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sarah_thebooknerd's Reviews (879)
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
❄: Snow White Retelling
❤️: Historical Romance
🌈: Non-Binary MC
🍐: Fat MC
🖤: Black Love
Coming in under 200 pages, this cozy historical snow white retelling romance was very sweet and fun. Harmony is a fat Black FMC whose family is trying to get her to settle down. Apple is a Black non-binary artist who is on the run from an evil stepmother and who didn't mean to fall in love but did.
Apple tries to get Harmony to agree to marriage but Harmony is not sure she wants to be settled down and she sometimes was brass with Apple and I just wanted to wrap them up in a hug. But I also really love a strong FMC and appreciated Harmony making sure she gets what she needs. I also really appreciated Apple not just accepting Harmony's treatment at times and how they stood up for themselves and also fought for what they need/want in a partner.
I swooned, loved seeing a non-binary character in a historical setting. Adored and appreciated the positive fat representation. I had a couple questions or things I wish were a little bit drawn out- the magic that happens in the book I wanted to know more/ understand that part of the world more. I wanted more of Apple's backstory, I would have loved to see more of their history, connection to magic and the time in between getting away from the evil stepmother to now.
But overall, this was a cute cozy snow white retelling and I am very glad I read it and want to read more from Sula!
❤️: Historical Romance
🌈: Non-Binary MC
🍐: Fat MC
🖤: Black Love
Coming in under 200 pages, this cozy historical snow white retelling romance was very sweet and fun. Harmony is a fat Black FMC whose family is trying to get her to settle down. Apple is a Black non-binary artist who is on the run from an evil stepmother and who didn't mean to fall in love but did.
Apple tries to get Harmony to agree to marriage but Harmony is not sure she wants to be settled down and she sometimes was brass with Apple and I just wanted to wrap them up in a hug. But I also really love a strong FMC and appreciated Harmony making sure she gets what she needs. I also really appreciated Apple not just accepting Harmony's treatment at times and how they stood up for themselves and also fought for what they need/want in a partner.
I swooned, loved seeing a non-binary character in a historical setting. Adored and appreciated the positive fat representation. I had a couple questions or things I wish were a little bit drawn out- the magic that happens in the book I wanted to know more/ understand that part of the world more. I wanted more of Apple's backstory, I would have loved to see more of their history, connection to magic and the time in between getting away from the evil stepmother to now.
But overall, this was a cute cozy snow white retelling and I am very glad I read it and want to read more from Sula!
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Reading Challenge: #thediversebaseline; Prompt: a poetry collection
This book is written by a Palestinian, Jordanian, and Syrian author. There are 2 speeds I have when it comes to poetry complete devour or slow and savor. This was a slow and savor and it was due to how much each poem made me reflect, feel and with the current images coming out of Gaza it showcased just how much things have not changed but for the worse. This poetry collection was published in 2017. It is not just about pain and suffering but also joy, family, community, love. Each poem invites you the reader to contemplate and feel things on such a deep level.
EXCEPTIONAL
Tonight the sky shines.
Black silk of darkness falls in thin strands above
the brow of a blood-red moon.
Silent, as are the people gathered
to witness its eclipse, this clot-thick exceptional moon. It hangs low
in Kunduz too as the surgeons scrub with vigor and tenderness each finger, each crevice in the palms of their hands
that prepare to salvage, to heal.
Exceptional, this American night
that sleeps in the comfort of a history made, a leader once imagined impossible, who turns out to be human. Dream-born, our own and no stranger to the world. And yet, there are
exceptions. The promises of peace
that fly low and fast on the backs of our drones, or glide along slender
missiles we gift to those who tell the same legends we do about brown bodies.
Exceptional in our prayers, in our hope for what we with our own hands unhinge,
what we with our infinite silences make
possible
The poem shared, Exceptional above is one of my favorites it shows how American leaders will say they want peace but will show that peace by helping supply the missiles that are dropped on the Palestinian people. It highlights that silence is the reason that the occupation continues to happen and how in the darkness doctors prepare to heal. This poem hit me so hard because it showcased just how much has not changed and continues to be the plight of the Palestinian people from a government perspective, but the world is waking up and seeing the occupation for what it is and the harm it has inflicted and continues to inflict.
This book is written by a Palestinian, Jordanian, and Syrian author. There are 2 speeds I have when it comes to poetry complete devour or slow and savor. This was a slow and savor and it was due to how much each poem made me reflect, feel and with the current images coming out of Gaza it showcased just how much things have not changed but for the worse. This poetry collection was published in 2017. It is not just about pain and suffering but also joy, family, community, love. Each poem invites you the reader to contemplate and feel things on such a deep level.
EXCEPTIONAL
Tonight the sky shines.
Black silk of darkness falls in thin strands above
the brow of a blood-red moon.
Silent, as are the people gathered
to witness its eclipse, this clot-thick exceptional moon. It hangs low
in Kunduz too as the surgeons scrub with vigor and tenderness each finger, each crevice in the palms of their hands
that prepare to salvage, to heal.
Exceptional, this American night
that sleeps in the comfort of a history made, a leader once imagined impossible, who turns out to be human. Dream-born, our own and no stranger to the world. And yet, there are
exceptions. The promises of peace
that fly low and fast on the backs of our drones, or glide along slender
missiles we gift to those who tell the same legends we do about brown bodies.
Exceptional in our prayers, in our hope for what we with our own hands unhinge,
what we with our infinite silences make
possible
The poem shared, Exceptional above is one of my favorites it shows how American leaders will say they want peace but will show that peace by helping supply the missiles that are dropped on the Palestinian people. It highlights that silence is the reason that the occupation continues to happen and how in the darkness doctors prepare to heal. This poem hit me so hard because it showcased just how much has not changed and continues to be the plight of the Palestinian people from a government perspective, but the world is waking up and seeing the occupation for what it is and the harm it has inflicted and continues to inflict.
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Narrators: Jakobi Diem and Nicole Small; I loved the audio narrators! Pretty much anything Jakobi narrates I will love.
Reading Challenge: #Thediversebaseline; reading prompt: BIPOC and Fat MC/ written by BIPOC author and the 24 books by 24 friends
The FMC, Nuri is homeless, living in her car and needing a new job. She applies to be the nanny for hockey player, Maleek who is raising his siblings after the death of his father. Nuri is comfortable in her body as a fat woman and just living her life. There is fat shaming from a side character towards Nuri. When Nuri first starts as a nanny for Maleek she is attracted to him and he is with her as well but he is engaged to someone else who is struggling with his new guardian role.
When I tell you there is some drama with the fiancé turned ex in this book, I mean there is some drama. She does not take it well to being dropped for the kids but even worse when she realizes that Nuri is his new partner. The story and characters were the plus for me with this one. I also was laughing out loud at one point in this book when Maleek happens to come home when Nuri is trying to have some alone time.
Maleek is still engaged until about 40% point of this book, so the pacing was just off for me for them because they had to rush their romance/ love connection to make the other aspects of the story work. If there was more time spent on them falling and connecting outside of the bedroom, I would have loved this book even more.
CW: fat shaming, miscarriage (graphic), stalking, death of a parent, abandonment, mass shooting ( mentioned), emotional abuse- child
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Stalking
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I read this book for the #thediversebaseline challenge for the reading prompt: a book by a Latine author.
This is the first book in a fantasy setting that takes place in Latin America. It is rich in its descriptions and honestly, I really felt like I was on the journey with them. I loved how easy it was to follow with the vivid depictions and how swept away I was with the story.
The Name Bearer is picked as a young child to speak to the flowers of prophecy and select the names for children when they are born, but most importantly the children of the realm. They are treasured and never given a name themselves. It is time for the Name Bearer to shine in the book and name the future king however something goes awry, and no name is given. They must flee and are sent to the location where all the warrior women are trained and through this book we get action, found family, friendship, and love. I really enjoyed the first book and am eager to see what happens in the second book.
I read this via audio on Everand and the narrator is: Ana Osorio and she does an incredible job bringing the characters and story to life.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Narrators: Jacob Morgan, Lauri Jo Daniel; I enjoyed the narrators a lot. They brought the characters to life and did a great job.
Frankie is disabled and in a wheelchair. She is a sexogist and has a podcast about accessible time, conversations and play. She is asked about rope play and goes out to seek the information on it. This is when she meets Jay, an educator, rigger and carpenter but he is also a one-night stand kind of guy.
I really liked the accessible rope play and the dismantling of ableist thought processes that people might have that disabled people cannot and do not have spicy time.
I wish the crucial conversations related to Jay's ARC in particular were not so rushed. For someone who is so anti-relationship to be okay with it so quickly with Frankie did a disservice I think to his character development.
I also struggled with Frankie's entire personality being her sexologist/ counselor type role. Even so much that her friends would even say she is pathologizing them.
The labor that goes into being a therapist, confident in this level is emotionally taxing and to not have down time with the people you should be able to let your guard down with sounded exhausting and to be on the receiving end of a friend who is always looking at you as a person as something they need to help "fix" bugged me.
That part might be something that is just very personal and frustrating to me and others might not have that same issue. I am interested in reading more from this author though and seeing her range of writing and character development.
Frankie is disabled and in a wheelchair. She is a sexogist and has a podcast about accessible time, conversations and play. She is asked about rope play and goes out to seek the information on it. This is when she meets Jay, an educator, rigger and carpenter but he is also a one-night stand kind of guy.
I really liked the accessible rope play and the dismantling of ableist thought processes that people might have that disabled people cannot and do not have spicy time.
I wish the crucial conversations related to Jay's ARC in particular were not so rushed. For someone who is so anti-relationship to be okay with it so quickly with Frankie did a disservice I think to his character development.
I also struggled with Frankie's entire personality being her sexologist/ counselor type role. Even so much that her friends would even say she is pathologizing them.
The labor that goes into being a therapist, confident in this level is emotionally taxing and to not have down time with the people you should be able to let your guard down with sounded exhausting and to be on the receiving end of a friend who is always looking at you as a person as something they need to help "fix" bugged me.
That part might be something that is just very personal and frustrating to me and others might not have that same issue. I am interested in reading more from this author though and seeing her range of writing and character development.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I finished this book after my wrap up for 2023 and I immediately had regrets because it should have been in my top reads of the year if I had waited.
Pearl and Cord worked together at Cord's company and the tension between the two of them was electric. Peal had a history of some rough previous relationships and did not want to sacrifice her work life for a relationship. The two go their separate ways as Pearl advances her career but now she is back in Chicago and the tension is back between these two whenever they are in the same room together.
Cord has it BAD for her, complete cinnamon roll of a man who is completely head over heels in love with Pearl and he agrees to be on the board of directors of her company after a bad PR issue and he takes on being a mentor for Tye, the teen child of her sister.
One of many aspects I adored with this book is the non-binary side characters, Tye and Abby from a previous relationship of Cord and it was not a huge deal in the book they were just themselves living life and it was beautiful to see.
I loved the conversations about women in tech and pressures of feeling that you cannot have both a relationship and the career even if at times I was frustrated that Pearl didn't think she could have both.
I cannot gush enough about this book and I am hopeful you are immediately adding it your TBRs.
Pearl and Cord worked together at Cord's company and the tension between the two of them was electric. Peal had a history of some rough previous relationships and did not want to sacrifice her work life for a relationship. The two go their separate ways as Pearl advances her career but now she is back in Chicago and the tension is back between these two whenever they are in the same room together.
Cord has it BAD for her, complete cinnamon roll of a man who is completely head over heels in love with Pearl and he agrees to be on the board of directors of her company after a bad PR issue and he takes on being a mentor for Tye, the teen child of her sister.
One of many aspects I adored with this book is the non-binary side characters, Tye and Abby from a previous relationship of Cord and it was not a huge deal in the book they were just themselves living life and it was beautiful to see.
I loved the conversations about women in tech and pressures of feeling that you cannot have both a relationship and the career even if at times I was frustrated that Pearl didn't think she could have both.
I cannot gush enough about this book and I am hopeful you are immediately adding it your TBRs.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Anytime I pick up an A.E. Valdez book I devour it. This is a holiday romance and start to a series about 3 brothers- Snow, Winter and North.
Snow is healing after the loss of his fiance who passed away on Christmas and he goes to Mistletoe Mountain to get away from it all. Noelle, recently found her boyfriend cheating on her and wants to vacation and Snow and Noelle both end up double booked into the same resort cabin.
They end up staying in the cabin together and a friendship blossoms and they have funny moments of naked snow streaking, cookie decorating and some fun spicy sleigh rides.
This is such a fun book and I really am looking forward to Winter's book with a second chance romance.
Snow is healing after the loss of his fiance who passed away on Christmas and he goes to Mistletoe Mountain to get away from it all. Noelle, recently found her boyfriend cheating on her and wants to vacation and Snow and Noelle both end up double booked into the same resort cabin.
They end up staying in the cabin together and a friendship blossoms and they have funny moments of naked snow streaking, cookie decorating and some fun spicy sleigh rides.
This is such a fun book and I really am looking forward to Winter's book with a second chance romance.