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nouriareads's reviews
162 reviews
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
emotional
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
3.0
The premise is good, but the book was a bit disappointing. We get less of Erin’s POV, but I loved her character development more than Cassie’s whose POV has the most “page time.” I also liked that it was fast-paced, the writing flowed well, and the dialogues were good. I thought the daughter/friend finding out about their relationship would be one of the main conflicts, so I was excited to read about it. It kind of was, but the execution took away much of the tension it would have otherwise created. Their relationship relied so much on their physical attraction that it got repetitive after a few steamy scenes and I didn’t feel their emotional connection as much as I would’ve liked. However, one of the scenes contains an element I don’t see often in sapphic books, so kudos to the author for that. Overall it was an okay read, it didn’t help that I did not enjoy the narrator for Erin’s POV.
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
emotional
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
4.0
I live for chaotic, messy lesbians (although the term is never used which was a bit disappointing), and it delivered that and was such a cute and fun YA rom-com! It reminded me of cheesy rom-com movies in the best possible way with a lot of chaos and drama. There were beautiful messages about overcoming heartbreak, rebuilding yourself after a toxic relationship, and dealing with people’s assumptions. I loved Scottie’s relationship with her family, they were all supportive but honest when she messed up. All the characters felt realistic and fleshed out, I especially loved Scottie’s sisters, and both Scottie and Irene’s friends. I thought the romance was a bit rushed, they’re “enemies” for a while and we jump almost immediately into them having romantic feelings for each other, even if the chemistry and banter were there, and I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the transactional aspect of the fake dating plan. Other than that, it was such a fun read!!
The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.75
This was such an original and fun book! I enjoyed the writing, especially during action scenes, and the story was well-paced. The alternating POVs were well-balanced and each had a unique voice. It’s about identity, family relationships and greed, and all the themes were handled well. I loved learning about the rich world the author created, the lore built around the gods, how they came to be and how they fell. It was nice to have a small glimpse into South African culture and to learn more about the society. The way the different POVs converged in the climax was a little convoluted and the ending did not give me all the answers I wanted, but overall, it was an enjoyable read!
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
I am not the biggest fan of the writing as there was a lot of telling not showing and a few instances of info dumping. I loved the magic system, but it remained vague on a few aspects (e.g.: the deviations) that should’ve been clearer to grasp the worldbuilding better. The pacing set the story efficiently, but it became uneven when it got to the thrilling parts because of the amount of subplots, and the ending was a little abrupt.
dark
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
3.75
Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire, Netgalley and Colored Pages Book Tours for the e-ARC!
The magic system was original and fascinating, especially when we learned about the MC’s speciality: brewing potions. I loved how the author explored Venus’ family dynamics, her complicated relationship with her mother and the love she has for her sister and cousin. I also enjoyed how she handled the themes (racism, corruption, police brutality), and weaved them through the political intrigue.
I am not the biggest fan of the writing as there was a lot of telling not showing and a few instances of info dumping. I loved the magic system, but it remained vague on a few aspects (e.g.: the deviations) that should’ve been clearer to grasp the worldbuilding better. The pacing set the story efficiently, but it became uneven when it got to the thrilling parts because of the amount of subplots, and the ending was a little abrupt.
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read it as part of a read-along, and sharing our thoughts and theories was extremely fun!
Adina’s position at her upper-class high school, from the suburbs, Black and on a scholarship, allows the author to tackle not fitting in, racism, class, pitting women against each other, and tradition. Adina is unprepared and trusts easily, but I couldn’t help but root for her, which was worth it because seeing her use her skills to her advantage was nice. I loved the side characters. They had compelling backstories, and it was interesting to see how it informed their behaviour during the Finish.
The author relied a lot on telling instead of showing. Though the stakes were high, I didn’t feel the tension as much as I would’ve liked. I also felt a bit disconnected from Adina because we don’t know her motivation to join Yale, her goals, or her childhood. We get a better sense of why the other contestants joined the Finish, so the characters I found the most interesting were side characters. The epilogue took place too soon after the Finish, I would’ve preferred if it was set after a longer period so we could see more of the Finish’s impact on the characters’ lives.
Adina’s position at her upper-class high school, from the suburbs, Black and on a scholarship, allows the author to tackle not fitting in, racism, class, pitting women against each other, and tradition. Adina is unprepared and trusts easily, but I couldn’t help but root for her, which was worth it because seeing her use her skills to her advantage was nice. I loved the side characters. They had compelling backstories, and it was interesting to see how it informed their behaviour during the Finish.
The author relied a lot on telling instead of showing. Though the stakes were high, I didn’t feel the tension as much as I would’ve liked. I also felt a bit disconnected from Adina because we don’t know her motivation to join Yale, her goals, or her childhood. We get a better sense of why the other contestants joined the Finish, so the characters I found the most interesting were side characters. The epilogue took place too soon after the Finish, I would’ve preferred if it was set after a longer period so we could see more of the Finish’s impact on the characters’ lives.
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
emotional
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
5.0
The book itself is a 4/4,5⭐️ but I upped it because of the stellar audiobook narrator! The writing flowed extremely well and was funny, it felt like hearing a story from a friend. The cultural references were top-notch; I felt seen on multiple occasions. I love the way Bolu Babalola explores female friendship. Kiki was hurt in the past and it shaped her view of friendship in college. It felt so good when she got over it and experienced true sisterhood. She also explores how your parents' relationship can shape your view of romantic relationships, which is interesting.
I love the relationship between Kiki and Malakai. Malakai is such a good book boyfriend because he’s genuinely a good person. He’s sweet and caring, but most importantly, he owns up to his mistakes. It’s a dialogue-driven book, and I enjoyed that aspect because it was great at building believable chemistry between Kiki and Malakai and effectively revealing information to understand them as individuals.
I enjoyed the overall plot, but I wasn’t interested in some of the subplots. The third-act breakup came rather late, and its resolution was quick. It should’ve been a good thing, but it appeared even more unnecessary because of that, so I wasn’t a fan. For me, they used the term "in love" a bit too quickly. Them getting into a relationship made perfect sense, but I felt that not enough time had passed for them to be in love with each other.
It was a great romance, and I highly recommend the audiobook for an even better reading experience, Weruche Opia did a fantastic job!
I love the relationship between Kiki and Malakai. Malakai is such a good book boyfriend because he’s genuinely a good person. He’s sweet and caring, but most importantly, he owns up to his mistakes. It’s a dialogue-driven book, and I enjoyed that aspect because it was great at building believable chemistry between Kiki and Malakai and effectively revealing information to understand them as individuals.
I enjoyed the overall plot, but I wasn’t interested in some of the subplots. The third-act breakup came rather late, and its resolution was quick. It should’ve been a good thing, but it appeared even more unnecessary because of that, so I wasn’t a fan. For me, they used the term "in love" a bit too quickly. Them getting into a relationship made perfect sense, but I felt that not enough time had passed for them to be in love with each other.
It was a great romance, and I highly recommend the audiobook for an even better reading experience, Weruche Opia did a fantastic job!