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sarah_thebooknerd's Reviews (879)
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fat Representation: very body neutral fat positive.
Queer rep: Sasha is bisexual
I really enjoyed this one- mafia romances are not my normal go to romances because I struggle with the misogyny within the men. In this one Luca is a total cinnamon roll and I loved that he is in touch with his emotions, sweet and just adorable in all ways when it comes to how he treats and loves Sasha.
Sasha is strong, fierce and a little flawed and we support women’s wrongs and she sometimes comes across more as the one in control and not caring but she does and seeing her be vulnerable with Luca was awesome.
The book reads like a mafia mystery in a way because she is learning that Luca is in the mafia after she fell for him and there is a lot of back and forth with these two when it comes to the mafia aspect of them being able to be together. This is the first book in the series with this couple and I legit just went and bought the other 2 because I need to know what happens.
Queer rep: Sasha is bisexual
I really enjoyed this one- mafia romances are not my normal go to romances because I struggle with the misogyny within the men. In this one Luca is a total cinnamon roll and I loved that he is in touch with his emotions, sweet and just adorable in all ways when it comes to how he treats and loves Sasha.
Sasha is strong, fierce and a little flawed and we support women’s wrongs and she sometimes comes across more as the one in control and not caring but she does and seeing her be vulnerable with Luca was awesome.
The book reads like a mafia mystery in a way because she is learning that Luca is in the mafia after she fell for him and there is a lot of back and forth with these two when it comes to the mafia aspect of them being able to be together. This is the first book in the series with this couple and I legit just went and bought the other 2 because I need to know what happens.
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
Fat Representation: MMC is plus sized and it’s body neutral just living life, maybe 1 insecurity comes up for him.
😠 / ☀️- she is the grump
Cinnamon Roll MMC: he buys 🦔 plushies for when they are apart.
Bi for Bi love interests
Chinese MCs
Viviane is the eldest daughter and helped raise her younger siblings as a result she wants freedom, no kids and to have life the way she wants it. She is grumpy, loves power suits, gray and vanilla cake. Mel is a comedian- loud, loves colorful prints, comes from a loving family and chocolate cake. These two are forced together for their friends wedding and they do not hit it off when they met a year prior, but they put the differences aside and try to ensure to be there for their friends.
I loved the humor, tension, conversations and differences. The discussions about boundaries, mental health for Mel and family dynamics it was just so good! Also great steamy moments!
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book has not 1 queer character but 3! It is Bi-for Bi-for Bi. It also has a Fat MMC and a Fat FMC. All of the characters are Black and the book is written by a Black author.
Fat Rep: This is very fat positive, the language used is descriptive so you know that characters are fat but also just so neutral in that they are living life and loving their bodies. I really loved that.
Kian and Jordanne are a couple and they work in the sex industry. Very positive sex worker rep. And one night when they are fantasizing about being with their roommate, Luka during spicy time he walks in. Then that leads to them agreeing to some mutual voyeurism for the camera and it keeps going.
This book has some super tender moments mixed in to the smutty parts and that came from the tenderness of them as friends, couple and then all together. I really loved their banter, humor and characters. There are some topics discussed such as having a parent battling terminal illness and being no contact with them and now they want to make amends and how to navigate that, disclosing sex work to parents and communication of how to come together as a polyamorous relationship.
So if you want something light, super spicy, sweet, make you fan yourself, and just have a good time I would highly recommend this one.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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:
No
This is one of my favorite graphic novels I have ever read. The way that it explores the themes and topics is so well done and flushed out. I buddy read this with my son in order to discuss the themes in here and talk through them. This book talked about imperialism propaganda, oppression, colonialism and fighting against the systems of oppression.
Aiza is an Ornu a subjugated population of people and she has dreams to leave the world of poverty and oppression by enlisting in the military to gain citizenship. Her parents will only allow her to go if she hides the tattoos on her arms that marks her as Ornu to give her a chance to not be oppressed within the military she is trying to join.
Aiza has to hide this aspect of herself and listen as her comrades and friends make fun of the Ornu. As she struggles she meets an unlikely grumpy older man who serves them food, Dorku who agrees to help train her.
I think this book is so well done, themes came through and were handled so well and I just loved it so much!!
Aiza is an Ornu a subjugated population of people and she has dreams to leave the world of poverty and oppression by enlisting in the military to gain citizenship. Her parents will only allow her to go if she hides the tattoos on her arms that marks her as Ornu to give her a chance to not be oppressed within the military she is trying to join.
Aiza has to hide this aspect of herself and listen as her comrades and friends make fun of the Ornu. As she struggles she meets an unlikely grumpy older man who serves them food, Dorku who agrees to help train her.
I think this book is so well done, themes came through and were handled so well and I just loved it so much!!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fat Representation: Ale the FMC is plus sized and very fat positive body neutral language. No insecurities just living life.
🎄: holiday Christmas Novella
😠: 2 MCs who are not fans of the Christmas consumerism and holiday spirit. MMC is a grump but not an ass.
🔥: slow burn but so worth wait.
🪞: 🌶️ time and damn that scene was 🥵
It’s no secret that I love Leonor’s work. I personally love a story that is comforting, full of communication and so much love and joy. As someone who struggles with the holiday spirit and over consumerism that Christmas is I loved those conversations in this book a lot.
🎄: holiday Christmas Novella
😠: 2 MCs who are not fans of the Christmas consumerism and holiday spirit. MMC is a grump but not an ass.
🔥: slow burn but so worth wait.
🪞: 🌶️ time and damn that scene was 🥵
It’s no secret that I love Leonor’s work. I personally love a story that is comforting, full of communication and so much love and joy. As someone who struggles with the holiday spirit and over consumerism that Christmas is I loved those conversations in this book a lot.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Fat Representation: mid sized FMC and plus sized MMC who has dealt with insecurities some that are explored and talked about in the book with past bullying, body dysmorphia and body shaming he would experience in the film industry.
Narration: duet narration and they did such an amazing job! I loved the audiobook and devoured it in a day.
🎥 Hollywood romance
💁🏻♀️FMC is older than him, close to 40: 8 ish year difference
🌶️: he likes Rebecca to be in control and command, steamy!!
🗡️: Ememies to Lovers
Themes explored: plus sized MMC and issues while in Hollywood as an actor turned director, friend battling addiction and grief- loss of a sibling. I think the author handled all the subjects with care and I appreciated that she showed healing and discussed therapy.
Overall I loved the story, plot and characters, I was swooning, giggling, blushing and having a good time. Some of the past time moments made for a little bit of a curve ball to follow with the audiobook but I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Narration: duet narration and they did such an amazing job! I loved the audiobook and devoured it in a day.
🎥 Hollywood romance
💁🏻♀️FMC is older than him, close to 40: 8 ish year difference
🌶️: he likes Rebecca to be in control and command, steamy!!
🗡️: Ememies to Lovers
Themes explored: plus sized MMC and issues while in Hollywood as an actor turned director, friend battling addiction and grief- loss of a sibling. I think the author handled all the subjects with care and I appreciated that she showed healing and discussed therapy.
Overall I loved the story, plot and characters, I was swooning, giggling, blushing and having a good time. Some of the past time moments made for a little bit of a curve ball to follow with the audiobook but I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol
Moderate: Death
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
No
I have a new favorite author for historical romances and I am about to continue to devour her work. I picked this up because I want to continue to amplify Palestinian authors and found out that Diana is a Palestinian American author who writes historical romances and some of them have Arab MCs.
This one in particular has a FMC who is Palestinian and she is strong, beautiful and her tenacity and spirit was so present in the book. She came to London to meet a cousin and found out that she had passed away and she inherited the estate. The only issue is that the Duke of Strickland was not pleased about this and even less so when he realizes he has a very stubborn independent Raya who wants to turn part of the estate into a business enterprise to make her own money.
watching the Duke fall for her was everything. The audiobook is sooo good! Dual narration and I just really loved both of the audio narrators and how they brought these characters to life. I also really appreciated that I learned some things while reading- I looked into Palestinian embroidery and this amazing dish- Musakhan and now I desperately want to try to find it or make it because it sounds so good!
Now I am excited to continue to read other books by this same author.
This one in particular has a FMC who is Palestinian and she is strong, beautiful and her tenacity and spirit was so present in the book. She came to London to meet a cousin and found out that she had passed away and she inherited the estate. The only issue is that the Duke of Strickland was not pleased about this and even less so when he realizes he has a very stubborn independent Raya who wants to turn part of the estate into a business enterprise to make her own money.
watching the Duke fall for her was everything. The audiobook is sooo good! Dual narration and I just really loved both of the audio narrators and how they brought these characters to life. I also really appreciated that I learned some things while reading- I looked into Palestinian embroidery and this amazing dish- Musakhan and now I desperately want to try to find it or make it because it sounds so good!
Now I am excited to continue to read other books by this same author.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I would recommend that everyone reads this if you want to understand the intersectionality in which struggles can align and how powerful they can become when we do align ourselves together within our collective goals of freedom.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is going to haunt me and my soul for a long time to come. I still keep thinking about it. It was such a gripping story and tale and honestly had me wanting to devour it but I read this one slowly. It is not a long book but an important read to understand the Palestinian experience. I picked this up for the Reading is Resistance challenge occuring and to honor this incredible author who was denied an award she should have received. She deserves all the love and adoration for what she pulled off in a short book that again will just sit with you for a long time to come.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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:
No
This was such a slice of life YA book that brought me a lot of love and joy.
Jessie is embarking on her Freshman year of high school and has just been diagnosed with autism. We see her learn to make friends- navigating the ups and downs of friendships when sometimes you have to learn to not always be black and white but more gray with things. We see her grow and I just loved being in her mind and seeing how she viewed the world. I loved the relationship dynamics and family dynamics. Jessie is Palestinian Canadian and we see that come into the book.
There is a bit of a love triangle that happens and I will say I definitely had a fav pretty quickly on. I had a lot of nostalgia with this book with the 90s references and I was able to buddy read this with some other booktokers and I just loved that too- it was great to see what we agreed on and where we saw different aspects.
I cannot wait to read what Jackie writes next.
Jessie is embarking on her Freshman year of high school and has just been diagnosed with autism. We see her learn to make friends- navigating the ups and downs of friendships when sometimes you have to learn to not always be black and white but more gray with things. We see her grow and I just loved being in her mind and seeing how she viewed the world. I loved the relationship dynamics and family dynamics. Jessie is Palestinian Canadian and we see that come into the book.
There is a bit of a love triangle that happens and I will say I definitely had a fav pretty quickly on. I had a lot of nostalgia with this book with the 90s references and I was able to buddy read this with some other booktokers and I just loved that too- it was great to see what we agreed on and where we saw different aspects.
I cannot wait to read what Jackie writes next.