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anni_banani's reviews
50 reviews
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
I was in love with both MCs, loved them together, loved their romance. no lesbian tropes here! The best lesbian romance I've ever read period.
this was a fast read that pulled me in and I gobbled it up so fast. I was happily surprised by the ending!
Why this 5 stars for me - The book healed me in so many ways baby girl
im writing a sequel in my head, its so good!
Fan made read along playlist that is so effing good and incredibly specific https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5WYsthkEiPGBifWlYVijvg?si=0zLn1iSnQeOLfBGbnAkZYQ&pi=u-HaacJAh-SM-u
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Sonora Reyes you are one of my favorite authors after reading this book. 5 stars for healing my heart
First let me say that I completely trust Sonora after reading both of their books. This book covers plenty of traumatic issues and character's struggle but I never was triggered. The content warning in the beginning of the book enough for me. I was tense at times but my butt was relaxed rather than tense enough to make a diamond from coal.
I was in love with both MCs, loved them together, loved their romance. no lesbian tropes here! The best lesbian romance I've ever read period.
this was a fast read that pulled me in and I gobbled it up so fast. I was happily surprised by the ending!
Why this 5 stars for me - The book healed me in so many ways baby girl
- seriously the queer relationships were that good. yay no toxic bullshit!
- I loved the characters so much. sometimes i'm not that lucky...
- I related so much to the family dynamics and really felt seen the way they were represented
I loved the mother's turn around. It was healing to see that as well as see how some parents will never pick up the wake up call. I was sus of the mother Maria but she really earned her spot. parents struggling with accepting their children, this is a great place to start - my first Indigenous Mexican MC
- really meaningful discussion of Race and Cultural Identity
- struggling with self acceptance while still having pride and love for yourself
- The evolution of In Lak’ech Ala K’in- i can feel the stiches on my heart from that one
the way Bo absolved Yamilet of her catholic guilt on confession day though thats not how it was for Caser
im writing a sequel in my head, its so good!
Fan made read along playlist that is so effing good and incredibly specific https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5WYsthkEiPGBifWlYVijvg?si=0zLn1iSnQeOLfBGbnAkZYQ&pi=u-HaacJAh-SM-u
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Deportation
Minor: Bullying and Suicidal thoughts
Chap 22
Road of the Lost by Nafiza Azad
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.75
Other YA books- this is a great book to look to.
DAMN that was one of my top 5 YA books easily. It made it into the “How my Life Would Have Been Different if I Had this as a Teen” ™️category.
The most unique thing in this book to me was the tone jumps; one moment it’s meaningful horny and turning me on 🤣, the next it’s meaningfully with nuance discussing what it’s like to have anxiety depression mood swings, then it’s meaningful commentary on queer lit or life as a bisexual person or race, then a random but meaningful bit about how Palestinian history is white washed. It’s a romance then a comedy then a drama and I’m scared for the MC. I related as life has tone jumps.
Never have I related to this book more as a Pansexual and bisexual person or with my own experience of mental health. Aceves spends the most time painting a detailed nuanced picture from how someone can go from bad sleep to bad self esteem to bad harmful thoughts to suicidal ideations. I love not just the Bi rep here but discussing life as a bi person, what’s to be expected of us depending on our perceived gender, biphobia within the queer community, how attraction happens. Often it’s just a footnote or a characteristic in a novel thrown out with the same care as “she loved coffee and is bisexual” . No rainbow / bi washing here.
I was also really impressed with how I loved the book from start to finish- gobbled it up like the Cookie Monster. But there was areas for characters to be grey, imperfect. The MC and his BFF definitely got some shit to work out in their dynamic like all teens, like all humans, but their love is so true.
One of the reasons I wish I had this book besides mental health, besides breaking down biphobic myths, was the sex positive perspective here. Sex (alone and partnered) should not only be respectful, consensual and safer but also joyful! The characters struggle with this in a real honest way, sometimes internalizing messages that sex is wrong or pressure to have sex, they learn.
Aveces I really hope you get an adult book published cuz this book turned me on so much, I can’t wait to see what you would do with actual grown ups!!!
Read this book for
DAMN that was one of my top 5 YA books easily. It made it into the “How my Life Would Have Been Different if I Had this as a Teen” ™️category.
The most unique thing in this book to me was the tone jumps; one moment it’s meaningful horny and turning me on 🤣, the next it’s meaningfully with nuance discussing what it’s like to have anxiety depression mood swings, then it’s meaningful commentary on queer lit or life as a bisexual person or race, then a random but meaningful bit about how Palestinian history is white washed. It’s a romance then a comedy then a drama and I’m scared for the MC. I related as life has tone jumps.
Never have I related to this book more as a Pansexual and bisexual person or with my own experience of mental health. Aceves spends the most time painting a detailed nuanced picture from how someone can go from bad sleep to bad self esteem to bad harmful thoughts to suicidal ideations. I love not just the Bi rep here but discussing life as a bi person, what’s to be expected of us depending on our perceived gender, biphobia within the queer community, how attraction happens. Often it’s just a footnote or a characteristic in a novel thrown out with the same care as “she loved coffee and is bisexual” . No rainbow / bi washing here.
I was also really impressed with how I loved the book from start to finish- gobbled it up like the Cookie Monster. But there was areas for characters to be grey, imperfect. The MC and his BFF definitely got some shit to work out in their dynamic like all teens, like all humans, but their love is so true.
One of the reasons I wish I had this book besides mental health, besides breaking down biphobic myths, was the sex positive perspective here. Sex (alone and partnered) should not only be respectful, consensual and safer but also joyful! The characters struggle with this in a real honest way, sometimes internalizing messages that sex is wrong or pressure to have sex, they learn.
Aveces I really hope you get an adult book published cuz this book turned me on so much, I can’t wait to see what you would do with actual grown ups!!!
Read this book for
- A great discussion of sexuality and sexual exploration for young adults. How to be doing that joyfully and responsibly and how not to
- East LA
- Breaking down various stereotypes including ones about Bi people, Muslims Arabs and Palestinians, Latines, gay adults, people living with mental illness
- Parents figuring it out as they go and really learning
- Good ass therapists
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Biphobia, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Mass/school shootings
Chap 20
Objectification in a consensual sexual encounter. Fuck boi. Passive Sexual degradation and3 lack of respect for sexual partner
Chapt 25
Online adult/minor flirtation does not result in any type of sexual or grooming relationship. I really loved how this ended and I was personally nervous.
Unsolicited pics of genitalia online
Chapter 28: paranoia about mass shooting
Chap 30 attempted assault while drunk from other teen. Gaslighting
Chap 31 alcohol poisoning, vague
Chap 37 suicide attempt vague
Throughout the book- a lot of family drinking as well as negative body image throughout the first half intermittently
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
please read- disordered eating
I think the most important thing to know is that there's a significant plot point with disordered eating - self starvation for quick weight loss and over working. chapter 11 the love interest white knights and swoops in to take care of her and he doesnt brush it off but like getting treatment is never discussed. eating disorders aren't treated with sexy men.
i gave this all the way to chapter 4 cuz i had a stomach ache and was desperate
great if you like a Daddy who will take care of you and then lightly boss you around in the bedroom but only in a service top kind of way. i bounced around a bit after i stopped
I think the most important thing to know is that there's a significant plot point with disordered eating - self starvation for quick weight loss and over working. chapter 11
i gave this all the way to chapter 4 cuz i had a stomach ache and was desperate
great if you like a Daddy who will take care of you and then lightly boss you around in the bedroom but only in a service top kind of way. i bounced around a bit after i stopped
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Racism, and Sexism
please read- disordered eating
I think the most important thing to know is that there's a significant plot point with disordered eating - self starvation for quick weight loss and over working. chapter 11 the love interest white knights and swoops in to take care of her and he doesnt brush it off but like getting treatment is never discussed. eating disorders aren't treated with sexy men.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
emotional
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This is the best review I can give a book with such an unsatisfying ending. So good otherwise that I just want to write a FixIt FanFic.
This is a Pretty Woman role reversal sort of which I really loved! And I hate pretty woman. Lol
I loved both Stella and Michael and them together
The second book is so good!
This is a Pretty Woman role reversal sort of which I really loved! And I hate pretty woman. Lol
I loved both Stella and Michael and them together
The second book is so good!
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev
This is maybe my fave in the Rajes Series. Dev gives you so much more than you bargained for, a really true and deep character overhaul. Wow the healing in this book outbounds me and that’s why I’ve re read it. I’m a sucker for inter generational storytelling and this book does it so well. I loved Shoban !!
I was so satisfied by the end and will always cry when re reading
I believe the very beginning of chap 33 is when Shoban is r*ped by her husband. One paragraph that is easy to skip if you like. Detailed but brief
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
Loveeee this book!
Overall I love the Rajes series more than the original Austen books personally. The retelling work so so well and Dev pulls them off amazingly. I love listening to her discuss how she came to this series in interviews
What I love in this book
Overall I love the Rajes series more than the original Austen books personally. The retelling work so so well and Dev pulls them off amazingly. I love listening to her discuss how she came to this series in interviews
What I love in this book
- Intergenerational story rotating POV btw mother daughter and daughter’s love interest
- I related too much to Ashna wow. As much as I was frustrated with her sometimes, i completely understand where she was coming from
- I’m attracted to both love interests!
- Rico was a great man MC
- Ashnas character development, wow
- Women in pro sports
- Calling out martial assault and Islamophobia
- Chai mmmmm
- Women in solidarity
This is maybe my fave in the Rajes Series. Dev gives you so much more than you bargained for, a really true and deep character overhaul. Wow the healing in this book outbounds me and that’s why I’ve re read it. I’m a sucker for inter generational storytelling and this book does it so well. I loved Shoban !!
I was so satisfied by the end and will always cry when re reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Islamophobia
Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I love sonali dev- dream of meeting her one day!!
This is the worst book of the Rajes Series mostly because I just never liked Trisha (the MC) that much. I love that she’s a woman unapologetic for her talent skill and being outstanding in her field. She also fiercely loves her family.
I almost dipped out in the beginning because the of the discussion of Blindness and Disability was pretty generic. I’m glad I stayed and finished.
I thought the wickham character being a harmful white woman worked well!
I also love the Dadi character!
This is the worst book of the Rajes Series mostly because I just never liked Trisha (the MC) that much. I love that she’s a woman unapologetic for her talent skill and being outstanding in her field. She also fiercely loves her family.
I almost dipped out in the beginning because the of the discussion of Blindness and Disability was pretty generic. I’m glad I stayed and finished.
I thought the wickham character being a harmful white woman worked well!
I also love the Dadi character!
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I have read the first two books in the Kiss Quotient Series and this book blows the first one out of the water!
It just got better and better all the way through. I loved the opening scene so much! The ending was so so good so satisfying. I loved the pairing, they were both so hot, I thought they were good for each other and had great sex and chemistry. It is rare to get to read a rom com with an immigrant MC especially a character who is just beginning their immigrant journey and I really appreciated that.
I liked Kiss Quotient well, though I hated the ending. Loved this one, totally a Helen Hoang fan now
It just got better and better all the way through. I loved the opening scene so much! The ending was so so good so satisfying. I loved the pairing, they were both so hot, I thought they were good for each other and had great sex and chemistry. It is rare to get to read a rom com with an immigrant MC especially a character who is just beginning their immigrant journey and I really appreciated that.
I liked Kiss Quotient well, though I hated the ending. Loved this one, totally a Helen Hoang fan now