booknerd_life's reviews
204 reviews

A Sign of Affection, Volume 8 by suu Morishita

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Mansies dyed his hair and gained a whole new personality LOL

I really loved this volume! Yuki and Itsuomi take their relationship to the next step as they decide to move in together and he meets her parents. This volume also shows how much Itsu has learned sign language as he is able to interpret for Yuki now. Makes my heart all warm.

A Sign of Affection, Volume 7 by suu Morishita

lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This series is just so cute! Yuki specifically is more confident in their relationship in this volume. I love how trusting, communicative, and considerate Yuki and Itsuomi are with each other.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

I was so scared for this book because Rainbow Rowell always refers to it as “[redacted] spiritual older sibling” and [redacted] didn’t have a happy ending. I was afraid this book would hurt my heart.

And it did in some ways. But this book was so REAL. I don’t know how Rainbow does it, but she is so GOOD at making her characters feel so realistic. Their love story seems so real, their experiences seem so real. Motherhood, relationships, exes, family drama, sex, everything doesn’t feel like fiction. I do not know how else to describe it, her writing is just magical. It’s like Rainbow just GETS what it’s like to be alive and human. She understands the human experience.

This book was told in different timelines. Past and present and it was interwoven so beautifully. And every single chapter was THEM. Shiloh and Cary. The whole entire book was them. There was no “third act conflict” because the whole book was conflict that ended in resolution. They got together and STAYED together. It make perfect sense. 

It’s not a fluffy or spicy romance book. It’s a real, raw, and bittersweet love story. Friends to lovers and second chance romance. I don’t know where Slow Dance ends up in the hierarchy on my favorite Rainbow Rowell novels, but I know Shiloh and Cary’s story will linger in my mind for awhile.


**[redacted] is due to the title of the book I’m referring to being published under St. Martin’s Press. That publishing house is currently under a social media boycott. Take a look at the Instagram page called Readers for Accountability for more information.

A Sign of Affection, Volume 3 by suu Morishita

lighthearted

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This series is so cute and wholesome!! And Itsuomi is so swoon-worthy! 
“Is it okay if I fall for you?”
“I’ll make the time.”

A. Man.

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

adventurous emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I did NOT expect to cry my eyes out over a fictional Mars rover, but here we are. Resilience, Fly, Journey, Guardian. Rania, Xander, Sophie. These characters and their personalities made this story. The themes of perseverance, resilience, and life really stick with you. 

The way the story was told through Res's perspective and from Sophie's diary entry letters to him was a stroke of brilliance. It wove together stories of robot vs. human. 

I fear this middle grade book has changed me in the best way possible. 

And now I want to do some research for fun about the Mars rovers!

Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist Mavynee Betsch by Heidi Tyline King

informative inspiring

5.0

Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of MaVynee Betsch and that is such a shame because the  story of American Beach and her activism deserves to be shouted from the rooftops! 

This was an amazing informational text and the illustrations were absolutely STUNNING.

A Sign of Affection, Volume 2 by suu Morishita

lighthearted

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is such a cute series!

My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa M. Mollel

inspiring lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I’m writing a math literature lesson plan for this book and it’s such a heartwarming read. Saruni saving his money to buy a bicycle in order to help his Mom transport market goods is truly the most precious thing ever.

The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife Vol. 3 by IWATOBINEKO

lighthearted

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

So freaking cute! I love Tounome and Yakou so much. Their relationship is so precious and sweet and wholesome. I loved the scene at the flower shop where they were swooning over one another.

I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 05 by Okura

funny hopeful lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This book started off so strongly. It’s mainly about Hiroki and Yuri’s Dad coming back into the picture. It took him 5 volumes, but I’m glad the Dad finally experienced growth and changed his ways. It was my favorite part because it really shows how people really are capable of change, and that the love for your child trumps all. 

I just wish we had more storyline. I wanted to see an explicit coming out for Hiroki, whether it be to just Yuri, or Asumi, or Daigo, or his parents. Hiroki has spent his entire life hiding his true self, I wish we got to see him be comfortable in the finale of this series. 

I also wish we got more time with Yuri. It appeared he was aromantic asexual, but the book only used the word asexual. Kinda a big pet peeve of mine when authors use aromantic traits/behavior to explain asexuality. They are two completely different things.