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stephbooks's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I listened to this on Spotify and just couldn’t connect. I think the idea of the book is nice but it was hard to keep track and get hooked.
crimsichor's review
3.0
I really struggled with getting into this. I admire poetic writing, but it's a hit or miss. It either engages me or it doesn't, and here it sadly didn't. I'm giving it 3-stars instead of the 2 I was debating on because it’s more me than the book itself, though some part of it did resonate with me and it truly was beautifully written
krothman8's review
2.0
2.5 stars this literally was too relatable to be a fav, will bring up in therapy tho
weez_reads's review
4.0
Nothing burns as bright as you by Ashley woodfolk.
Thanks to @harper360ya
For an arc of this book.
Kindle release 5th April
Hardback release may 12th
Auidiobook 5th April
I really enjoyed reading this book which is told in verse.
Two best friends Until they became more. Their affections grew.
You get all the feels reading this. Both are so different and yet you find yourself routing for them. But there still so young and you get the things that happen.
One wild and reckless day. Years of tumultuous history unspooling like a thin, fraying string in the hours after they set a fire.
Over the course of a single day, the depth of their past, the confusion of their present and unpredictability of the future.
Thanks to @harper360ya
For an arc of this book.
Kindle release 5th April
Hardback release may 12th
Auidiobook 5th April
I really enjoyed reading this book which is told in verse.
Two best friends Until they became more. Their affections grew.
You get all the feels reading this. Both are so different and yet you find yourself routing for them. But there still so young and you get the things that happen.
One wild and reckless day. Years of tumultuous history unspooling like a thin, fraying string in the hours after they set a fire.
Over the course of a single day, the depth of their past, the confusion of their present and unpredictability of the future.
rryep's review
4.0
#Romantic - First Love / Heartbreak, Friendship, Emotional
* Written in Verse
* POC characters (main and secondary: Black)
* Q+ characters (main)
* POC author (Black)
* Q+ author (bisexual)
* Authors Note
* Written in Verse
* POC characters (main and secondary: Black)
* Q+ characters (main)
* POC author (Black)
* Q+ author (bisexual)
* Authors Note
jamietherebelliousreader's review
5.0
5 stars. This was one of my anticipated reads of this year and I was not disappointed. This book is full of heart and emotion and it put me through the wringer. Two girls who are best friends but also something more. It’s complicated. Their relationship was complex, disastrous, and borderline toxic with how much they depended on each other. It was messy and real.
I loved the way this was written. I don’t pick up books written in verse often because I feel sometimes the story gets lost in the format if that makes sense but it definitely worked here. Woodfolk’s writing really packs a punch and I loved how the story is told in parts of their relationship ‘before the fire’ and leading up to the big moment where things fall apart. The ending put me in my feelings but I think it was the best possible ending for these two. I loved this book, plain and simple. Even though it hurt my feelings it also left me wanting more of this author’s writing and I will definitely be picking up more of her work.
Also, out of all the little gems and truths dropped in this book this one in particular touched my fucking spirit:
”And girls, especially Black girls, learn that the way
they look,
what other people think about their clothes or
their hair or their bodies
(“grown”, “nappy”, “developed”),
can put them in danger.”
Whew, and let the church say Amen.
I loved the way this was written. I don’t pick up books written in verse often because I feel sometimes the story gets lost in the format if that makes sense but it definitely worked here. Woodfolk’s writing really packs a punch and I loved how the story is told in parts of their relationship ‘before the fire’ and leading up to the big moment where things fall apart. The ending put me in my feelings but I think it was the best possible ending for these two. I loved this book, plain and simple. Even though it hurt my feelings it also left me wanting more of this author’s writing and I will definitely be picking up more of her work.
Also, out of all the little gems and truths dropped in this book this one in particular touched my fucking spirit:
”And girls, especially Black girls, learn that the way
they look,
what other people think about their clothes or
their hair or their bodies
(“grown”, “nappy”, “developed”),
can put them in danger.”
Whew, and let the church say Amen.
whathollyread's review
5.0
My heart has been crumpled up and stepped on by this book. I knew the premise going in, but I didn’t realize it was written in verse. And it was stunning. I was not expecting to have such strong and visceral feelings as I read this story. The impending doom starts on the very first page, and was laced through nearly every page following. And still I kept on, hopeful that actions would be seen and felt, and voices heard. Reading this felt like being in their very toxic relationship. I couldn’t put it down, I finished it in a day. And thank the gods. Because I don’t know if I could have lived with these two any longer than that.
anya_kiran's review
5.0
Oh my GOD, I have never felt so seen. This book held me and captured sapphic all-consuming love and letting go like I have never witnessed before. Woodfolk’s prose is magic and unflinchingly raw. I will never forget how gripped I felt by this absolutely beautiful portrayal of queer female friendship that blossoms into something more, its insistence that people are sometimes meant to be in your life as they are for only a brief time - and that’s okay. This story felt like home.
courtney_mm's review
5.0
Read in one sitting ( after not being able to get into the audiobook). The experience of the physical copy was what i needed. I needed to hold this in my hands and read the stanzas & formatting at my own pace to truly appreciate how lyrical and beautiful it was. I knew it was short but i didn't expect it to be this short. The authors note took me out and was so helpful in framing this story. As about a love that's ok if it doesn't last. That it's not a failure and everything doesn't have to be a happy fairytale ending. The real and messy love of two girls. The fire as i understood it was def a metaphor for how Intense their feelings were, and yeah like the opposites. Water and fire. She always choses her because fire burns brighter and is more powerful but water is gentle and can be ignored. But when she almost drowned, i think that was foreshadowing that water is powerful too, and not to be overlooked. And how as water, she was also required to put out other girls fire. I really loved how she talked about her periods as the moon and how that became the realization for her liking girls ( because boys don't understand). and her mom's quotes was really sweet. Ugh the thing about not wanting to fuck up so our parents don't stop loving us. That hit. This was beautifully written and told a beautiful, not often discussed story. Also just love black women writing about black women. Only wish it was longer. Excited to talk about at book club!!
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