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sarah_thebooknerd's Reviews (879)
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a YA graphic novel that has 2 Asian MCs that are queer. Caroline is a sophomore and is asked to be a tutor to Kim, a senior who has a lot of obligations on her plate. While working with Kim, Caroline and Kim form a friendship and Caroline starts to examine if she is into Kim as more than a friend and what that might mean for her sexuality. Kim is an out lesbian at school but not at home.
I think the graphics and characters were great but I really feel that the author tackled too many heavy subjects into a book and the ending as a result just felt incomplete. The topics brought up- internal fat shaming, external fat shaming by a parent, financial hardship, fathers not being in the picture, understanding one's sexuality, possible ACE discussion, gender identity discussions and stress from having to care for younger siblings. Because there was so much brought up, none of the subjects were flushed out and given the time they needed to really showcase growth and healing. If this ends up being a series, I will be thrilled and hope that Sunmi adds to the discussions raised but if it stays as just one book I found it to be lacking the depth needed and honestly the healing the kids that are the intended audience need in order to show that healing is necessary from some pretty serious topics.
I think the graphics and characters were great but I really feel that the author tackled too many heavy subjects into a book and the ending as a result just felt incomplete. The topics brought up- internal fat shaming, external fat shaming by a parent, financial hardship, fathers not being in the picture, understanding one's sexuality, possible ACE discussion, gender identity discussions and stress from having to care for younger siblings. Because there was so much brought up, none of the subjects were flushed out and given the time they needed to really showcase growth and healing. If this ends up being a series, I will be thrilled and hope that Sunmi adds to the discussions raised but if it stays as just one book I found it to be lacking the depth needed and honestly the healing the kids that are the intended audience need in order to show that healing is necessary from some pretty serious topics.
I am going to DNF this one at 106 pages. There is nothing wrong with the book. It is totally a me thing. I prefer books to have a bit more character development (saw from other reviews this was something that people wishes more for) and this one is going to be heavy on the plot and lots of action. If you love historical fantasy books with queer and feminist themes I would highly recommend.
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This book captured me and I read it over the weekend and did not want to put it down.
Clint has a way to showcase American slavery history in such an honest and raw way that will make you have to sit with it all and realize that we (white people) are failing the true history of this country.
Reading this book will make you sit with the fact that until we acknowledge the harm we (white people) caused harm through colonization, slavery and racism we will not be able to tear down the current racist infrastructure that is built in everything from the Bill of Rights, monuments, street signs, founding fathers, educations system and beyond. If we continue to blatantly ignore and whitewash history in protection of our ancestors we are at the same time dismissing all the pain and hardship to another set of ancestors.
It was not until I was in college for my master's degree in social work that I was confronted with the reality of slavery from Dr. Joy DeGruy at a Race and Poverty summit. She talked about how slavery has changed the fabric of Black people and caused Post traumatic slave syndrome and how gruesome slavery was with images and photos, stories etc. and I was so shocked that my education had never showed me this side of slavery. It make me realize I had some work to do. So for the past 10 years I have been working to dismantle internalized racism and continue to work to support and use my privilege to help those that are marginalized. This book just continues to showcase just how much we need to do this at a younger age in an effort to stop racism from continuing and to help change perspectives. When you know more you can do better and it is time that we do better by the Black people and their history. We have to let go of preserving whiteness and white people being seen as all good when in fact we have not been and continue to not be good for Black and Brown people. But we can change our path too and be better.
I think this book should be mandatory in schools and used as a blueprint for how American History is taught. After all, Clint is a history teacher and he has shown me and others that it's time to show the truth in order to not continue our current racism and for not repeating the atrocities that were done in the past.
Clint has a way to showcase American slavery history in such an honest and raw way that will make you have to sit with it all and realize that we (white people) are failing the true history of this country.
Reading this book will make you sit with the fact that until we acknowledge the harm we (white people) caused harm through colonization, slavery and racism we will not be able to tear down the current racist infrastructure that is built in everything from the Bill of Rights, monuments, street signs, founding fathers, educations system and beyond. If we continue to blatantly ignore and whitewash history in protection of our ancestors we are at the same time dismissing all the pain and hardship to another set of ancestors.
It was not until I was in college for my master's degree in social work that I was confronted with the reality of slavery from Dr. Joy DeGruy at a Race and Poverty summit. She talked about how slavery has changed the fabric of Black people and caused Post traumatic slave syndrome and how gruesome slavery was with images and photos, stories etc. and I was so shocked that my education had never showed me this side of slavery. It make me realize I had some work to do. So for the past 10 years I have been working to dismantle internalized racism and continue to work to support and use my privilege to help those that are marginalized. This book just continues to showcase just how much we need to do this at a younger age in an effort to stop racism from continuing and to help change perspectives. When you know more you can do better and it is time that we do better by the Black people and their history. We have to let go of preserving whiteness and white people being seen as all good when in fact we have not been and continue to not be good for Black and Brown people. But we can change our path too and be better.
I think this book should be mandatory in schools and used as a blueprint for how American History is taught. After all, Clint is a history teacher and he has shown me and others that it's time to show the truth in order to not continue our current racism and for not repeating the atrocities that were done in the past.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a cute romcom with Hannah who is a bodyguard and assigned to fake date, actor Jack in front of his parents to help ensure his safety with a stalker. I thought there was some great vulnerability with the couple as they opened up with one another, there is humor and some good tension. It was fun.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
When in Rome, is about Amelia a pop music star who decides to follow her idol Audrey Hepburn movie and travel to Rome, but since Rome, Italy is a little out of the realm of possibilities she settles for Rome, Kentucky. On her way into town her car breaks down in the front yard of, Noah’s house. Noah is a grumpy pie shop owner with 3 sisters and they are all close. Noah learns to let his guard down and lets himself be vulnerable and Amelia needs to learn to reconnect with herself. I really enjoyed this book, I loved the family, small town nosiness and build to the relationship. I felt that the ending was a little rushed in this one and it needed to be flushed out a bit more but it’s still a solid romance.
emotional
funny
inspiring
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:
Complicated
I loved this book and it is such a good book for summer love!
Noelle's grandmother died 6 months ago and they were close and ever since then she is floundering. She is unemployed living in her mother's peloton room and starts to go through her grandmother's belongings and finds a picture and letter with a first love. She makes a tiktok to find the man and his grandson reaches out and they set up a meet and greet with the grandpa. Noelle is shocked to she her high school academic rival sitting at the table with the elderly man. A plan is hatched for her to go on the road trip her grandmother would have gone on if they had been married. So now she is in a forced proximity with her arch nemesis. It is a recipe for banter, humor, vulnerability, one bed, and love letters from her grandma. I cannot share enough about how much I loved this book and all the emotions that went with it.
Noelle's grandmother died 6 months ago and they were close and ever since then she is floundering. She is unemployed living in her mother's peloton room and starts to go through her grandmother's belongings and finds a picture and letter with a first love. She makes a tiktok to find the man and his grandson reaches out and they set up a meet and greet with the grandpa. Noelle is shocked to she her high school academic rival sitting at the table with the elderly man. A plan is hatched for her to go on the road trip her grandmother would have gone on if they had been married. So now she is in a forced proximity with her arch nemesis. It is a recipe for banter, humor, vulnerability, one bed, and love letters from her grandma. I cannot share enough about how much I loved this book and all the emotions that went with it.
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the first time I have read a book about someone who is orthodox Jewish and some of the beliefs that come into the mix.
The FMC is in her late 20s and not married and that is uncommon in the community because most orthodox Jews are eager to get married in order to have kids. But Penina is infertile making her undesirable to possible marriage suitors. She desperately wants to be a mother but if she adopts a child that is not her blood relative there are rules against touching the opposite gender. She cannot have physical contact with the opposite gender outside of blood relatives and so it brings up a loneliness and desire to be touched and loved.
Penina's sister is about to lose her house and is facing having to move to Israel with her husband and family because they will lose the house and need to start over. Penina entertains marrying a gay man from the orthodox community in order for him to give his mother her dying wish for him to marry and have children. This will allow Penina to save her sister's house and allow them to stay. The only hiccup is that Penina is starting to have feelings for her boss, Sam who is a Secular Jew and does not know all the rules for the Orthodox community.
I really liked learning about a culture I really didn't know about. I have had many Jewish people in my life and even family but not orthodox Jews and that was really interesting. Penina is very much a helper and will put others before herself and she had a crossroads of her faith and wants at parts of the book. Heidi also really discusses the infertility and desires for children and where her faith may not work in her favor for it to happen.
I think I struggled with Penina being so focused on kids at times and just how much pressure is put on her to marry even if that will lead her to not have the one thing she wants children.
Thank you to Libro FM and publisher for an audio copy to read and review.
The FMC is in her late 20s and not married and that is uncommon in the community because most orthodox Jews are eager to get married in order to have kids. But Penina is infertile making her undesirable to possible marriage suitors. She desperately wants to be a mother but if she adopts a child that is not her blood relative there are rules against touching the opposite gender. She cannot have physical contact with the opposite gender outside of blood relatives and so it brings up a loneliness and desire to be touched and loved.
Penina's sister is about to lose her house and is facing having to move to Israel with her husband and family because they will lose the house and need to start over. Penina entertains marrying a gay man from the orthodox community in order for him to give his mother her dying wish for him to marry and have children. This will allow Penina to save her sister's house and allow them to stay. The only hiccup is that Penina is starting to have feelings for her boss, Sam who is a Secular Jew and does not know all the rules for the Orthodox community.
I really liked learning about a culture I really didn't know about. I have had many Jewish people in my life and even family but not orthodox Jews and that was really interesting. Penina is very much a helper and will put others before herself and she had a crossroads of her faith and wants at parts of the book. Heidi also really discusses the infertility and desires for children and where her faith may not work in her favor for it to happen.
I think I struggled with Penina being so focused on kids at times and just how much pressure is put on her to marry even if that will lead her to not have the one thing she wants children.
Thank you to Libro FM and publisher for an audio copy to read and review.
funny
hopeful
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
I tried to read this book last year and for 2 months I could not pick it up. I decided to try again because it was my mood at the time and I devoured this book a year later.
The way in which Sangu created such a magical little world made me so incredibly happy. Mika is a witch who grew up alone. All witches lose their parents at a young age through death and she was raised with the help of an adult witch but the help was only to provide for her financially and ensure that she is cared for by nannies and staff alone in a house. The witches all believe that they are better alone, their power together is too scary and will bring attention to themselves. Mika craves connection so when she received an email asking her to be a teacher to 3 young witches she has to see what is going on.
We have 3 young witches, a gay older couple, a woman and Jamie a young librarian all living on the property and the witch that brought them all together is out on adventures and the 3 young girls are needing to learn control of their craft.
I loved the found family, connections with one another, romance that blossoms, the 3 kids, the magic and just how cozy and happy this book made me.
The way in which Sangu created such a magical little world made me so incredibly happy. Mika is a witch who grew up alone. All witches lose their parents at a young age through death and she was raised with the help of an adult witch but the help was only to provide for her financially and ensure that she is cared for by nannies and staff alone in a house. The witches all believe that they are better alone, their power together is too scary and will bring attention to themselves. Mika craves connection so when she received an email asking her to be a teacher to 3 young witches she has to see what is going on.
We have 3 young witches, a gay older couple, a woman and Jamie a young librarian all living on the property and the witch that brought them all together is out on adventures and the 3 young girls are needing to learn control of their craft.
I loved the found family, connections with one another, romance that blossoms, the 3 kids, the magic and just how cozy and happy this book made me.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this one. It really tackles the mask that people who have depression put on during daily interactions in an effort to protect themselves and hide their true emotions/feelings.
The MMC is a single dad and he is fat and I really liked that aspect of the book and seeing his relationship with his daughter was adorable. Seeing the FMC come out of her shell and open up and have a supportive partner was great.
The MMC is a single dad and he is fat and I really liked that aspect of the book and seeing his relationship with his daughter was adorable. Seeing the FMC come out of her shell and open up and have a supportive partner was great.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I LOVED this book! Rachel knocked it out of the park.
The way in which she talks about female pleasure and how often it goes to the wayside in a hetero relationship. I also really loved the way in which communication during sexual encounters comes into play with these 2 as the FMC is teaching the MMC what he can do to help ensure pleasure.
I really loved the humor, build to the relationship, Jewish MCs, the tension and spicy scenes were great and overall I just really loved the book. HIGHLY recommend!
The way in which she talks about female pleasure and how often it goes to the wayside in a hetero relationship. I also really loved the way in which communication during sexual encounters comes into play with these 2 as the FMC is teaching the MMC what he can do to help ensure pleasure.
I really loved the humor, build to the relationship, Jewish MCs, the tension and spicy scenes were great and overall I just really loved the book. HIGHLY recommend!