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A review by readivine
Color Outside the Lines: Stories about Love by Sangu Mandanna
4.0
This book is a blessing and I never thought that I needed to read this until I did. While it depicts if not all, most of the facets of diversity, Color Outside the Lines blends in various narratives from acceptance, revenge, passion for the arts, kinship, familial matters, and a whole lot more!
I've read this anthology slowly from last month until this day, and I guess it's safe to say that it's by far my most favorite one of all time! PLEASE DO YOURSELF THE FAVOR OF READING THIS.
Here are all my mini reviews of each story, I also listed the reps here for reference!
Turn the Sky to Petals by Anna Marie McLemore
- 5 STARS
- Goddamit, this was beautifully written and is the perfect opening story!
- Lyrical writing, delves on the intensity of our passions and the great lengths we go through to achieve mastery, kindred spirits
Prom by Danielle Paige
- 2 STARS
- Hmmm, not gonna lie, Paige's stories always suck in every anthology I've read with her.
- high school sweethearts
What We Love by Lauren Gibaldi
- 2.5 STARS
- This just wasn't fit for my taste but some would probably love it though!
- Star Wars fans, Jewish rep
Giving Up the Ghost by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas
- 5 STARS
- This was an absolute favorite! I really love the concept of this story and how things turned out by the ending.
- ghosts as guardians (every person has one!), childhood friends, witty banter
Your Life Matters by L.L. McKinney
- 3 STARS
- This was pretty great at first but I guess it just wasn't really my cup of tea. Nevertheless, it executed its message pretty well.
- Black lives matter narrative, LGBTQ+ rep
Starlight and Moonlight by Lori M. Lee
- 4 STARS
- Awww this was such an enchanting and lyrical tale!
- shamans and magic, myths
Five Times Shive Met Harry
- 4.5 STARS
- I really love how cute and simple this story was! I can't help but smile giddily while reading this.
- Indian rep
The Agony of a Heart's Wish by Samira Ahmed
- 4 STARS
- Another lyrical tale! It's set in a wartime era and has definitely a lot of historical romance vibes.
- Bittersweet love, South Asian rep
The Coward's Guide to Falling in Love
- 5 STARS
- AAAAAHHHH I REALLY ADORE THIS ONE. It's such a cute and carefree story and I really felt the tension bubble huhuh I pined so hard in this one.
- best friends, Asian rep
Death and the Maiden by Tara Sim
- 4 STARS
- Just imagine this: Hades as a sultry woman and Persephone as a South Asian. There you go!
- Revenge, South Asian rep, LGBTQ+ rep
Faithfull by Karuna Riazi
- 5 STARS
- I kind of teared up in this story tbh! I really love how this revolved more on the possibility of romantic love and more on friendships and family.
- Muslim rep, South Asian rep, traditional religion practices
Gilman Street by Michelle Ruiz Keil
- 5 STARS
- This one resonated so much for me more so because it dwelled with punk rock and the Riot Grrrl Revolution "GIRLS TO THE FRONT!". This is also very easy to read and quite lyrical in such a unique flavor.
- LGBTQ+ rep, Mexican rep, Filipino rep
"The Boy is" by Elsie Chapman
- 5 STARS
- I love Elsie so freaking much and this story is not an exception!
- Chinese rep, debunking tradition
Sandwiched in Between by Eric Smith
- 4.5 STARS
- This story made me crave for moussaka and hoagies. HAHAHAH
- Brown rep, Palestinian rep
Yuna and the Wall by Lydia Kang
- 5 STARS
- This is such a wholesome tale and kind of reminded me in a way the vibes of the first story. I really love how it wrapped up!
- PWD rep
Something Gay and Magical by Adam Silvera
- 2.5 STARS
- I personally wish the anthology ended with the previous story since it circled back to the first one. While this was just pretty okay for me it felt a little lacking.
- LGBTQ+ rep
I've read this anthology slowly from last month until this day, and I guess it's safe to say that it's by far my most favorite one of all time! PLEASE DO YOURSELF THE FAVOR OF READING THIS.
Here are all my mini reviews of each story, I also listed the reps here for reference!
Turn the Sky to Petals by Anna Marie McLemore
- 5 STARS
- Goddamit, this was beautifully written and is the perfect opening story!
- Lyrical writing, delves on the intensity of our passions and the great lengths we go through to achieve mastery, kindred spirits
Prom by Danielle Paige
- 2 STARS
- Hmmm, not gonna lie, Paige's stories always suck in every anthology I've read with her.
- high school sweethearts
What We Love by Lauren Gibaldi
- 2.5 STARS
- This just wasn't fit for my taste but some would probably love it though!
- Star Wars fans, Jewish rep
Giving Up the Ghost by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas
- 5 STARS
- This was an absolute favorite! I really love the concept of this story and how things turned out by the ending.
- ghosts as guardians (every person has one!), childhood friends, witty banter
Your Life Matters by L.L. McKinney
- 3 STARS
- This was pretty great at first but I guess it just wasn't really my cup of tea. Nevertheless, it executed its message pretty well.
- Black lives matter narrative, LGBTQ+ rep
Starlight and Moonlight by Lori M. Lee
- 4 STARS
- Awww this was such an enchanting and lyrical tale!
- shamans and magic, myths
Five Times Shive Met Harry
- 4.5 STARS
- I really love how cute and simple this story was! I can't help but smile giddily while reading this.
- Indian rep
The Agony of a Heart's Wish by Samira Ahmed
- 4 STARS
- Another lyrical tale! It's set in a wartime era and has definitely a lot of historical romance vibes.
- Bittersweet love, South Asian rep
The Coward's Guide to Falling in Love
- 5 STARS
- AAAAAHHHH I REALLY ADORE THIS ONE. It's such a cute and carefree story and I really felt the tension bubble huhuh I pined so hard in this one.
- best friends, Asian rep
Death and the Maiden by Tara Sim
- 4 STARS
- Just imagine this: Hades as a sultry woman and Persephone as a South Asian. There you go!
- Revenge, South Asian rep, LGBTQ+ rep
Faithfull by Karuna Riazi
- 5 STARS
- I kind of teared up in this story tbh! I really love how this revolved more on the possibility of romantic love and more on friendships and family.
- Muslim rep, South Asian rep, traditional religion practices
Gilman Street by Michelle Ruiz Keil
- 5 STARS
- This one resonated so much for me more so because it dwelled with punk rock and the Riot Grrrl Revolution "GIRLS TO THE FRONT!". This is also very easy to read and quite lyrical in such a unique flavor.
- LGBTQ+ rep, Mexican rep, Filipino rep
"The Boy is" by Elsie Chapman
- 5 STARS
- I love Elsie so freaking much and this story is not an exception!
- Chinese rep, debunking tradition
Sandwiched in Between by Eric Smith
- 4.5 STARS
- This story made me crave for moussaka and hoagies. HAHAHAH
- Brown rep, Palestinian rep
Yuna and the Wall by Lydia Kang
- 5 STARS
- This is such a wholesome tale and kind of reminded me in a way the vibes of the first story. I really love how it wrapped up!
- PWD rep
Something Gay and Magical by Adam Silvera
- 2.5 STARS
- I personally wish the anthology ended with the previous story since it circled back to the first one. While this was just pretty okay for me it felt a little lacking.
- LGBTQ+ rep