vatodd's reviews
125 reviews

The Prospects by KT Hoffman

5.0

Perfect. Could hands down be the best romance I have ever read period. Both leads were compelling and sweet. The conflicts didn't feel forced or stupid. The side characters were lovable and added true depth to the story. The spice was hot but not distracting or over the top. The ending was sweet but not overly tied up or unrealistic for the circumstances of the story.

The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons

4.75

Very cute while still being sensitive and realistic about sensitive situations. The only thing I will say is

the way the we're going on about Nat at the start and number 10 being retired I would have assumed Nat was dead. The build up for that was super random

Emma by Jane Austen

slow-paced

1.5

So incredibly long. I loved Pride and Prejudice so hoped to feel the same but honestly found most characters annoying if not down right insufferable. I am happy this story exists so clueless could but other than that the story dragged on horribly. I only finished it so I hadn't wasted all those hours. Very repetitive and not at all enjoyable 

Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History of Black Feminism by Jenn M. Jackson

5.0

Great. I learned more about people I admired and added new people to my list. Good for people starting off and on the road to anti-racist, feminist activist. The personal stories walked the line well of being relatable without being off topic. 

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

I really wanted to like this book. Black sapphic contemporary romance is a dream genre for me but this just missed the mark. I found the pov of Taylor so hard to read. She was so self obsessed. Her treatment of Erica and inability to see her point of view through 90% of this book was painful. That both of the butchest characters in this book acted so toxically (Sam being the other) really turned me off. I don't know if that was purposeful or prejudiced. It just rubbed me the wrong way. Avery was sweet if not a bit ya feeling in her woes. Her motivation much more than Taylor's were understandable and showed clear growth through out. I think if the whole book was written in Avery's point of view perhaps this would be closer to 4 stars. The conclusion was somehow rushed and repetitive with the will they won't they frustration embedded in the miscommunication trope. The strongest things this book had going for it is solid spicy writing and great talks on consent. 
Unfortunately neither could save this book from a frustratingly obtuse main character and therefore lackluster love interest. I do think Taylor would grow bored of Taylor because she is so immature. 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

5.0

I had been avoiding Ali Hazelwood because I thought she was going to be cringey but decided to give it a try and loved it. I usually can't rate smut books this high because usually authors lose the plot towards the end letting the sex make them forget how to write a good story but good god I loved it. Misery was sassy and fun but not in an insufferable way. Lowe was strong and protective but not in a misogynistic way. The world building and side characters were intriguing but didn't over shadow the romance. The knotting thing I kept hearing about I thought would ruin it for me but was actually written sweetly and so well. Will have to give more Ali Hazelwood a try.

Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction by Joshua Whitehead

4.75

Overall really liked it. Some stories resonate and immersed me better than others but always wanted to soldier on and keep going. More intense than I expected. Don't know if I could say they all had happy endings but happy I suppose is relative. I wish some more of the words were translated as some things did go over my head but hey that's what the internet is for so not the worst thing. 

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

4.5

A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow

4.0

It was a bit slow in some parts and the voices in the audio book were a bit nasally for me. Great to have trans representation from 2 very different lenses.

Sex scene felt a bit more graphic than necessary/needed in a ya novel

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

4.25