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sarah_thebooknerd's Reviews (879)
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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
Where do I start with all of the ways I really loved this book. Janelle is an OBGYN, younger sister who is the maid of honor to her older sister who is marrying her ex-boyfriend. I know it sounds a tad messy but Janelle never really thought that the relationship with her ex was going to go anywhere. Janelle is a bookworm and oh did I mention she is mid to plus sized! YES and it is positive fat rep in this one and I mean absolutely made me feel so damn good. Janelle's sister is a bridezilla and really toxic towards Janelle who just wants to read by the water and relax!
Enter in Rome, the perfect stress reliever and believer of ensuring that all of Janelle's needs are taken care of. I mean everyone has said it but he is such an amazing book boyfriend- between the acts of service, words of affirmation, the care and tenderness and way he puts her first. He had me the moment he told Janelle that "no" is a full sentence.
I def highly recommend this Black romance!
Enter in Rome, the perfect stress reliever and believer of ensuring that all of Janelle's needs are taken care of. I mean everyone has said it but he is such an amazing book boyfriend- between the acts of service, words of affirmation, the care and tenderness and way he puts her first. He had me the moment he told Janelle that "no" is a full sentence.
I def highly recommend this Black romance!
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:
No
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
No
I really did enjoy this book. I can see why Elsie Silver has a lot of appeal. The banter, the tension, the spicy- she writes good spice scenes and her characters are pretty flushed out. I also really like the family and friend connections that are present in the book.
Where I struggled with this one- I think it was a little too long. Now I read the pre-picked up version by Bloom Books so things could have changed with editing but that is one thing that I would recommend is cutting some stuff out that really didn't add to the plot or storyline here. As much as I love Willa's character and her protectiveness- I will say do not push other kids into a pool no matter what they might have done to the kid you were a nanny for. I understand why, but yeah no. Lastly, there are some word choices and phrases that Elsie might need a sensitivity reader to go over her books to ensure that some of the language is not harmful. I picked up on a couple things in here but I think a general sensitivity reader might have been able to ensure or help recommend differences with the phrases.
Outside of that I really did enjoy this book and I am excited to keep reading the next book in the series.
Where I struggled with this one- I think it was a little too long. Now I read the pre-picked up version by Bloom Books so things could have changed with editing but that is one thing that I would recommend is cutting some stuff out that really didn't add to the plot or storyline here. As much as I love Willa's character and her protectiveness- I will say do not push other kids into a pool no matter what they might have done to the kid you were a nanny for. I understand why, but yeah no. Lastly, there are some word choices and phrases that Elsie might need a sensitivity reader to go over her books to ensure that some of the language is not harmful. I picked up on a couple things in here but I think a general sensitivity reader might have been able to ensure or help recommend differences with the phrases.
Outside of that I really did enjoy this book and I am excited to keep reading the next book in the series.
challenging
dark
emotional
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
I do not think I anticipated that this book would make me sob at the end in the best way ever but it did.
Tien is a young boy navigating coming out while attending a religious school and realizing that there is not a word for being gay in Vietnamese. He has a very strong connection with his parents and they are trying to learn English through practicing reading fairy tales out loud together. (FYI I was not expecting how dark some of those fairy tales were getting.... think old Grimm brothers fairy tales versus the very kids washed down versions) and while Tien is getting up the confidence to try to do this loss hits the family and his mother is pulled back to Vietnam to be with family.
The way in which Trung weaves in the fairy tales to coincide with what is happening in the story and also figures out a way for Tien's family to communicate through a common language, fairy tales to navigate him coming out made me just absolutely cry and feel all the emotions.
I highly recommend this book!
Tien is a young boy navigating coming out while attending a religious school and realizing that there is not a word for being gay in Vietnamese. He has a very strong connection with his parents and they are trying to learn English through practicing reading fairy tales out loud together. (FYI I was not expecting how dark some of those fairy tales were getting.... think old Grimm brothers fairy tales versus the very kids washed down versions) and while Tien is getting up the confidence to try to do this loss hits the family and his mother is pulled back to Vietnam to be with family.
The way in which Trung weaves in the fairy tales to coincide with what is happening in the story and also figures out a way for Tien's family to communicate through a common language, fairy tales to navigate him coming out made me just absolutely cry and feel all the emotions.
I highly recommend this book!
DNF at 53% I really tried to push through my issues with Tyler’s character in order to finish this book but after stalling and pushing off reading it for days on end I realized I’m not in a good enough headspace to see and allow the character growth for Tyler.
Tyler’s family farm is at risk after a farm injury to his father. The family hired undocumented family to come and live on the farm and help out. Mari a young Mexican girl Tyler’s age begins to have a bond with him as he gets to know her. Mari is grieving the loss of her mother- it is unknown where she is and if she is okay. She wants to write letters to try to reach out to her mother but due to the fear with being deported she is not allowed to send them. Her voice and character had me very connected to the story and wanting to know more.
Tyler finds out they are undocumented and makes comments like- I would rather lose the farm than be a bad patriot to my country. Yes he is a kid and his thinking comes from yt supremacy which is taught and learned and I’ve heard Tyler’s in my life and I think I lost patience right now with allowing for his growth because I just wish it wouldn’t have to be at the expense of a young girl who is hurting to prove the humanity of a group of people.
I get what the author is trying to say here and respect the story and book as a whole because it’s valid and it showcase a different viewpoint for middle grade aged kids. I just wish it was not at the expense of Mari having to prove herself worthy of the empathy that should be there without her having to show all of her trauma and pain.
Tyler’s family farm is at risk after a farm injury to his father. The family hired undocumented family to come and live on the farm and help out. Mari a young Mexican girl Tyler’s age begins to have a bond with him as he gets to know her. Mari is grieving the loss of her mother- it is unknown where she is and if she is okay. She wants to write letters to try to reach out to her mother but due to the fear with being deported she is not allowed to send them. Her voice and character had me very connected to the story and wanting to know more.
Tyler finds out they are undocumented and makes comments like- I would rather lose the farm than be a bad patriot to my country. Yes he is a kid and his thinking comes from yt supremacy which is taught and learned and I’ve heard Tyler’s in my life and I think I lost patience right now with allowing for his growth because I just wish it wouldn’t have to be at the expense of a young girl who is hurting to prove the humanity of a group of people.
I get what the author is trying to say here and respect the story and book as a whole because it’s valid and it showcase a different viewpoint for middle grade aged kids. I just wish it was not at the expense of Mari having to prove herself worthy of the empathy that should be there without her having to show all of her trauma and pain.
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
Mexikid is a middle grade graphic memoir following a Mexican family as they embark on a roadtrip to pick up Abuelito (grandfather) from Mexico and bring him to live with them in the United States. The book takes place in 1977 and told from Pedro’s perspective. Pedro has 8 siblings; the older 4 siblings were born in Mexico and the 5 younger ones were born in the US when the parents immigrated. We get to see that Pedro does not feel Mexican like his older siblings but he doesn’t feel like he fits as an American either.
Pedro is not excited about his Abuelito coming to live with them because they already have a full house and he does not feel that he knows him enough for him to come stay. However, along the drive his older sister explains that his Abuelito was part of the Mexican Revolutionary -era and had a significant role in the outcomes.
I loved the dynamics with the family and how realistic it was with the sibling dynamics. As someone who grew up in a large family, there are 7 of us daughters when we would road trip across the country it would entail lots of fights about food, who would sit where, games, and what we would listen to and that also took place with this family.
There is some cool history aspects surrounding the Abuelito and seeing his story intertwined in it was interesting and informative, it also added another layer to the family.
I laughed a lot and related so much with so many aspects of the sibling dynamics but about 3/4 in the book did get a little darker than the rest of the tone of the book and I was a little taken aback with it and got a bit triggered personally. So I would recommend taking a look at the CW below to make a decision but this graphic novel is full of love, family, grief, loss, growth and history!
CW: animal death, child remains, burial remains being relocated, body shaming, grief, and some violence
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a re-read for me in a project I am doing with re-reading some of the first romance books I read from the age of 13 to early 20s. I wanted to see how much my taste has changed and how they hold up. This one not well for me but I am not 100% surprised.
So, first off, this is a darker historical romance with how this couple gets together. The MMC, Selig's party is attacked and he is hit over the head, confused and shows up outside of an estate. They mistake him for a spy and move to punish him. The FMC, Lady Erika tried to understand what was happening but with his head injury he was very flirty and offensive and she orders him to be lashed in anger. She immediately regrets it but something distracts her from stopping the order. He is then lashed and combined with his head injury it is not good. They send for his family and when they come for him he asks his sister to kidnap, Lady Erika to pay her back for what she did to him.
So he takes her hostage and basically tries to humiliate her by chaining her up, stripping her naked etc.. so there is not a lot of lovely moments in this one. And when they do sort of hook up it is so fast and in the midst of danger coming to her that it does not feel authentic to a romance that will last. I would totally see them not working out in the end.
So, I guess if you like the sound of any of that sure, but I would not recommend this to everyone or to most anyone.
So, first off, this is a darker historical romance with how this couple gets together. The MMC, Selig's party is attacked and he is hit over the head, confused and shows up outside of an estate. They mistake him for a spy and move to punish him. The FMC, Lady Erika tried to understand what was happening but with his head injury he was very flirty and offensive and she orders him to be lashed in anger. She immediately regrets it but something distracts her from stopping the order. He is then lashed and combined with his head injury it is not good. They send for his family and when they come for him he asks his sister to kidnap, Lady Erika to pay her back for what she did to him.
So he takes her hostage and basically tries to humiliate her by chaining her up, stripping her naked etc.. so there is not a lot of lovely moments in this one. And when they do sort of hook up it is so fast and in the midst of danger coming to her that it does not feel authentic to a romance that will last. I would totally see them not working out in the end.
So, I guess if you like the sound of any of that sure, but I would not recommend this to everyone or to most anyone.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am reading this because I decided to read the books off of my Goodreads list from when I first joined this app and the book influencing community as a whole.
I had a lot of frustrations with this book.
1. The FMC has some fatphobic thoughts about people's bodies and that irrigated me.
2. The MMC obliviousness of gentrification, racism drove me up a wall.
3. The MMC is the epitome of a wall street bro and I did not like that personality at all and when we did get some redeeming qualities it was too late I didn't care.
4. The FMC hides something from her own sister that she should have told her and I hated that.
5. The pacing is not good and the book is like 100 pages too long.
I liked the banter with these two in the beginning. I liked the awkwardness of them seeing each other after the hook up but that chemistry was off the rest of the book. I wanted to like this book so much more than I did.
I had a lot of frustrations with this book.
1. The FMC has some fatphobic thoughts about people's bodies and that irrigated me.
2. The MMC obliviousness of gentrification, racism drove me up a wall.
3. The MMC is the epitome of a wall street bro and I did not like that personality at all and when we did get some redeeming qualities it was too late I didn't care.
4. The FMC hides something from her own sister that she should have told her and I hated that.
5. The pacing is not good and the book is like 100 pages too long.
I liked the banter with these two in the beginning. I liked the awkwardness of them seeing each other after the hook up but that chemistry was off the rest of the book. I wanted to like this book so much more than I did.
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
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heart:💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Slow Burn: 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️🔥
If my emojis do not show you how much I loved this book here are the words to go with it. Lina is part of the Martinez family, they are very much intrenched in Machismo and feel that she is just working until she finds a husband and makes babies. Lina is a strong Mexican Latina Bi and Plus Sized Woman. She wants to take over the company when her Tió and Father retire. Lina convinces Gabe, Chilean son to the conglomerate Sotomayer Empire to go in on this stadium build. When Gabe comes to the Offices to work with Lina, her family mistakes him for her boyfriend and Lina realizes that it Gabe and her fake date they might just listen to the proposal.
What stood out to me because I loved this whole dang thing but here are some highlights:
1. Leonor was intentional with her language regarding gender in the book, examples like femme presenting people standing together, I loved this little change she made in order to allow readers to feel safe in the work.
2. Gabriel’s mother is a social worker- gave me all the feels as a social worker myself. It is often not a profession I see a whole lot of romance books.
3. The communication and openness Lina and Gabe had about the situation was phenomenal!! I loved the check ins, side convos and ensuring to communicate emotions and feelings.
4. This is a low stakes cozy romance and I never knew I needed these in my life until Leonor and now I cherish every moment when I get one of her books.
5. The tension in this slow burn book made me want to climb the walls but also I was lapping it up.
6. The way in which Leonor describes fat bodies is in the book with not only Lina but Gabe’s muffin top and I love how intentional she is with describing even the smallest of details.
7. I loved the friend group and family of Gabriel. I am eagerly awaiting the next books.
8. When the book heats up it really heats up!! The dirty talk from Gabe had me blushing.
9. The letter—- totally cried like a little baby.
10. The broach—- also made me cry and laugh.
11. Even though Gabe’s family is a billionaire it’s not like other billionaire romances where he spends a lot on the love interest instead it was more giving to others, charities and paying it forward.
12. The food discussions for Mexican and Chilean food!! So yummy!!
I’m so thankful to Leonor for writing this book!! I really hope you will pick this and Leonor’s other work up and give it a try because it will capture your heart and soul
Heart:💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Slow Burn: 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️🔥
If my emojis do not show you how much I loved this book here are the words to go with it. Lina is part of the Martinez family, they are very much intrenched in Machismo and feel that she is just working until she finds a husband and makes babies. Lina is a strong Mexican Latina Bi and Plus Sized Woman. She wants to take over the company when her Tió and Father retire. Lina convinces Gabe, Chilean son to the conglomerate Sotomayer Empire to go in on this stadium build. When Gabe comes to the Offices to work with Lina, her family mistakes him for her boyfriend and Lina realizes that it Gabe and her fake date they might just listen to the proposal.
What stood out to me because I loved this whole dang thing but here are some highlights:
1. Leonor was intentional with her language regarding gender in the book, examples like femme presenting people standing together, I loved this little change she made in order to allow readers to feel safe in the work.
2. Gabriel’s mother is a social worker- gave me all the feels as a social worker myself. It is often not a profession I see a whole lot of romance books.
3. The communication and openness Lina and Gabe had about the situation was phenomenal!! I loved the check ins, side convos and ensuring to communicate emotions and feelings.
4. This is a low stakes cozy romance and I never knew I needed these in my life until Leonor and now I cherish every moment when I get one of her books.
5. The tension in this slow burn book made me want to climb the walls but also I was lapping it up.
6. The way in which Leonor describes fat bodies is in the book with not only Lina but Gabe’s muffin top and I love how intentional she is with describing even the smallest of details.
7. I loved the friend group and family of Gabriel. I am eagerly awaiting the next books.
8. When the book heats up it really heats up!! The dirty talk from Gabe had me blushing.
9. The letter—- totally cried like a little baby.
10. The broach—- also made me cry and laugh.
11. Even though Gabe’s family is a billionaire it’s not like other billionaire romances where he spends a lot on the love interest instead it was more giving to others, charities and paying it forward.
12. The food discussions for Mexican and Chilean food!! So yummy!!
I’m so thankful to Leonor for writing this book!! I really hope you will pick this and Leonor’s other work up and give it a try because it will capture your heart and soul
this is just a soft DNF I am not in the right headspace for the book right now.