cheybrary's reviews
97 reviews

The Visitor by K.A. Applegate

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dark hopeful tense fast-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

4.0

How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow

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emotional funny sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

S o I gave in and finished it. Switching from audio to ebook was a good call - the audio production was top-notch but listening to Shani whine during my morning commutes was part of the reason why I set this book down in the first place. She is messy and young and learning and yes, that is so important to explore in the queer YA space, but it doesn’t change the fact that she made me want to slam my head against the wall during every single chapter.

Shani is one of those characters that acts as if the world revolves around her. She starts to explore this towards the end of the book, but it doesn’t change that most of the characters simply exist through what they can or can’t offer her. She’s terrible to her mom for no reason (and constantly mentions that she wishes she was nicer to her mom but….doesn’t do anything about it????) She exploits the teenage barista who has a crush on her for free coffee. She has no problem using Beatrice for free housing but makes no effort to connect with her or the other girls until the end. Her best friend Taylor is only there to listen to her problems and give advice. All of these relationships are so one-sided and revolve around an unlikeable, self-absorbed main character.
Trauma (particularly when dealing with sexual assault) can impact how people behave, and I definitely empathize with Shani’s difficulties in communicating boundaries with May, as well as not being able to tell her mom or best friend the truth about why she and Sadie broke up. Trauma is certainly an explanation, but not an excuse for how terrible Shani is to everyone around her for the majority of the book. 
 
Patience and Not-Forsaken by Alix E. Harrow

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dark mysterious slow-paced

2.5

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I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

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challenging emotional funny sad medium-paced

5.0

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After the Crown by K.B. Wagers

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adventurous funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 4 stars!! Sometimes the middle book of a trilogy is a slog to get through, but After the Crown takes the thrilling action of the first book and cranks it up to 11. I loved seeing into parts of Hail’s past and how she carries herself differently around people she knew as a gunrunner. The mix of old and new allies was a lot of fun, and the tension of “something could go wrong at any minute” (which it often does!) kept me at the edge of my seat. I loved the peek into other planetary cultures as well.

Like the first book, I have a really hard time keeping track of the names of anyone who isn’t a “major player”. Sometimes a name would pop up and I would have no idea who it was, only to find out it was apparently one of Hail’s BodyGuards who had been with her for the past five chapters. There were even a few frustrating instances of characters sharing the same first or last name but not being related whatsoever. The third book promises more character introductions, so here’s to hoping that these ones have more distinct names. 
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

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dark funny slow-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

3.25

When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez

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emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo Adventure by Greg Rucka

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

3.75

Sisters of the Snake by Sasha Nanua, Sarena Nanua

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adventurous reflective 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

3.5

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
5 STARS!!!!!! while the ending was a little rushed, this was an incredible thriller that had me breathless the entire rollercoaster ride. the twists and turns were unpredictable, the characters were fully realized beings, and I was reading so fast that I finished the book in two days - something I haven’t been able to do since middle school!! 
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