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literaryintersections's reviews
285 reviews
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I did not enjoy this at all. But I also understand why people would like it. Reylo fanfic isn’t my favorite at all but sometimes I can get past it. This one I absolutely could not. It’s boring and childish and so cringe. The writing is fine but it reads like an NA romance - the choices Gwen and Alex/Xander make feel young, the language feels young (which I guess makes sense because she is 22!!!! I didn’t realize she was so young from the blurb). Even the tension wasn’t giving a lot of tension - the ending was predictable and therefore not satisfactory.
Overall this wasn’t for me. Was I biased because I already don’t love how reylo fanfic has taken over the romance industry? Maybe. But regardless I don’t think it’s a good book.
Overall this wasn’t for me. Was I biased because I already don’t love how reylo fanfic has taken over the romance industry? Maybe. But regardless I don’t think it’s a good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I cannot function omg this book is so good. I cried so much in the end. The subtle nods to friendship and love, platonic and romantic. The trauma of childhoods that made you feel abandoned or unloved and how that made Eli push so hard for stability and Georgia push so hard to not need anyone too much. It’s all so relatable. So loving. So hard. So messy.
Jessica does a wonderful job of writing a beautiful love story but also a love story about family or friends: grandparents in YWAV and now friends in TEV. Adam and Eli and Georgia. A friendship that survives so much, end of an era but start of a new one. And Adam and Eli - the ways they showed vulnerability with each other. The crying and emotion is not something you see often with men in romance.
I absolutely loved this. “It’s a privilege to have someone trust you enough to show you those pieces of themselves, the most vulnerable and tender, the least polished. It’s a show of trust to let you see them first thing in the morning, in the middle of a panic attack, right after they’ve cried.” 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Not a 5 star because I wish there was more background into grace and Adam’s identities.
Jessica does a wonderful job of writing a beautiful love story but also a love story about family or friends: grandparents in YWAV and now friends in TEV. Adam and Eli and Georgia. A friendship that survives so much, end of an era but start of a new one. And Adam and Eli - the ways they showed vulnerability with each other. The crying and emotion is not something you see often with men in romance.
I absolutely loved this. “It’s a privilege to have someone trust you enough to show you those pieces of themselves, the most vulnerable and tender, the least polished. It’s a show of trust to let you see them first thing in the morning, in the middle of a panic attack, right after they’ve cried.” 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Not a 5 star because I wish there was more background into grace and Adam’s identities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen
funny
hopeful
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? No
5.0
One of the best books of the summer. Wowowowowow did I love this. I will say from the jump CW for fatphobia - it’s RAMPANT. But I think especially from Uncle Al (TRASH) it’s accurate to the Black community - my grandma called me thunder thighs for years 😂😂
What I loved about this was the growth of Aaliyah and how she always knew she was amazing. And that her weight was part of her that also made her beautiful. I loved the descriptions of clothes also - made me want to be fancier.
And Jazz and Nina were absolutely hilarious like wow BEST FRIENDS in romance are my favorites. Lastly Ahmad????? BRUH SIR HELLO LFG HOTTIE. Absolutely loved him and how much he obviously loved Aaliyah.
This is a perfect summer read.
What I loved about this was the growth of Aaliyah and how she always knew she was amazing. And that her weight was part of her that also made her beautiful. I loved the descriptions of clothes also - made me want to be fancier.
And Jazz and Nina were absolutely hilarious like wow BEST FRIENDS in romance are my favorites. Lastly Ahmad????? BRUH SIR HELLO LFG HOTTIE. Absolutely loved him and how much he obviously loved Aaliyah.
This is a perfect summer read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Death
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
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
4.75
Wow Ali Hazelwood is in her bag and I am just obsessed with Not In Love. As someone who has struggled with Ali's earlier books, and really loved Bride, it has been great to see her come into her own. She is writing what she wants. She is having fun. She is writing erotica with high tension and big conflict. The characters are messy, they are filled with so much trauma, and they love to f*ck. It's actually perfect in such a fun and sticky way.
If you like dual POV, if you struggled with Ali's early books where you have a BIG HULKING MAN and a small tiny woman, if you like characters that dive into their trauma and really peel apart why it is holding them back. This is for you.
If you love Hozier? This. Is. For. You.
I'd love to see Connor and Maya but also wouldn't want to because #agegap lol.
thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy.
If you like dual POV, if you struggled with Ali's early books where you have a BIG HULKING MAN and a small tiny woman, if you like characters that dive into their trauma and really peel apart why it is holding them back. This is for you.
If you love Hozier? This. Is. For. You.
I'd love to see Connor and Maya but also wouldn't want to because #agegap lol.
thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
Minor: Gaslighting
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
WHEW Bobby Tom sucks hahahaha. Gracie is the best (SEP sure knows how to write women) and she deserves better!
I loved seeing Phoebe and Dan. But the best part was the secondary story with Wayland and Suzy. WHEW HOT. I needed a full book for them!
I loved seeing Phoebe and Dan. But the best part was the secondary story with Wayland and Suzy. WHEW HOT. I needed a full book for them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Waiting for Friday Night by Synithia Williams
funny
lighthearted
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
I love this book. I love this town. I love this series. It is so fun and soapy and filled with drama which I am obsessed with. Love a small town? This is for you!
Halle and Quinton are super fun and their "meet cute" is non-traditional. Quinton is the father of Halle's daughter, the product of the sperm that Quinton gave 13 years prior. WHAT A WILD PREMISE. And gives so much fruit for conflict: trying to make their "family" work, Halle having to let go of the reins a bit, Shania finding new family and the impact on her relationship with her mom, Quinton trying to fit into what they have going. While also falling in love with Halle. Add in a small town and some football and you've got a JUICY BOOK. Also I love how Synithia is writing characters over 30 - like this 35+ age is really vibing with me: characters with real jobs and real bills and real struggles. It's so fun and this book is perfect.
I just love Imani and Halle and cannot wait for book three because you know it is gonna be spicy with Brian and what's her name (I am terrible with names lol).
Halle and Quinton are super fun and their "meet cute" is non-traditional. Quinton is the father of Halle's daughter, the product of the sperm that Quinton gave 13 years prior. WHAT A WILD PREMISE. And gives so much fruit for conflict: trying to make their "family" work, Halle having to let go of the reins a bit, Shania finding new family and the impact on her relationship with her mom, Quinton trying to fit into what they have going. While also falling in love with Halle. Add in a small town and some football and you've got a JUICY BOOK. Also I love how Synithia is writing characters over 30 - like this 35+ age is really vibing with me: characters with real jobs and real bills and real struggles. It's so fun and this book is perfect.
I just love Imani and Halle and cannot wait for book three because you know it is gonna be spicy with Brian and what's her name (I am terrible with names lol).
One Of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
If I could give this zero stars I would. This book is harmful and anti-Black and I will tell you why:
1) you have a main character who has clear (and problematic) ideas of what it means to be a Black person. Relax your hair? Not Black enough. Don't watch videos of police brutality of murder of Black people? Not Black enough. Don't wear a fro? Hand in your Black card. Jasmyn is not like Issa Rae: she isn't rooting for everyone Black, only the ones she deems Black enough. And all of that makes it hard to root for her, hard to like her. She is more than an "unlikeable main character" she is actually a horrible human.
2) The entire plot ofBlack people turning white in order to succeed. I feel like I am trying to understand where Yoon is going with this: that Black folks can self-sabotage, that the ways that we try to assimilate are hurting us in the end, that there is no such thing as a Black utopia . But she missed the mark imo. Because what she is showing is that in order of us to survive we need to be white. Also that Blackness is skin, accent, and culture. WHICH IS WILD TO ME. And so reductive. Again, I feel like I kind of understand where she was going with this but it feels so problematic and anti-Black to say that whiteness is the above all. That we can't beat them at their own game so let's play it by becoming them. . The comps to Get Out are both understandable and wildly unfounded: Get Out was subtle and also hit you over the head with the point that to white people, Black folks are just body parts, just a sex, just athleticism. The white folks are the villains. And in this book? The villains are us.... but still ultimately catering to white folks. It made me ill.
3) The husband, the side characters. Everyone was one-dimensional. Her husband? TRASH YOU HEAR ME TRASH. What he did to their child?! No sir. Murdered. I would've killed him. All the secondary characters were like charicatures - that one friend who had the art gallery and was doing the fists all the time like did Nicola know Black people when writing this book? It feels like every person is a stereotype. They all gave us nothing and added nothing to the story
4) The violence by police was not only ripped from the headlines it literally was the headlines. Just using different people's names. Talk about commodifying the murder of Black people! Just again disgusting
I have enjoyed Yoon's previous YA books but this one? Absolutely horrible, offensive, disgusting and anti-Black.
1) you have a main character who has clear (and problematic) ideas of what it means to be a Black person. Relax your hair? Not Black enough. Don't watch videos of police brutality of murder of Black people? Not Black enough. Don't wear a fro? Hand in your Black card. Jasmyn is not like Issa Rae: she isn't rooting for everyone Black, only the ones she deems Black enough. And all of that makes it hard to root for her, hard to like her. She is more than an "unlikeable main character" she is actually a horrible human.
2) The entire plot of
3) The husband, the side characters. Everyone was one-dimensional. Her husband? TRASH YOU HEAR ME TRASH. What he did to their child?! No sir. Murdered. I would've killed him. All the secondary characters were like charicatures - that one friend who had the art gallery and was doing the fists all the time like did Nicola know Black people when writing this book? It feels like every person is a stereotype. They all gave us nothing and added nothing to the story
4) The violence by police was not only ripped from the headlines it literally was the headlines. Just using different people's names. Talk about commodifying the murder of Black people! Just again disgusting
I have enjoyed Yoon's previous YA books but this one? Absolutely horrible, offensive, disgusting and anti-Black.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Kidnapping
The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Ok I have loved Alicia's first two books (With Love, From Cold World is actually stellar) and I was so excited for a #baseballromance. There was a lot of love: Chris being amazing, the vulnerability he showed, the badassery of Daphne's sister in law, the real focus on grief for men and dealing with a family member who has committed suicide, the fun of meeting someone online and clicking, the SEX. But all of this was overshadowed for me by Daphne and the catfishing of it all - I knew it was going to happen. But what I didn't know what how long it is was going to be for. Literally 70+% of the book and Chris doesn't know that the book person he's talking to online is Daphne who he's falling for in person. Like WTF. It made me actually dislike Daphne so much because there was time and time again that she could've told him. Truthfully, she doesn't deserve Chris. And that made it hard for me to love this. If she had told him at 50%? 5 star for sure.
I loved the sex scenes (these might be some of her best and hottest) and I loved the bookstagram of it all. But Daphne's lies really were a sticking point for me.
I loved the sex scenes (these might be some of her best and hottest) and I loved the bookstagram of it all. But Daphne's lies really were a sticking point for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson
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
5.0
I love this book. It’s fun and refreshing. It’s sunny and sweet. It’s a love letter to Providence and Federal Hill. It’s friends to lovers - childhood friends who fake date to help with each other’s careers and then realize they love each other. It’s about growth in a relationship, building your community, injustice in healthcare, and hair care.
Laniah and Isaac were so swoony and I loved seeing them figure out their love amidst challenges externally (society) and internally (Laniah’s chronic health issues). The chronic illness rep was so good primarily because you see how Laniah’s community rallies around her, to support and fight.
I also need Laniah and her mom’s hair care store IMMEDIATELY. I drove down Broadway yesterday and was like…. What if Wildly Green was real?! The Providence love in this (Heartleaf! Seven Sisters!) was phenomenal.
Read this book if you want summer vibes, great Black romance, friends to lovers, and swoons. Congrats @rissmneilson on your amazing romance!!!
Laniah and Isaac were so swoony and I loved seeing them figure out their love amidst challenges externally (society) and internally (Laniah’s chronic health issues). The chronic illness rep was so good primarily because you see how Laniah’s community rallies around her, to support and fight.
I also need Laniah and her mom’s hair care store IMMEDIATELY. I drove down Broadway yesterday and was like…. What if Wildly Green was real?! The Providence love in this (Heartleaf! Seven Sisters!) was phenomenal.
Read this book if you want summer vibes, great Black romance, friends to lovers, and swoons. Congrats @rissmneilson on your amazing romance!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Racism
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
5.0
How do you review a time-bending, genre defying, futuristic yet so timely novel about what it means to not belong: in a place, in a time, in a world that looks at you as an experiment? And how two messed up people can find love in a place where they are both a means to an end.
Yall this book messed me up and I’m not afraid to admit it. Between this, Thirsty by Jas Hammond and Challengers my waking moments are wrapped around biracial people (and as a biracial I always think about us 😂😂). But seriously, my notes of this book are a lot of “wow this paragraph” and “wtf is happening” and “damn she’s really going there with the British colonial empire!” Kaliane gives the reader a lot to think about with a narrator I have a lot of complex feelings about: what it means to be weighed down by “inherited trauma” from a parent who grew up in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge genocide but with a face that “does a good impression of whiteness” - and living in a Britain with a long history of playing “finders keepers”; with objects, people, countries. That’s just a small piece of what this is about. It’s also about love, acclimating to a time and place vastly different from your own, racism, violence, and displacement.
And it’s actually super freaking funny. At one point Graham Gore, the REAL 19th century commander who is pulled from 1847 into the present time and sees a scooter for the first time, calling it a “cowards vehicle” and I actually had to put the book down. The awkwardness, the laughs, the love - all help to offset the depth, the sadness, the recognition that our world, this world, is on a path of utter destruction. Playing out in the pages of this wild book.
I can’t express how much I loved this book. It’s a ride that you all must hop on. And then text or DM me when you do. Kaliane - whatever you do next? I’ll be there.
Yall this book messed me up and I’m not afraid to admit it. Between this, Thirsty by Jas Hammond and Challengers my waking moments are wrapped around biracial people (and as a biracial I always think about us 😂😂). But seriously, my notes of this book are a lot of “wow this paragraph” and “wtf is happening” and “damn she’s really going there with the British colonial empire!” Kaliane gives the reader a lot to think about with a narrator I have a lot of complex feelings about: what it means to be weighed down by “inherited trauma” from a parent who grew up in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge genocide but with a face that “does a good impression of whiteness” - and living in a Britain with a long history of playing “finders keepers”; with objects, people, countries. That’s just a small piece of what this is about. It’s also about love, acclimating to a time and place vastly different from your own, racism, violence, and displacement.
And it’s actually super freaking funny. At one point Graham Gore, the REAL 19th century commander who is pulled from 1847 into the present time and sees a scooter for the first time, calling it a “cowards vehicle” and I actually had to put the book down. The awkwardness, the laughs, the love - all help to offset the depth, the sadness, the recognition that our world, this world, is on a path of utter destruction. Playing out in the pages of this wild book.
I can’t express how much I loved this book. It’s a ride that you all must hop on. And then text or DM me when you do. Kaliane - whatever you do next? I’ll be there.