite part was the end of the book (not like, that it was ending. I mean the final chapters) they were SO GOOD AND EXCITING. But I can't say much about them without spoiling you all! :( SO YOU'LL HAVE TO READ THIS AND DISCOVER WHAT I MEAN FOR YOURSELF.
I genuinely really liked this and I can't wait for the sequel! This had so many things I love in YA fantasy: An interesting world, a good plot twist, romantic tension and slow burn and gritty, morally grey characters. ...more
korrasami was the first f/f ship I shipped in a tv show that actually became canon that shit still takes my breath away to this day. when I found out korrasami was the first f/f ship I shipped in a tv show that actually became canon that shit still takes my breath away to this day. when I found out Michael Dante DiMartino was writing this comic I knew I had to have it.
One, because the Avatar Universe is my favourite fantasy world .. honestly probably ever. I've not rewatched a tv show as much as I've rewatched Avatar, and any chance at slipping back into the world was one I was going to take
Two, because Korrasami. I love them so much, and to see two bisexual women of colour depicted in a loving relationship is honestly rare. But it makes me so happy! And I wanted to see how their romance would continue after the sweet but entirely too short ending of The Legend of Korra
this was literally everything I wanted. Turf Wars begins immediately after the end of the tv show and instantly the gay is hyped up by about 300%! I mean check this out !
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So I definitely got all the cute and the kisses I needed, and expected. I basically just went into this wanting Korrasami, and to see all the Gang back together and I got all of that, so I was stoked. but this comic then proceeded to knock it out of the ball park by expanding on the universe and queer politics in an interesting and logical way I really liked the exploration of how sexuality works in the world, and how it fitted into each element and kingdom. Plus, Us Bisexuals officially get to claim Avatar Kyoshi as ours and I've never been more pleased.
But genuinely, I think developing the world to be more considering of how sexuality works, and building more explicit sexuality into characters both old and new was such a great thing for this world.
the downside is that the plot probably isn't the best There was some action and a fight over the spirit portal, the Triple Triad came back and a bunch of massive problems hit Republic City following Kuvira's attack, but this all happened very quickly. For me though, Avatar's appeal has always been it it's characters and world so it didn't actually bother me too much. And I expect that the action will be more prominent in following Parts.
Honestly the most important thing about this is it made my heart go all 💓💓💓💓 . Thats what I came here for and that is what I got, and honestly I loved this so much and I can't wait for the next parts to be released
Book one of SapphicAThon complete! (Can we talk about how I've finished three books today holy shit)...more
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