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ashction's review against another edition
3.0
This was an enjoyable read from six great authors! However, while the authors have resolutely commented they didn't write an anthology, it still feels like one and lacks a few narrative pull throughs that could have made this feel more novel-like.
My biggest critique, without spoiling the stories themselves, is that there is no final scene and/or major interactions between the majority of this couples despite them all bound for the same party. I think myself and other readers would have enjoyed a little more suspension of disbelief to see some of these characters cross paths at the end. That being said, there are six really great stories here that stand well on their own and paint a cool tapestry of different stages of love across New York City, including:
- Tiffany Jackson's story: Two exes who discover they've interviewed for the same job when the lights go out. Tied together by only one mostly charged phone, the two walk dozens of blocks back home together and uncover where their relationship went wrong.
- Nic Stone's story: Two boys stuck on a subway together with a past that comes to a head, and one boy who might be inching out of the closet.
- Ashley Woodfolk's story: Two girls meeting for the first time in a nursing home, sparks flying as they try to track down a treasured memento.
- Dhonielle Clayton's story: Two best friends stuck in the New York Public Library, one of whom is bursting at the seams to confess her feelings to the boy who always has someone's eye.
- Angie Thomas's story: While visiting NYC, a group of teens stuck on a tour bus during the blackout get caught in a love square.
- Nicola Yoon's story: A girl who wants to make her ex realize what he's missing gets stranded in a Ryde with no gas (the book's clever take on rideshare) driven by a pretty cute driver.
I enjoyed Nic Stone and Nicola Yoon's stories the most! Each story offers different tropes and stages of love, so I think you'll find something here for you. Regardless of ways I think the overall narrative structure could have been improved, I really enjoyed the setting and exploration these authors take through blacked out NYC and in displaying black teen love in pages.
My biggest critique, without spoiling the stories themselves, is that there is no final scene and/or major interactions between the majority of this couples despite them all bound for the same party. I think myself and other readers would have enjoyed a little more suspension of disbelief to see some of these characters cross paths at the end. That being said, there are six really great stories here that stand well on their own and paint a cool tapestry of different stages of love across New York City, including:
- Tiffany Jackson's story: Two exes who discover they've interviewed for the same job when the lights go out. Tied together by only one mostly charged phone, the two walk dozens of blocks back home together and uncover where their relationship went wrong.
- Nic Stone's story: Two boys stuck on a subway together with a past that comes to a head, and one boy who might be inching out of the closet.
- Ashley Woodfolk's story: Two girls meeting for the first time in a nursing home, sparks flying as they try to track down a treasured memento.
- Dhonielle Clayton's story: Two best friends stuck in the New York Public Library, one of whom is bursting at the seams to confess her feelings to the boy who always has someone's eye.
- Angie Thomas's story: While visiting NYC, a group of teens stuck on a tour bus during the blackout get caught in a love square.
- Nicola Yoon's story: A girl who wants to make her ex realize what he's missing gets stranded in a Ryde with no gas (the book's clever take on rideshare) driven by a pretty cute driver.
I enjoyed Nic Stone and Nicola Yoon's stories the most! Each story offers different tropes and stages of love, so I think you'll find something here for you. Regardless of ways I think the overall narrative structure could have been improved, I really enjoyed the setting and exploration these authors take through blacked out NYC and in displaying black teen love in pages.
sianmichaela's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.5
Another excellent read from this group of authors. Really love interlinking stories, although couldn't always keep track of everyone.
thesi3's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
classysmarta's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
jennifervenia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
sweetdee85's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
3.0
prettypious's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this collection of short stories. I LOVE when I read a book of short stories and the stories are connected in some way. That’s one of the greatest strengths of the book. One of the challenges was sometimes it was difficult to discern the authors voices from one another, which can sometimes happen on anthologies, but was a shame because I do think Thomas, Yoon, and Jackson all have distinct voices that I rather enjoy that weren’t as strong or maybe as clear as they are in their own works. I’m not sure if that was a challenge of writing a short story or the effort to make it a cohesive piece. Anyways I think each short story was interesting, well written, and felt complete/satisfactory in the end. It’s more of a 3.5 only because I’m not sure how memorable it will be for me by the end of the year as I wasn’t really changed or impacted by any of the stories, they were all just nice to read. A nice collection and recommendation in the young adult romance/short story realm.
jeisel's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I went into this blind but I guess I thought with 6 authors collaborating on one book, it would be better than it was. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, there was really no point to this book at all. I mean the separate stories were cute i guess but when they all got where they were intended to go it just ended.
There’s an audience for every book but I was not it for this one.
There’s an audience for every book but I was not it for this one.
midnightmarauder's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.5
Blackout is a collection of short stories written by a multitude of black female authors, including Nicola Yoon, Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, Ashley Woodfolk, Nic Stone, and Tiffany D. Jackson. The book follows a group of different characters in New York City as they navigate being stuck in a blackout.
There are six stories that make up the novel, each with characters who are trying to get to a block party in Brooklyn. The following stories are:
There are six stories that make up the novel, each with characters who are trying to get to a block party in Brooklyn. The following stories are:
- A Long Walk by Tiffany D. Jackson, which follows two exes who find themselves battling for the same job position. This story is the central story of the novel.
- Mask Off by Nic Stone, which follows a bi teenage boy trying to explore his sexuality through an underground masquerade party.
- Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk, that follows a girl who longs for a relationship, and unexpectedly meets the perfect girl who fits her dreams.
- All the Great Love Stories... and Dust by Dhonielle Clayton, that follows two best friends stuck in a library during the blackout. One of them has a crush on the other and struggles to tell them.
- No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas that follows a group of southern high school students who find themselves stuck in the blackout while on their way to New York for a school trip. One of the characters is caught in a love triangle between her boyfriend and his friend, and spends the story trying to decide what she wants.
- Seymour and Grace by Nicola Yoon, which follows a Grace, a passenger in a Ryde (a fictionalized version of Lyft), and Seymour, her driver, who walk to the block party together after his car runs out of gas.
I enjoyed this novel so much! My personal favorite stories had to be Made to Fit and Mask Off. I love anything that includes lesbian/gay characters, and I felt that both Nic and Ashley handled the portrayal of being a gay/bi teenager very well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Dementia, Death, Emotional abuse, and Chronic illness
jennnafziger's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sweet love story, weaving together the stories of several different couples over the course of one night. It feels a bit like the movies from the early 2000’s (Love Actually, Valentine’s Day, etc.) It’s an enjoyable quick read, featuring short stories from notable YA authors.