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litnlisten's reviews
95 reviews
The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
This year I told myself to try different genres of books and I have been on a roll! The cover quickly got my attention! A scary looking black girl with curls?! I was sold! When I grabbed this Britney S. Lewis book, I knew nothing about her being from the same area as me but finding this out made me even more intrigued about her writing. After talking to her, I liked her even more! Who knew I would turn into a supernatural girlie?!
Hylee Williams was basically a normal teenage girl to the eye, but after experiencing disappearing right in front of her families eyes, she wasn’t as normal as she thought. Dealing with the grief of her missing brother, Hylee’s memory seemed to block out memories in her mind. 9 years after the tragedy is when she experiences her first disappearing act and it lives her family scared…of her.
Hylee is sent from the city to the suburbs to live with her grandmother just because her parents can’t handle anything else. There she meets a boy at a party named Eliam Roads and they connect right away. While talking to him, she disappears again and ends up in an alternate dimension where she back in her childhood 9 years ago. Waking up and noticing she’s still at the party, Hylee runs home. Even though she disappeared in front of his eyes, Eilam still wants to get to know her. Will her supernatural power be too much for him or is he hiding a secret of his own?
This book was just…amazing! I loved it from start to finish! I never thought I would read a book about time travel, but now I’m a fan! I definitely recommend this book!
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
New year new me = reading genres I never have before. I’ve never been into fantasy books or ghost stories. I’m a thriller girlie but the paranormal wasn’t really something I wanted to read about. But I saw several in my bookstagram community that loved it so I thought I would give it a chance and I’m so glad I did!
This glorious book was 502 pages of twists and turns for me. I was super stoked to read this because it’s a book by a black woman author where the main characters are black. Thrillers and other horror stories don’t always have a diverse cast of characters.
Daisy was a teen that could see the dead. She didn’t know why but she had the ability to see those who haven’t passed on anywhere she went. Daisy lived with her mother Grace who always seemed to need Daisy’s help. One day Grace received news that she inherited a mansion from her ex brother in law in another town. With Daisy having a failed relationship, hating school and just one friend, she welcomed a change of scenery.
When Grace and Daisy arrived at the mansion, Grace let Daisy know that they wouldn’t be living in the main house but in a smaller house in the property. Grace would use the mansion as an AirBnb and Daisy was to never set foot in that mansion. When Daisy was told this, she never understood why. What was wrong with the house? Daisy meets two friends - King who mirrors her mother’s orders and Ivy who wants to help Daisy see what’s inside. Crazy things start to happen and Daisy starts to wonder if Ivy is who she says she is.
This glorious book was 502 pages of twists and turns for me. I was super stoked to read this because it’s a book by a black woman author where the main characters are black. Thrillers and other horror stories don’t always have a diverse cast of characters.
Daisy was a teen that could see the dead. She didn’t know why but she had the ability to see those who haven’t passed on anywhere she went. Daisy lived with her mother Grace who always seemed to need Daisy’s help. One day Grace received news that she inherited a mansion from her ex brother in law in another town. With Daisy having a failed relationship, hating school and just one friend, she welcomed a change of scenery.
When Grace and Daisy arrived at the mansion, Grace let Daisy know that they wouldn’t be living in the main house but in a smaller house in the property. Grace would use the mansion as an AirBnb and Daisy was to never set foot in that mansion. When Daisy was told this, she never understood why. What was wrong with the house? Daisy meets two friends - King who mirrors her mother’s orders and Ivy who wants to help Daisy see what’s inside. Crazy things start to happen and Daisy starts to wonder if Ivy is who she says she is.
The Good Ones are Taken by Taj McCoy
emotional
funny
reflective
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
I truly adore Taj McCoy and her writing. I always fall in love with her stories of romance and I read this one in 24 hours! Couldn’t put it down! If you read “Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell”, you will know a few of these characters including the main character, Maggie.
Maggie’s bffs Savvy, Beth and Joanie are in amazing relationships and engaged (Beth and Joanie to one another) and she is going through a breakup with a man she that was her forever. Holding her up during this breakup, her best friends including her college bff Garrett, support her when she tries dating again including online dating. Struggling to find a good match, she meets the perfect guy at the gym. But can anyone be perfect? Or could her perfect person be closer than she thinks?
I’m trying to not give as much as I’ve given in past reviews because sometimes I feel like I told y’all the whole story🤣 This book me think, reflect and laugh (there’s a part about Yung Miami in there and I was cackling). Definitely recommend you swoop this one up!
Maggie’s bffs Savvy, Beth and Joanie are in amazing relationships and engaged (Beth and Joanie to one another) and she is going through a breakup with a man she that was her forever. Holding her up during this breakup, her best friends including her college bff Garrett, support her when she tries dating again including online dating. Struggling to find a good match, she meets the perfect guy at the gym. But can anyone be perfect? Or could her perfect person be closer than she thinks?
I’m trying to not give as much as I’ve given in past reviews because sometimes I feel like I told y’all the whole story🤣 This book me think, reflect and laugh (there’s a part about Yung Miami in there and I was cackling). Definitely recommend you swoop this one up!
Between Friends & Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
First of all, I fell in love with the cover and knew this was going to be a love triangle story that I needed to read and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
Dr. Josephine Boateng was not only a doctor but an influencer who has been “adopted” into her best friend Ezra Adelman’s wealthy family. Due to issues with her mother, this Ghandian-American emancipated herself from her at age 16. When she met Ezra in college they because close friends but she fell in love with him along the way and stuck by her best friend’s side while he dated several women. Jo hid her feelings but always wanted something more.
In walks Malcom Waters into her life. Mal is a writer and photographer who is 2 years out a 10 year relationship. He meets Jo who gives him the confidence to step outside the box with his career and to speak up for himself. Her beauty and her assertiveness makes him fall for her. But with her feelings for her best friend Ezra and Jo not really knowing what love is, will Mal’s feelings be reciprocated? Will Ezra finally see what’s been right in front of him for years?
I absolutely loved this but I wanted more🤣
Dr. Josephine Boateng was not only a doctor but an influencer who has been “adopted” into her best friend Ezra Adelman’s wealthy family. Due to issues with her mother, this Ghandian-American emancipated herself from her at age 16. When she met Ezra in college they because close friends but she fell in love with him along the way and stuck by her best friend’s side while he dated several women. Jo hid her feelings but always wanted something more.
In walks Malcom Waters into her life. Mal is a writer and photographer who is 2 years out a 10 year relationship. He meets Jo who gives him the confidence to step outside the box with his career and to speak up for himself. Her beauty and her assertiveness makes him fall for her. But with her feelings for her best friend Ezra and Jo not really knowing what love is, will Mal’s feelings be reciprocated? Will Ezra finally see what’s been right in front of him for years?
I absolutely loved this but I wanted more🤣
The Plus One by S.C. Lalli
mysterious
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? No
3.75
Y’all know I’m a thriller girlie who is turning into a romance girlie, but my love for the “whodunnit” will always be at the top. I received this arc from NetGalley and hopped right into it. Woman author? Thriller? Indian wedding? Billionaires? Influencers? Cabo? Count me in!
The extravagant Cabo wedding of Raj Joshi and Radhika Singh was going to scream luxury and love. Radhika is an influencer from a family of boss women and Raj is the son and heir to one of India’s wealthiest and powerful men.
Shaylee Kapoor doesn’t fit in but she’s involved only because she’s dating the best man Caleb Prescott III. When Shay makes it to Cabo the day the festivities, the bride and groom are discovered murdered!
Was it a cartel hit? Was it someone in the company that wanted that top spot? Was it someone close to the couple? While guests are scrambling trying to figure out “whodunnit”, everyone is suspicious of everyone. Who is hiding a secret? Shay has secrets of her own but will she be able to unravel the truth and catch a killer?
The book had me guessing throughout who did it plus the Bollywood glamour, high life, influencing and boss women in charge made this a book I enjoyed. The tie in with political and global issues was the only thing that didn’t make me love it but the twists, turns and lies made it worth it!
The extravagant Cabo wedding of Raj Joshi and Radhika Singh was going to scream luxury and love. Radhika is an influencer from a family of boss women and Raj is the son and heir to one of India’s wealthiest and powerful men.
Shaylee Kapoor doesn’t fit in but she’s involved only because she’s dating the best man Caleb Prescott III. When Shay makes it to Cabo the day the festivities, the bride and groom are discovered murdered!
Was it a cartel hit? Was it someone in the company that wanted that top spot? Was it someone close to the couple? While guests are scrambling trying to figure out “whodunnit”, everyone is suspicious of everyone. Who is hiding a secret? Shay has secrets of her own but will she be able to unravel the truth and catch a killer?
The book had me guessing throughout who did it plus the Bollywood glamour, high life, influencing and boss women in charge made this a book I enjoyed. The tie in with political and global issues was the only thing that didn’t make me love it but the twists, turns and lies made it worth it!
A Worthy Love by A.E. Valdez
emotional
funny
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
This was my first read by A. E. Valdez and I know there are three books before this in the series, but I’m notorious for reading out of order because I read what I want, when I want lol! But let me tell you how fast I need to grab the other two because baby…I read this mini dictionary in 48 hours! It was so hard to put down when I had to do things like sleep and shower!
The book starts off with the spice between the two main characters. They are doing something wild in Vegas and the next day their friendships isn’t even a thing anymore! Then the book moves on to months or maybe a few short years later (I’m unsure).
Marisa Banks moved to Portland on a whim. She didn’t know anyone there but had some close friends a few hours away. She just needed to separate herself from her hometown. She opened her own yoga studio and juice bar and was prepared to start her life in a new city. She falls for a man and they date for months only for her to find out he’s a liar and he’s married. Marisa decides love isn’t for her and starts to move like a single woman having fun all while dealing with the heartache and pain her ex caused.
Asher Blaine is a successful architectural engineer and a playboy who isn’t about relationships or love. He takes a project in Portland with the hopes of reuniting with Marisa for some fun but things change when they are suddenly sharing the same surroundings.
These two have such dark pasts with their families, could it bring them together? Or could it push them to the point of no return?
Y’all gotta read this!! A. E. Valdez be writing y’all!!! This is definitely a must read that should be added to your collection!
The book starts off with the spice between the two main characters. They are doing something wild in Vegas and the next day their friendships isn’t even a thing anymore! Then the book moves on to months or maybe a few short years later (I’m unsure).
Marisa Banks moved to Portland on a whim. She didn’t know anyone there but had some close friends a few hours away. She just needed to separate herself from her hometown. She opened her own yoga studio and juice bar and was prepared to start her life in a new city. She falls for a man and they date for months only for her to find out he’s a liar and he’s married. Marisa decides love isn’t for her and starts to move like a single woman having fun all while dealing with the heartache and pain her ex caused.
Asher Blaine is a successful architectural engineer and a playboy who isn’t about relationships or love. He takes a project in Portland with the hopes of reuniting with Marisa for some fun but things change when they are suddenly sharing the same surroundings.
These two have such dark pasts with their families, could it bring them together? Or could it push them to the point of no return?
Y’all gotta read this!! A. E. Valdez be writing y’all!!! This is definitely a must read that should be added to your collection!
Love on the Ninth Floor by Aries Skye
emotional
funny
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
ANOTHA ONE!! Another book I couldn’t put down and read in a couple hours! This was my first read by Aries Skye and I promise I am hooked!
Dr. Nissi Richards is everything and more at the ripe age of just 26! Successful, beautiful, intelligent, ambitious, TikTok famous and more but due to being a dentist with basically her own practice, love has been on her back burner until an emergency causes the man of her dreams to be her hero.
Kannon Jordan is a 28 year old firefighter whose looks and body exceed what dreams are made of. When Kannon is on the job and rescues Nissi from a stuck elevator, his life changes.
Nissi uses her TikTok fame to find the man she can’t stop thinking about and they finally meet up for drinks and appetizers. The chemistry is undeniable and lives are changed that night. At the end of the night, Kannon shares some news that breaks Nissi’s heart and despite the fire that is blazing between them, Nissi walks away from the almost relationship.
Both end up in relationships with other people but will those relationships last? Would their families interfere in their lives and change the trajectory? Would they reunite and take that next step? There’s so much more I wanna say but I don’t wanna give ANYTHING away!
This book I just couldn’t get enough of! Love, spice, jokes - it had it all!
Dr. Nissi Richards is everything and more at the ripe age of just 26! Successful, beautiful, intelligent, ambitious, TikTok famous and more but due to being a dentist with basically her own practice, love has been on her back burner until an emergency causes the man of her dreams to be her hero.
Kannon Jordan is a 28 year old firefighter whose looks and body exceed what dreams are made of. When Kannon is on the job and rescues Nissi from a stuck elevator, his life changes.
Nissi uses her TikTok fame to find the man she can’t stop thinking about and they finally meet up for drinks and appetizers. The chemistry is undeniable and lives are changed that night. At the end of the night, Kannon shares some news that breaks Nissi’s heart and despite the fire that is blazing between them, Nissi walks away from the almost relationship.
Both end up in relationships with other people but will those relationships last? Would their families interfere in their lives and change the trajectory? Would they reunite and take that next step? There’s so much more I wanna say but I don’t wanna give ANYTHING away!
This book I just couldn’t get enough of! Love, spice, jokes - it had it all!
Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
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
I kind of feel spoiled because I read “Part of Your World” and “Yours Truly” in the last two months and to be blessed with this arc right now was just amazing! If you have read my reviews on Abby Jimenez books, you know that I’m obsessed and “Just for the Summer” just put me into a new level of obsession. Like my Beyoncé level obsession almost🤣 I felt every single emotion throughout this book and y’all, I even shed a tear!
Justin took to the internet to discuss this love curse he has. Every single girl he dates, ends up finding the love of their life right after they break up. His Reddit post was going viral due to it being hilarious plus his best friend/roommate actually ended up with one of his ex’s and ended up moving in with her and left him to cover both parts of the rent in their apartment. Justin being Mr. Petty himself, he named this dog he got at the pound that wasn’t the cutest after him. Justin always received DMs and messages related to his post, but one message he received really caught his attention.
Emma and her best friend Maddy are traveling nurses. They were more like sisters because Emma had a rough childhood. Her mother would leave her alone for days and sometimes even weeks and she got put into the foster care system and her last stop was Maddy’s 2 moms. They took her in and loved her from the start. While looking at Reddit, Emma read Justin’s post to Maddy and they thought it was hilarious because Emma seems to have that same curse. Maddy encourages Emma to message him and after much thought, she does.
These two start texting and talking on the phone and finally meet. They devise a plan to break the curse that they both share. They will go on 4 dates, share one kiss and then break up so they can find their soulmate. Justin has a lot of things coming up for him and his family when his mother has go away for awhile. Emma has conflicts when her deadbeat mother shows up out of the blue. Will both of their family dramas detail their plan? Will they end up falling for one another?
This book was absolutely amazing! I can’t wait for everyone to be able to enjoy it. Like I said I shed a tear and I never cry when reading books!
Justin took to the internet to discuss this love curse he has. Every single girl he dates, ends up finding the love of their life right after they break up. His Reddit post was going viral due to it being hilarious plus his best friend/roommate actually ended up with one of his ex’s and ended up moving in with her and left him to cover both parts of the rent in their apartment. Justin being Mr. Petty himself, he named this dog he got at the pound that wasn’t the cutest after him. Justin always received DMs and messages related to his post, but one message he received really caught his attention.
Emma and her best friend Maddy are traveling nurses. They were more like sisters because Emma had a rough childhood. Her mother would leave her alone for days and sometimes even weeks and she got put into the foster care system and her last stop was Maddy’s 2 moms. They took her in and loved her from the start. While looking at Reddit, Emma read Justin’s post to Maddy and they thought it was hilarious because Emma seems to have that same curse. Maddy encourages Emma to message him and after much thought, she does.
These two start texting and talking on the phone and finally meet. They devise a plan to break the curse that they both share. They will go on 4 dates, share one kiss and then break up so they can find their soulmate. Justin has a lot of things coming up for him and his family when his mother has go away for awhile. Emma has conflicts when her deadbeat mother shows up out of the blue. Will both of their family dramas detail their plan? Will they end up falling for one another?
This book was absolutely amazing! I can’t wait for everyone to be able to enjoy it. Like I said I shed a tear and I never cry when reading books!
The Family She Found by Lauren Lacey
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Perfect Little Lives by Amber Brown, Danielle Brown
mysterious
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? No
4.0
When I found a thriller by not only one black woman, but TWO…I knew I had to read it and I’m so happy I did. These gorgeous identical twins are giving sexy thriller vibes with this one and I’m here for it all!
Simone grew up in a rich neighborhood as the only black family there but that didn’t last long. Her mother was brutally murdered and now her father sits behind bars. As an adult, Simone hides her past and works as a freelance book reviewer, has a lawyer boyfriend and is determined to get her innocent father out of prison.
One day Simone runs into her ex best friend and neighbor, Hunter Bishop. Talking about old times, Hunter revealed that his father and her mother had been having an affair for years. With this information Simone is disappointed, but now believes she knows who killed her mother. Will Simone be correct in her theory? Will being around Hunter not only bring up old childhood feelings but also new clues?
This book was all over the place and I enjoyed it! Did I figure out who the murderer was before the end of the book? Yes…but did I switch it a couple times? Yes! I loved all the twists and turns and the ending. Your turn to read it!! I look forward to reading their first book as well!