dawnshaee's reviews
177 reviews

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.5

Pomegranate by Helen Elaine Lee

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

adventurous 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

4.75

Rana Joon and the One and Only Now by Shideh Etaat

inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

It was an alright read, I don’t regret reading it. For YA it doesn’t get too deep into the layered aspects of Rana’s life, although I wish it would have. 

The story was a bit buried underneath the hearty “advice” on what felt like every single page, but I get why it was important for Rana to process and self-actualize. I wanted more from the mentorship/role models that were present in her life.

The whole rap battle piece felt unnecessary, there wasn’t any battling happening? For the sake of rap battle culture I could’ve done without it, even though it was supposed to be a big part of her connection to her deceased best friend.

So This Is Why I'm Broke: Money Lessons on Financial Literacy, Passive Income, and Generational Wealth by Melissa Jean-Baptiste

informative

4.0

Taming Clint Westmoreland by Brenda Jackson

funny lighthearted fast-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

4.0

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

Wings of Red by James W. Jennings

adventurous funny reflective sad fast-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

5.0

Babel by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark informative reflective sad slow-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

3.75

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

dark emotional inspiring 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

4.0