bookishlysimsy's reviews
239 reviews

Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Disclaimer: I was provided a physical ARC by the publisher in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Rating: Starred

Cool for the Summer was an unexpectedly relatable and fun read. Filled with teenage angst, discovering one's identity and changes in sexuality, the changing of friendships and relationships, and more, this book is sure to take you on an emotional ride.

Check out my full review, available on my blog now!

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza
Did not finish book.

The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Disclaimer: I was provided a physical galley by the publisher in return for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores had so much potential and anticipated hype. Unfortunately, it did not deliver on any of it.

Rating: Non-Starred (not recommended)

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!

Please note: antisemitic tropes were found by several readers, including myself, throughout the book. If you ultimately decide to read, tread carefully.

A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.

This book started off good but got increasingly frustrating.

• Main character's mom increasingly hated on a woman that had done absolutely nothing to her just because she was married to the celebrity she was obsessed with
• Eye shape was described using food, didn't sit right with me
• One thought would sometimes spiral across several pages and take forever to get to the point

Starting Over on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.

I am not the readership for this book for the following reasons:

• Gave a very pro-life feeling throughout
• Main character is Hawaiian but would be no different if she was white. Save for the occasional cringe dialogue from a relative, there was no detailing of her being Hawaiian except for the mention of it and her skin tone.

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.

This book was incredibly boring. Slowly paced with a dry sense of humor that does not come across the page well makes for a bad mix of ingredients in the story. That, combined with the every now and again random inserts of morally/politically correct arguments that happen (and not to say that these can't happen, but again, they were random and didn't fit into the story), it was not a good reading experience.

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

The Weight of Blood is a brilliant masterpiece that will leave you questioning for days to come.

Rating: Starred

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Disclaimer: I was provided a physical copy by the publisher for the purpose of reviewing. This does not affect my opinion.

Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo is an imaginative, intriguing story.

Rating: Starred

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!

I'm Not Supposed to Be in the Dark by Riss M. Neilson

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

Disclaimer: I was provided a digital galley via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. This does not affect my opinion.

I'm Not Supposed to Be in the Dark is a magical, beautifully agonizing novel. This book will sweep you under a spell and hold your hand as it plays on your emotions.

Rating: Starred

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive tomorrow!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Gore, Vomit, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris is a slow-burn thriller with an unexpected twist waiting to rear its ugly head.

Rating: Starred

Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!