justinepucellawinans's reviews
151 reviews

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

Monstrous by Jessica Lewis

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dark tense fast-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

5.0

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is an absolutely perfect whirlwind of a romance that evokes the heartwarming, larger-than-life feelings of YA classics while still feeling absolutely fresh and modern and also being very queer (which makes it infinitely better, sorry not sorry). I tore through the pages, adoring both the complex, relatable and loveable characters of Abby and Leo, and found myself falling deeper and deeper in love with Underhill's writing in the short time I spent with this beautiful, beautiful book.

Funny, emotional, relatable, romantic, and downright magic--this sophomore novel is an instant YA romance favorite that won't need time at all to settle right in your heart. I seriously couldn't have loved it more! 
Saints of the Household by Ari Tison

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Beholder by Ryan La Sala

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dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

Did I get a little lightheaded after reading one graphic scene? Yes. Is the book still one of my all time favorites? ALSO YES. 

Andrew Joseph White is a master of horror who simply does not miss. I loved everything about this book, from Silas and Daphne to the beautiful language to the gripping tension to the absolute heartbreak and rage. 

It was so gross, so gay, so gender, so gutteral and glorious and I was feral over every page. 
All the Fighting Parts by Hannah V. Sawyerr

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This is a stunning, healing, emotional masterpiece. I knew I was going to love it but I still wasn't prepared for how much I did. I love reading novels-in-verse, but this still felt special as Amina felt relatable and real in a way that isn't always accomplished and still made me laugh through the tears. Yet that didn't take away from the absolute beauty of the poetry. I'm glad I'm not a highlighter, because there are so many breathtaking, gorgeous, and powerful quotes that I'd have over half the book lined in yellow.

While dealing with a difficult subject, it doesn't only do so with grace and care, it does so in a way that is necessary. I feel like there were poems that spoke to a part of me that still felt broken, a part of me I wanted to give up on learning to love, and provided that little bit of healing in knowing we aren't alone, we are all fighters, and we survived. Maybe this is becoming slightly unhinged but I am still teary and what I am getting at is that ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS is a book that will tug at and warm your heart, that will see the conflicting emotions you didn't even know you still held, and will give you lifesaving lines you will feel in your bones. 

An absolutely remarkable debut that is a masterclass in structure, poetry, and making your readers cry (in the best way), Hannah V. Sawyerr is a talent that shouldn't be missed and I absolutely cannot wait to read everything and anything else she crafts. 
The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

An authentic, relatable, and important book with a vibrant and loveable cast that deals with tough topics in an empathetic and healing way. I didn't know how much I needed this story until I finished it, and as emotional as I am now, I absolutely loved it. Couldn't recommend more.