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eff_reads's reviews
13 reviews
Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
good beach read, would rec if your a fan of The Bard. authentic but def not too heavy autism & anxiety rep. however, i thought it was a bit to insta-love and i COULD NOT stand the nickname’s the Wilmont sisters have for each other (KitKat, JuJu, & BeeBee) esp when they called each other that every other sentence. the pacing was atrocious. certain plot points wrapped up too neatly or weren’t fully fleshed to have the emotional impact/gravity: <juliet’s relationship abuse> and i didn’t really care for like the background characters who worked in the store. but, jamie & bea were adorable with such a perfect grumpy/sunshine pairing. i would’ve given this a three stars, but the third half of the book was POORLY done. absolutely hate it when <couple’s break up within the last 40 pages> overall a fun time
Beloved by Toni Morrison
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
read for class and honestly i don’t think i truly understood this book the way i needed to understand it. i expected it to be more magical realism esp around beloved’s character and where she comes from, but it was ultimately lacking in that regard & left me with so many questions. the prose and writing were undeniably good, but it can become tedious when the plot is so goddamn SLOW. also i really HATED Paul D with everything in me. i am #certified Paul D hater and failing to understand the chemistry between the two really put a bad taste of Sethe’s development at the end. at it’s core, Beloved is truly about and for Black enslaved women who are survivors. survivors of sexual abuse & trauma from slavery. it’s about the power family can carry. it was heavy & hard to read most times, would only recommend in the right head space.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
best book out of the brown sisters trilogy. jacob and eve absolutely STOLE my heart & y’all the 🌶️ was insane!!!!! Hibbert is truly a master at cute mc’s with amazing banter & a fun plot line. it’s hallmark (but better, more diverse, and if it was spicy!!)
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
witty, charming, & truly hilarious. this is the rom-com of a book nerd’s reads & deserves a film adaptation. emily henry is a master at pairing two love interests with quick + sharp banter that will leave you wanting more. my grife with emily henry books is that i can never distinctly understand/know the love interest like i know our mc but everything good about her books overshadow lack of distinction between her man mc/women mc.
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
hated how the book never used the word lesbian, but other than pretty chill YA romcom
D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins
Did not finish book. Stopped at 123%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 123%.
i liked it. might pick it up again! it was very fun and cute reality tv vibes for sure. if you liked this book highly recommend The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
- definitely not what i was expecting like i felt like it was way too hyped up in the booktube community
- i didn’t like how the culture appropriation was addressed
- couldn’t really see the romance. it felt very weirdly placed
- the pacing of the book was off a little
- enjoyable, but not anything special or eye opening for me
- i didn’t like how the culture appropriation was addressed
- couldn’t really see the romance. it felt very weirdly placed
- the pacing of the book was off a little
- enjoyable, but not anything special or eye opening for me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia and Racism
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
thinks i disliked:
- the concept of echo being a wizard (the magic system and the idea wasn’t fully executed
- a lot of ideas and things mentioned in the story did not add to the plot line and felt very watered down. other goodreads reviews does a good job at explaining it so i would direct you to @BangBangBooks review on goodreads
- it often felt confusing at times and it was hard to keep up
things i liked:
- that it was an own voices novel
- the narration done by the author. i highly recommend the audiobook
- the bravery it takes to share a story like this
- the discussions of how often Black women are left out in the community by Black men
- discussions on rape culture and how it can be perpetuated by the Black community
- the concept of echo being a wizard (the magic system and the idea wasn’t fully executed
- a lot of ideas and things mentioned in the story did not add to the plot line and felt very watered down. other goodreads reviews does a good job at explaining it so i would direct you to @BangBangBooks review on goodreads
- it often felt confusing at times and it was hard to keep up
things i liked:
- that it was an own voices novel
- the narration done by the author. i highly recommend the audiobook
- the bravery it takes to share a story like this
- the discussions of how often Black women are left out in the community by Black men
- discussions on rape culture and how it can be perpetuated by the Black community
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
beautiful story. it tackles multiple subjects including coming out, homophobia, transphobia, queerness, Blackness, going to a private school etc. a lot of things i could relate to and others that i found really informative. i recommend the audiobook format because George M. Johnson does a great job at narrating their own story. i’m rating this a 5/5 because of the things i’ve learned and how seen i felt in this novel, not because i’m rating the authors life or their life experiences. everyone has their own and i’m so thankful they decided to share their story for Black queer children who might need to hear it. we need more Black queer stories and we need more representation for those who never had any. this book also talked about how sometimes George didn’t even have answers themselves. it was all learning and going, i liked how realistic they were about their experiences. being queer and Black is a multitude of goodness and badness. and sometimes an in between, this is not everyone’s own journey but i loved that did show what it looked like for most Black queer ppl especially in America and especially with transphobia and homophobia within our our own communities. All Boys Aren’t Blue is a story about hope but also grief and what it means to is discover who you are for your self. it’s beautiful and something i’ll keep with me forever <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Transphobia
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
such a beautiful book. i really fell in love with eleanor and i really felt for her. at first i didn’t like her but throughout the novel my heart melted like ice. eleanor is completely funny, realistic, and honest. i have a few problems within the inconsistencies of the book such as the ending/plot twist, the lack of detail towards certain events, and i felt like some topics could’ve been explored more deeply or atleast get some what of more than surface level exploration. i loved that this book really made an emphasis on the importantance of friendship and how kindness can truly change people’s lives. i didn’t expect this book to be a 4.5 stars but it did blow me away and i found myself laughing, teary-eyed, and full of utter enjoyment. ‘twas a good read and a lovely experience ☺️💞
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent