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cielosiluminado's reviews
311 reviews
Unravel Me by Becka Mack
the hidden identity trope in this was alright but what really made this book more captivating was the single parent trope as that one always eats
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Hidden…identity…” She underlines it three times. “I love this trope.”
the hidden identity trope in this was alright but what really made this book more captivating was the single parent trope as that one always eats
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming and Pregnancy
Play With Me by Becka Mack
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i loved garrett but had mixed feelings when it comes to jennie the entire time. also this didn’t need to be over 500 pages, it was dragged on too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
janie having survived in two horrible, abusive marriages before she was even 30 made me root for her love life so much. she then gave it another shot with tea cake later on in her life, which was a gamble she bravely took. i was a fan of tea cake and the way he loved janie until chapter 17 where he hit her because of his own fears and jealousy and because it made him feel more secure as a man. i had to lower my rating because of it. like the justifications/explanations in the story were dumb as hell and everyone just moves on? big sigh.
at the end of the day, i just wanted janie to have her happily ever after everything she went through. and she did, by herself. she constantly defied expectations to gain her freedom and independence, remained fierce despite all the struggles she faced, and was unapologetically herself until the end. i admire her to this day.
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
this was probably one of the few classics i actually enjoyed to read when i was in high school. then i remembered writing a paper on it when i took women’s literature in college and got such high marks in it, i was so proud. it’s been over 5 years since i last read this and i decided to pick it up again for my monthly classic of 2024.
prior to first reading this book years ago, i dreaded it because the title made me think it was going to be religious, which i avoid in books. once i read it, i quickly realized that it is not religious. it’s a fantastic, metaphorical tale of a black woman’s life in the early 1900s in southern usa and her search for independence.
truly, hurston’s writing is incredible. there is a reason why she is now regarded as one of the greats. in this book, the way she wrote janie (the main character) and her life’s journey throughout the story is detailed magnificently.
that being said, despite how much i loved it at first i have to admit, somehow i overlooked something in my first reads back then that i cannot even begin to justify now.
prior to first reading this book years ago, i dreaded it because the title made me think it was going to be religious, which i avoid in books. once i read it, i quickly realized that it is not religious. it’s a fantastic, metaphorical tale of a black woman’s life in the early 1900s in southern usa and her search for independence.
truly, hurston’s writing is incredible. there is a reason why she is now regarded as one of the greats. in this book, the way she wrote janie (the main character) and her life’s journey throughout the story is detailed magnificently.
that being said, despite how much i loved it at first i have to admit, somehow i overlooked something in my first reads back then that i cannot even begin to justify now.
He slapped her around a bit to show he was boss.
janie having survived in two horrible, abusive marriages before she was even 30 made me root for her love life so much. she then gave it another shot with tea cake later on in her life, which was a gamble she bravely took. i was a fan of tea cake and the way he loved janie until chapter 17 where he hit her because of his own fears and jealousy and because it made him feel more secure as a man. i had to lower my rating because of it. like the justifications/explanations in the story were dumb as hell and everyone just moves on? big sigh.
at the end of the day, i just wanted janie to have her happily ever after everything she went through. and she did, by herself. she constantly defied expectations to gain her freedom and independence, remained fierce despite all the struggles she faced, and was unapologetically herself until the end. i admire her to this day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, and Slavery
Consider Me by Becka Mack
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
1. this was unnecessarily long, it could’ve been 300 pages shorter and it would’ve been fine
2. he refers to his dick as his sword of thunder
2. he refers to his dick as his sword of thunder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i don’t really wanna talk about the couple as they were so unnecessarily complicated (and boring) so these stars are for cora holland and the side characters only
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Grief
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
this was the hunger games x percy jackson but lgbtq+ influenced by mexican mythology. i actually really loved it!!! the plot twist towards the end??? i don’t know if i should feel impressed or betrayed...
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.5
By nature of their short existence, the humans held more compassion and empathy, loved more fiercely, than any god could through an eternity.
this was the hunger games x percy jackson but lgbtq+ influenced by mexican mythology. i actually really loved it!!! the plot twist towards the end??? i don’t know if i should feel impressed or betrayed...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Dysphoria
Minor: Child death and Death
Love Lessons by Sidney Halston
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? N/A
2.5
after reading this, i can 100% say that there is a very thin line between love, hate, and the not-so mentioned: lust.
i found this to be a cute and realistic accidental pregnancy story. usually i’m not a big fan of that type of trope but for some reason it worked in this story that features two kindergarten teachers who couldn’t stand each other while teaching at the same school.
this wasn’t an enemies-to-lovers per sé (as it is marketed), but more of a dislike-to-like romance. i had hoped we would’ve seen more of their romantic relationship developing but we didn’t and the ending felt a bit rushed. it was still cute though!
special thanks to NetGalley and Avon / HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
i found this to be a cute and realistic accidental pregnancy story. usually i’m not a big fan of that type of trope but for some reason it worked in this story that features two kindergarten teachers who couldn’t stand each other while teaching at the same school.
this wasn’t an enemies-to-lovers per sé (as it is marketed), but more of a dislike-to-like romance. i had hoped we would’ve seen more of their romantic relationship developing but we didn’t and the ending felt a bit rushed. it was still cute though!
special thanks to NetGalley and Avon / HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual content and Medical content
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this was really dark, difficult, and captivating to read, but the underwhelming ending disappointed me if i’m being honest...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
i genuinely think this story could have been really amazing, and maybe the sequel will be, but this book lacked something i couldn’t even pinpoint in the end. i thoroughly enjoyed the influences of the jamaican and carribean folklore/fantasy that was interwoven in this story.
the initial world-building was beautiful. and the fictional cultures, a formerly occupied island-country and the occupiers, and their histories, were also so complex in the beginning but then it got to a point where we had to guess something when it came to their histories because it wasn’t previously stated.
the magic system in this story was interesting and the dragons were cute. it was some of the best fleshed out aspects of the story.
the miscommunication in this story between the two protagonists, who are sisters, made me want to rage. there was moments where i had to set the book down to take a breather lol.
despite how much it made me want to rage, the miscommunication also progressed the story and made it so dramatic and fantastical in the end, which kept me captured. a double-edged sword trope? i don’t know, but i am intrigued to read the sequel.
-----
I NEED TO PROCESS THIS — rtc
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“Being forced to learn the language of your oppressors is an oppression of the mind. They rewrite your history when you're too young to know what you're giving away, and before you know it, it's too late to reclaim what you've lost...”
i genuinely think this story could have been really amazing, and maybe the sequel will be, but this book lacked something i couldn’t even pinpoint in the end. i thoroughly enjoyed the influences of the jamaican and carribean folklore/fantasy that was interwoven in this story.
the initial world-building was beautiful. and the fictional cultures, a formerly occupied island-country and the occupiers, and their histories, were also so complex in the beginning but then it got to a point where we had to guess something when it came to their histories because it wasn’t previously stated.
the magic system in this story was interesting and the dragons were cute. it was some of the best fleshed out aspects of the story.
the miscommunication in this story between the two protagonists, who are sisters, made me want to rage. there was moments where i had to set the book down to take a breather lol.
despite how much it made me want to rage, the miscommunication also progressed the story and made it so dramatic and fantastical in the end, which kept me captured. a double-edged sword trope? i don’t know, but i am intrigued to read the sequel.
-----
I NEED TO PROCESS THIS — rtc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, and War
Chasing The Slipstream by Kanitha P.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
1.5
real cringy dialogue, sort of cute ending? there were too many tswift references which made me eye roll every time also unnecessarily long and oddly paced. the side characters were more entertaining than the main ones tbh sort of a let down from book 1.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content