Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'
Blackout by Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, Ashley Woodfolk, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Tiffany D. Jackson
20 reviews
tigger89's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
This was another read for work, and definitely not my preferred genre. However, I was surprised by what I was able to find to enjoy. I think if you're someone who enjoys short, sweet, YA love stories, this book would be perfect for you. I will caution that these aren't romances, as not every one ends in a happily-ever-after or happy-for-now. But I will say that the main character in each story winds up fulfilled, whatever that might mean in their situation, so there are no bad endings in this book.
Aside from the obvious not-my-genre situation, the other thing I didn't like about this book was how inconsistently well anxiety was portrayed. Contrasting Mask Off with The Long Walk, I found the depiction of Tremaine's claustrophobia very relatable, and while at first Tammi's anxiety over the impending bridge situation was also spot-on, at the end it evaporated in a puff of plot resolution. True love doesn't overcome crippling anxiety! That's like everybody cheering as the guy in the wheelchair gets up and starts walking at the end of the movie. It just…doesn't work like that. Sure would be nice if it did!
There's some LGB content in this book, for those who look for that. Mask Off is about two boys, and Made to Fit is sapphic(also ownvoices, or close enough — Ashley Woodfolk is bi). T+ content is limited to the background, however.
If rating just off my own opinion, I would probably give this a 3.5, based largely off of how much I (unexpectedly!) genuinely enjoyed No Sleep Till Brooklyn. However, because I have few constructive complaints and mostly just feel that it was Not For Me, I'm going to be generous and bump it up to a 4.
Aside from the obvious not-my-genre situation, the other thing I didn't like about this book was how inconsistently well anxiety was portrayed. Contrasting Mask Off with The Long Walk, I found the depiction of Tremaine's claustrophobia very relatable, and while at first Tammi's anxiety over the impending bridge situation was also spot-on, at the end it evaporated in a puff of plot resolution. True love doesn't overcome crippling anxiety! That's like everybody cheering as the guy in the wheelchair gets up and starts walking at the end of the movie. It just…doesn't work like that. Sure would be nice if it did!
There's some LGB content in this book, for those who look for that. Mask Off is about two boys, and Made to Fit is sapphic(also ownvoices, or close enough — Ashley Woodfolk is bi). T+ content is limited to the background, however.
If rating just off my own opinion, I would probably give this a 3.5, based largely off of how much I (unexpectedly!) genuinely enjoyed No Sleep Till Brooklyn. However, because I have few constructive complaints and mostly just feel that it was Not For Me, I'm going to be generous and bump it up to a 4.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Terminal illness, Dementia, Cancer, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Racism
Claustrophobia is depicted in Mask Off, and acrophobia in The Long Walk.kaitlinlovesbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Homophobia, and Death
taylorleilani's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Cancer, and Death
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
This was such a cute collection of short stories about young love and discovering who you are—all set against a blackout in New York City.
For being short stories, they were all connected and worked well together; these characters are all unknowingly trying to get to the same block party, which made for a fitting finale. I loved how much we learn about each character even though we don't spend a ton of time with any of them—it was great writing! I loved that NYC felt like its own character; it's always fun when authors do that.
Overall, these were sweet stories celebrating young Black love that made my heart happy and hopeful. Definitely recommend if you enjoy YA romance or if you just need a lighthearted pick-me-up book.
For being short stories, they were all connected and worked well together; these characters are all unknowingly trying to get to the same block party, which made for a fitting finale. I loved how much we learn about each character even though we don't spend a ton of time with any of them—it was great writing! I loved that NYC felt like its own character; it's always fun when authors do that.
Overall, these were sweet stories celebrating young Black love that made my heart happy and hopeful. Definitely recommend if you enjoy YA romance or if you just need a lighthearted pick-me-up book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Death, and Cancer
mandkips's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Bullying
Minor: Homophobia, Cancer, and Death
onemorepagecrew's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
Blackout is a collection of YA romantic short stories that simply felt good to read. The line up of authors is stellar and it was fun to see them in this format.
The stories all center on Black teen love during the New York City heatwave and blackout. They stand alone as stories and feel cohesive in the way the setting brings them together. It’s YA type romance and captures that young crush feeling balanced with teenagers settling into their own personal identities.
Several relationships are LGBTQ+ inclusive and everything has a charming quality to it. If you’re looking for a quick read that will make you feel good, this is a wonderful pick.
Content warnings (all minor): panic attacks, grief, death, bullying
The stories all center on Black teen love during the New York City heatwave and blackout. They stand alone as stories and feel cohesive in the way the setting brings them together. It’s YA type romance and captures that young crush feeling balanced with teenagers settling into their own personal identities.
Several relationships are LGBTQ+ inclusive and everything has a charming quality to it. If you’re looking for a quick read that will make you feel good, this is a wonderful pick.
Content warnings (all minor): panic attacks, grief, death, bullying
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Bullying, and Homophobia
amivireads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Death, Homophobia, and Bullying
jessica_wilder's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Homophobia
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
An incredible concept. A beautiful read. Thank you to Dhonielle Clayton for bringing together Team Blackout Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon to write beautiful love stories. I couldn’t put it down & I didn’t want it to end. It was lovely to read love stories that normalize Black and queer relationships of all types. Love is love and this book shows that love can come to us in many forms, which is truly the beauty of it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, and Homophobia
arireadsitall's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
This book just filled my heart with so much YA happiness. It’s a story of black love, black loss, black joy, and it’s all centered around a blackout in New York on a hot summer day. The cast of characters written by these amazingly talented authors are unforgettable despite being featured in short stories. They’re the characters you root for as they search for themselves during this night en route to a summer block party. I loved the connection between stories and how they led to this one event!
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief