kateyoutka's reviews
841 reviews

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This was really lovely. On its surface, this book is a bizarre piece of magical realism. Below that, it’s a story about the perseverance of love. 

Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion by Sowmya Krishnamurthy

informative medium-paced

4.0

A really thorough and well-written history of how hip-hop and fashion evolved together and separately - a topic I didn’t know much about previously. 

Good Elf Gone Wrong by Alina Jacobs

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

1.0

Wow this was bad. But sometimes you just need some Christmas trash ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow, Ann Friedman

hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

It’ll make you want to hug (or call) your BFF. 

Season's Schemings by Katie Bailey

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• 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

3.5

I’m not a hockey romance girlie but maybe I should be? I liked this a lot more than I expected! I’m definitely going to check out more of Katie Bailey’s books. 

Snow Place Like LA by Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone

lighthearted fast-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

2.75

Cute! I like the Christmas Notch characters. This plot felt rushed, but it’s a novella so what can you do. I love the Julie Murphy-Sierra Simone pairing. 

A Very Merry Margarita Mix-Up by Brittanée Nicole

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.5

Not my favorite, but the characters charmed me. I haven’t read the others in the series and I’m not sure I’d pick them up but…maybe? Idk, I only read this for the Christmas angle and that felt kind of forced. 

Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood by Dawn Turner

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

2.25

I was a little disappointed by this book -- Dawn Turner is a talented writer, and this book is well-written, but I didn't really get into the book until about halfway through. I wasn't really sure what the focus or main narrative thread of the book was until that point. I did enjoy the back half of the book, though.

Well Played by Jen DeLuca

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed this more the first time I read it, but upon this reread I was reminded of how icky the catfishing angle of this book made me feel. While I love Stacey and Daniel together, it’s hard to get past the way their relationship starts in the book. 

Killers of the Flower Moon: Adapted for Young Readers: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

challenging dark sad fast-paced

5.0