thebooksareeverywhere's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Electric Monkey (Harper Collins) for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book is released on June 24th in the UK.
I have wanted to read this one as soon as I saw it on 2021 YA releases lists. Yes to all of this. Yes to Black voices and Black love stories. Yes to an anthology. Yes to a New York blackout setting. Yes to cute romance. Yes to queer romance. There are so many things I adored in this book.
This is a collection of short stories following different teenagers throughout one night. On this particular night, New York falls into darkness during a blackout, and I adored this setting. It reminds me of the Friends episode The One With the Blackout, which is also one of my favourite episodes because I love the concept of what happens during a weird phenomenon like a city-wide blackout.
The short story concept was so sweet, especially because they kind of intertwined and the characters in some stories mentioned characters from others, which I really liked. I also liked how one of the stories was placed throughout the book in sections, with other stories breaking it up. My only let down was I expected a big scene at the end bringing all of the characters together, and I was a little sad that didn’t happen.
I love how different these stories were, in setting and story and characters. My favourite of the stories was actually sapphic, and was just so sweet. It was set in a home for older people, and the character’s were so sweet. The only downside I find with short stories is I find I struggle to connect to the character’s quite as much because of the lack of time to become connected to them. However, with Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk, my favourite story, I just fell in love with the characters. Also one of these stories was set in New York Public Library, which I adored!
These stories were so cute and fluffy, and made for a perfect summery romance read! I loved the differences between the stories but there actually wasn’t one I disliked. I’d highly recommend this one and especially the Waterstones exclusive edition because those sprayed edges!
★★★★
4 out of 5 stars
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
I have wanted to read this one as soon as I saw it on 2021 YA releases lists. Yes to all of this. Yes to Black voices and Black love stories. Yes to an anthology. Yes to a New York blackout setting. Yes to cute romance. Yes to queer romance. There are so many things I adored in this book.
This is a collection of short stories following different teenagers throughout one night. On this particular night, New York falls into darkness during a blackout, and I adored this setting. It reminds me of the Friends episode The One With the Blackout, which is also one of my favourite episodes because I love the concept of what happens during a weird phenomenon like a city-wide blackout.
The short story concept was so sweet, especially because they kind of intertwined and the characters in some stories mentioned characters from others, which I really liked. I also liked how one of the stories was placed throughout the book in sections, with other stories breaking it up. My only let down was I expected a big scene at the end bringing all of the characters together, and I was a little sad that didn’t happen.
I love how different these stories were, in setting and story and characters. My favourite of the stories was actually sapphic, and was just so sweet. It was set in a home for older people, and the character’s were so sweet. The only downside I find with short stories is I find I struggle to connect to the character’s quite as much because of the lack of time to become connected to them. However, with Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk, my favourite story, I just fell in love with the characters. Also one of these stories was set in New York Public Library, which I adored!
These stories were so cute and fluffy, and made for a perfect summery romance read! I loved the differences between the stories but there actually wasn’t one I disliked. I’d highly recommend this one and especially the Waterstones exclusive edition because those sprayed edges!
★★★★
4 out of 5 stars
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
kba76's review against another edition
4.0
Blackout is a collection of short stories from some fantastic contemporary writers. The premise is straightforward - New York City experiences a blackout and, in the time it takes for light to be restored, we are given an insight into some of the lives of those caught up in the experience.
The six writers involved in this collaboration talk about being keen to show the lives of black teens and to try to ensure a fairer representation for readers. It is clear they are a tight-knit group of writers/friends, and it does seem to have been an interesting collaboration since there are strands running throughout the stories.
The afterword stresses that this book began as a project doing the unsettling first period of adjusting to life in Covid-affected times. Drawing on a common experience, and showing how just one moment can impact on the lives of many is clearly at the fore of the stories. They all explore love - in some form - and the stories/experiences are varied (just as you would expect in life).
Naturally, some of the stories are more engaging than others. I'd hazard a guess that every reader will find a favourite set of characters/story, and it might not necessarily be the one written by the author that you would predict. The story by Tiffany Jackson acts as a framing device for all the stories, and though we spend more time with them these two characters still felt as if there could be more to come from their story.
For me, each story focused on a moment and captured a reaction/thought/idea. They were all cautiously optimistic and offered readers the opportunity to draw a little closer. This might not be the kind of story collection I'd return to time and time again, but I'd certainly recommend it to readers looking for something a little different from writers they are familiar with.
The six writers involved in this collaboration talk about being keen to show the lives of black teens and to try to ensure a fairer representation for readers. It is clear they are a tight-knit group of writers/friends, and it does seem to have been an interesting collaboration since there are strands running throughout the stories.
The afterword stresses that this book began as a project doing the unsettling first period of adjusting to life in Covid-affected times. Drawing on a common experience, and showing how just one moment can impact on the lives of many is clearly at the fore of the stories. They all explore love - in some form - and the stories/experiences are varied (just as you would expect in life).
Naturally, some of the stories are more engaging than others. I'd hazard a guess that every reader will find a favourite set of characters/story, and it might not necessarily be the one written by the author that you would predict. The story by Tiffany Jackson acts as a framing device for all the stories, and though we spend more time with them these two characters still felt as if there could be more to come from their story.
For me, each story focused on a moment and captured a reaction/thought/idea. They were all cautiously optimistic and offered readers the opportunity to draw a little closer. This might not be the kind of story collection I'd return to time and time again, but I'd certainly recommend it to readers looking for something a little different from writers they are familiar with.
dinipandareads's review against another edition
5.0
I tend to struggle with anthologies but this one surprised me in the best possible way! Most of the anthologies I've read have stories that stand separate from each other so I was pleasantly surprised to see that these stories would interweave. It was a delight to learn how each new character we meet is linked or connected to someone we've already met thanks to school, the neighbourhood and their friends and families. I loved the way the history of the previous blackouts were woven into the story and linked to previous generations' love stories, too. These stories were so full of love, hope, and the inklings of wonderful new beginnings!
stlkatiek's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book featured six interconnected YA love stories centered around black teens in a blackout in NYC. Not quite my usual read, and the stories did get a bit redundant, but I enjoyed it.
Read it because:
Book Club is reading White Out, the follow-up to this collection, in January, and I wanted to read this first.
Read it because:
Book Club is reading White Out, the follow-up to this collection, in January, and I wanted to read this first.
erykah13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
itsmehiimtheproblemitsme1's review against another edition
5.0
Such a cute fluffy book. 5 stars because every story was beautiful and well written ❤️
iloveinejghafa_'s review against another edition
5.0
One of my best reads of the year
I love the dynamic the stories have, that finding love again in crisis speaks to me and just makes everything a whole lot more special.
I really enjoyed reading each author’s mini story, and the character development, though small as it is a short story, was written so thoroughly and I ate it up. Delicious, it was.
The end.
I love the dynamic the stories have, that finding love again in crisis speaks to me and just makes everything a whole lot more special.
I really enjoyed reading each author’s mini story, and the character development, though small as it is a short story, was written so thoroughly and I ate it up. Delicious, it was.
The end.
jaiden_f4309's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
dfrancis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
delonnag's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely adding this book to my classroom library. I would love to do a book club too. Highly recommend.