booksonmars's reviews
533 reviews

Just as You Are by Camille Kellogg

emotional hopeful informative lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

picked this up on a whim and i really enjoyed it! i didn't realise this was a pride and prejudice retelling until about three chapters in, and the references to the source book were fun to find. although i wasn't too sold on the romance, i felt that the only reason the characters were together was because they were the elizabeth and darcy counterparts. the jane and bailey relationship was more believable if i'm being honest. the plot and characters were lovely and i could lose myself in them. having the bennett sisters as this queer found family of roommates/coworkers and the setting being a queer magazine was really ingenuitive and heartwarming, i really enjoyed liz's relationship to each of her sibling counterparts, particularly jane. there was exploration on identity and relationships (both platonic and romantic), and conversations around lesbian identity were very insightful and tender. i actually liked that liz didn't really find an answer at the end of the book, i think it depicted the realness of the character.

aside from the social media aspect (i hate social media in books) this was a thoroughly enjoyable novel and perfect for a bit of light reading.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

dark emotional sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

never felt so much visceral anger towards men as i had when reading this 

The Parisian by Isabella Hammad

informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

an insightful and beautiful read. the beginning, set in paris, is painted in such a dreamy light, which i think is intentional compared to the stark reality of the events that occur in and around nablus later on in the book. the book follows not only midhat but a few key characters in his life, which in turn weave a story of identity as well as duty to family and country. i learned a lot about the way life was like in palestine before the nakba, and it was heartbreaking to read the buildup to that tragic event. i'm really excited to read isabella hammad's most recent book as it was nominated for a booker prize.

free palestine. 

The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

enemies to lovers but not romantic love but platonic love and post-arthurian settings and lady knights and witty humour and bi princesses and gay yearning and found family and heartbreak and love!!

there needs to be a novella where it's in bridget and gabriel's pov instead i would devour that

Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head by Warsan Shire

emotional reflective

5.0

beautiful, haunting, and mesmerising. 

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

update: i just found out on tumblr there’s no sequel and that i can be read as a standalone wtf?? there’s so many questions left at the end of this book if it’s true then i have to drop another star i’m sorry 

disclaimer: i would've given this book four stars if i had known before going in that it wasn't a standalone, and that the ending sets up for another book. which is strange because i can't find any info on what the next book is and when it will be released.

besides that, the book was easy to read, with a magic system that was easy to follow. i enjoyed violet's character, finding similarities between her and jude, both opportunistic and determined to look out for themselves instead of the greater good. i found the fairytale world beautiful and the side characters fleshed out and engaging to read, particularly in relation to violet. cyrus and violet's relationship was at times fun and captivating to read but it also felt like the author kept being aggressively showing us how much they 'hated' each other. the last few chapters were rushed and the way cyrus acted towards the end was very out of character, again making it seem like the author really wants to push the cruel prince vibes.

although i loved the world, i'm not very interested in reading the second book only because i didn't think there'd be one and i didn't think it was necessary. i think they could've wrapped up the story in one book, kind of like the fairy tale the author wants to have the atmosphere of. 

Owed by Joshua Bennett

4.5

When I think of America, I think of my father's loneliness.

A witty yet wistful look on a man's relationship between being black and being American, how they can complement yet contradict each other.

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.

the pacing was off, the beginning was way too info dumpy, the plot devices were obvious, the dialogue was bland….i could go on 

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

adventurous challenging funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

more whimsy, more magic and more fun in this delightful sequel. i liked the development of characters like cadence and the rest of unit 919, and i’m starting to see the foundations of a found family. nevermoor itself is a vibrant and beautifully described place that almost feels real when reading, so much so i get nostalgia even though i’ve never been. i’d definitely substitute this for harry potter and wish i had read these as a kid, so excited for the next one!