anysa's reviews
32 reviews

Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I listened to the audiobook, and that's honestly the only reason why I finished it so quickly (my focus is literally on nowhere to be found....)

Anyways, this book is marketed as academic rivals to lovers, and if you're looking for a cute romance that will make you squeel, this book isn't it. 

The themes of friendship and family and feminism are quite interesting, especially since it's portrait in a high school setting.
The romance honestly felt more like a side plot, which I didn't mind after a while. 

But I would recommend this book if you're more in the mood to think than giggle with a romance book. 

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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

5.0

I'm so happy I picked this up! It's suc  lush beautiful world that I loved so much, Hanalei is so loveable and her dynamic with Sam was so cute and comforting.

De alchemist by Paulo Coelho

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

4.0

This was a fun journey! 

(No) I Am (not) Okay by Dre Hill

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

I don't know how, but Dre Hill made me believe that it is okay to not be okay all the time....

Everyone should read this!!!!

A Meditation on Mortality: A Collection of Flash Fiction by Elizabeth Zarb

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

For a collection about death, this was quite a fun book! 

I would recommend sitting with your thoughts after reading the stories. It's quite realistic with the different stories around death, but I really loved it! 

My favorite story was definitely 'compassion is not just for mortals' 

But I definitely recommend this if you want a story exploring different kinds of death in a poetic way. 

One way ticket to Earth by Daniele Vaccaro

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.0

Daniele Vaccaro reached out to me for an honest review of this short story, and I'm so glad he did!!


This story is, at its core, a story about grief. But it's so much more than that, too. It tackles themes of friendship and trusting ones gut. 

I had such a joy reading this book, especially since his writing style is very poetic. I definitely recommend this book if you want a short Scifi story to just relax with! 

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved Etaf Rum's writing so much!


There is something disturbingly therapeutic about this book, I loved and hated these characters so much...


Except Isra, I want to wrap her tightly into a hug and tell her mind is so beautiful 😭


But in all seriousness, y'all really pick this book up if you want to be confronted by generational trauma in the most painful but beautiful way possible.

Courting Samira by Amal Awad

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

I LOVED THIS NARRATION VOICE


as much as I didn't really love the whole love triangle between them, I could honestly could overlook it because I enjoyed the rom com feel sooo much! 


I don't think I've enjoyed meeting a character as much as I did with Samira, I'd love to read more about her, honestly 👀


In conclusion, I recommend this book if you wanna meet a fantastic main character and feel all the rom com feels!!!! 


Ps. I've never watched The Princess Bride, and this book truly convinced me to watch it now! 

Power Born of Dreams: My Story is Palestine by Mohammad Sabaaneh

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I'm laying in my bed like a puddle right now, and I have no idea how to react to this book....

This grafic novel is like a reality check wrapped into a gut punch and beautiful illustrations all in one 

All I'm going to say is that EVERYONE should read this now!!! 

Side note: this was such a good book to kickstart the Pages 4 Palestine readathon! 

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

I listened to the audiobook, so I speed through it, but I did have my doubts about Teo at the beginning since he seems pretty rude. 

But that quickly changed. Since he's such a misunderstood character, he was definitely my favorite! I love how Bel discovered more about herself through her relationship with Teo, and the commentary about sexism in engineering was an interesting addition.


I'd definitely recommend this if you want a fun romance that also teaches you stuff about robots!