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jennireadsmaybe's reviews
636 reviews
Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream by Tehlor Kay Mejia
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Cash Delgado is my dream (woman)! As usual, Tehlor Kay Mejia completely wrecked me with another book! I love Cash Delgado is Living the Dream so much! It follows the titular FMC who is a bartending, single mom fighting to keep a major corporation from taking over her small town and falling in love with her best friend. It's just so up my alley.
Cash's later in life exploration of her sexuality is so real LMAO (the am I gay googling is iconic!). The romance is so soft and steamy and won't leave my brain ever. Cash's mental breakdown-inspiring dirty dreams got progressively more hilarious and when she and Inez finally got their moment I screamed. So hot 🥵
Read this if you like sapphic romances, single mom romances, friends-to-lovers, quirky small towns, and queer friendship groups.
Cash's later in life exploration of her sexuality is so real LMAO (the am I gay googling is iconic!). The romance is so soft and steamy and won't leave my brain ever. Cash's mental breakdown-inspiring dirty dreams got progressively more hilarious and when she and Inez finally got their moment I screamed. So hot 🥵
Read this if you like sapphic romances, single mom romances, friends-to-lovers, quirky small towns, and queer friendship groups.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Outing
This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
This is Why They Hate Us is the perfect example of a book that can save lives. If I had had this book as a teenager struggling with many of the same things as Qique I might have felt more comfortable seeking help earlier. Qique's story is so important for people of all ages!
Aaron H. Aceves is so so good at crafting likable characters who you can't help but root for. Qique's POV is hilarious, heartfelt, and so true to the messy nature of teenage-hood. All of his different relationships are handled so well. All of his hook ups remained true to who he is and what he was trying to do. I really really really (probably a lot more reallys too) his friendship with Fabiola who is basically his other half; they were both so funny and messy!
Read if you like coming of age stories with romance, diverse queer representation (bisexual, mentally ill, Latine, teenage boy mmc and several other side characters as well), and navigating queer identities as a teenager, and wholesome coming out stories. I genuinely can't wait to read whatever comes next for Aaron H. Aceves!
Aaron H. Aceves is so so good at crafting likable characters who you can't help but root for. Qique's POV is hilarious, heartfelt, and so true to the messy nature of teenage-hood. All of his different relationships are handled so well. All of his hook ups remained true to who he is and what he was trying to do. I really really really (probably a lot more reallys too) his friendship with Fabiola who is basically his other half; they were both so funny and messy!
Read if you like coming of age stories with romance, diverse queer representation (bisexual, mentally ill, Latine, teenage boy mmc and several other side characters as well), and navigating queer identities as a teenager, and wholesome coming out stories. I genuinely can't wait to read whatever comes next for Aaron H. Aceves!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins
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
I listened to ALKBF in one day. Once I started I just couldn't stop. Jucee and Cyn (aka Poppa 🥵) have the kind of romance I couldn't help but root for from the start because it's coming off of years of friendship and the sudden "oh shit I think this attraction I have towards my best friend isn't exactly friendly anymore" realization. It really was a delightful, delectable, down bad(able) romance from start to finish.
A fat, Black, butch lesbian and a fat, Black, bisexual femme!?!? Chencia C. Higgins has the best representation in everything she writes! It's also so atmospheric from the clubs to the food, it was like being right next to them as I listened. Cyn's family is the kind I dream of (ouch) and they bring Jucee right into the fold.
The spice y'all!!! I was melting, blushing, kicking my feet and giggling! Read if you like sapphic romance, friends to lovers, single parent romance, musically inclined mcs, hot & steamy smut scenes, and really if you just want to have a damn good time!
A fat, Black, butch lesbian and a fat, Black, bisexual femme!?!? Chencia C. Higgins has the best representation in everything she writes! It's also so atmospheric from the clubs to the food, it was like being right next to them as I listened. Cyn's family is the kind I dream of (ouch) and they bring Jucee right into the fold.
The spice y'all!!! I was melting, blushing, kicking my feet and giggling! Read if you like sapphic romance, friends to lovers, single parent romance, musically inclined mcs, hot & steamy smut scenes, and really if you just want to have a damn good time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia and Sexual content
Jade City by Fonda Lee
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
I don't read a ton of adult fantasy; however, Jade City is such an interesting start to a fantasy series. It's not a favorite by any means, but I am very invested in what will happen next. Fonda Lee is phenomenal at world building. Every detail from the smallest to the biggest creates an atmosphere that is impossible not to be trapped in for a long time after putting the book down.
I liked getting glimpses at all three of the siblings, because they're all so different but trapped in this mafia like environment. Each of their personalities were distinct. Even the lesser(?) members of the Kaul and Ayt families were intriguing. Lee really captured the mafia/mob at each turn from the violent attacks to the political upheaval. I'm excited to find out what happens next for both families.
I liked getting glimpses at all three of the siblings, because they're all so different but trapped in this mafia like environment. Each of their personalities were distinct. Even the lesser(?) members of the Kaul and Ayt families were intriguing. Lee really captured the mafia/mob at each turn from the violent attacks to the political upheaval. I'm excited to find out what happens next for both families.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Suicide
Blitz by Devney Perry
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
Anytime I'm in a bit of a slump, I can count on Devney Perry to get me out of it. Her books are so easy to fall in love with. Blitz is the second, standalone romance in a series of sports romances. I missed a bit of the romantic suspense that I'm used to seeing, but it was still a super cute, fluffy romance with a man who is so down bad for the fmc.
Jennsyn is going through it. She's come to Montana to figure out her life. She's a bit of a loner because she doesn't trust anyone. I really liked being inside her head because I could feel just how desperate she was for a fresh start. Toren is such a great character for her to fall for. He meets her where she's at. He's the first person to want her for her potential as a person outside of volleyball.Honestly, the car detailing scene changed the way I feel about love and how soft it can be
Read if you like forbidden romance, age gap, coach x student, and small town vibes. If you want Devney Perry writing without romantic suspense, the Treasure State Wildcats series is perfect for you.
Jennsyn is going through it. She's come to Montana to figure out her life. She's a bit of a loner because she doesn't trust anyone. I really liked being inside her head because I could feel just how desperate she was for a fresh start. Toren is such a great character for her to fall for. He meets her where she's at. He's the first person to want her for her potential as a person outside of volleyball.
Read if you like forbidden romance, age gap, coach x student, and small town vibes. If you want Devney Perry writing without romantic suspense, the Treasure State Wildcats series is perfect for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying and Cancer
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Their Vicious Games is a brutal satire in the vein of Ace of Spades (on of my all time favs), Squid Games, and The Bachelor. Joelle Wellington is truly a force to be reckoned with! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Honestly, I walked away thinking it isn't entirely out of the realm of possibilities for something like this to happen. It was freaking terrifying.
Adina is a wonderfully executed take on desperation. She has to reckon with how badly she wants her dreams to come true if The Finish is what it takes to get there. Her friendship with Saint is the bit of wholesomeness that I needed to get me through the horrific events. It was heartbreaking to watch them both suffering, but I knew they would be there for each other.
I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a YA thriller with a diverse cast of characters and commentary on upper crust society. Joelle Wellington made the list of debut authors to watch out for.
Adina is a wonderfully executed take on desperation. She has to reckon with how badly she wants her dreams to come true if The Finish is what it takes to get there. Her friendship with Saint is the bit of wholesomeness that I needed to get me through the horrific events. It was heartbreaking to watch them both suffering, but I knew they would be there for each other.
I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a YA thriller with a diverse cast of characters and commentary on upper crust society. Joelle Wellington made the list of debut authors to watch out for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying and Gun violence
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, and Alcohol
You Had Me at Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
There's something about Timothy Janovsky books that keep me coming back for more every time. Every single one feels like a warm hug, You Had Me at Happy Hour is no exception. From the start, Janovsky's characters, Julien and Greg, create this sense of belonging (Julien has OCD and Greg GAD), that personally makes me feel so seen with my own mental illness.
They're almost complete opposites — grumpy/sunshine, wine vs liquor, and so forth. A spilled tray of drinks and one semi-ruined shirt leaves them starting off on the wrong foot, but the sizzling attraction is burning steadily on the back burner. It's both hot & steamy and soft and full of yearning glances. I enjoyed every second of it!
You should read this if you like mental health representation, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, food-adjacent romances, and sweet and steamy love.
They're almost complete opposites — grumpy/sunshine, wine vs liquor, and so forth. A spilled tray of drinks and one semi-ruined shirt leaves them starting off on the wrong foot, but the sizzling attraction is burning steadily on the back burner. It's both hot & steamy and soft and full of yearning glances. I enjoyed every second of it!
You should read this if you like mental health representation, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, food-adjacent romances, and sweet and steamy love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism
Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Adiba Jaigirdar
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Honestly, this was such a fun mash up by two authors I love (Adiba Jaigirdar + Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. I was so glad I received both an e-ARC and an ALC. The audio narration is amazing all three narrators added a little something to each character. I definitely recommend listening!
Plot wise, I really enjoyed Tiwa and Said's childhood friends to haters to friends to lovers romance. They each know each other so well and it makes their past heartbreak all the more emotional for it. It also takes time for them to grow comfortable with each other again... which I loved because it gave me the moments of learning each other again.
An ode to Muslim communities, Tiwa and Said join forces to help rebuild their local Islamic center after it gets damaged in a fire. I am a huge fan of YA stories with political elements because teens are so powerful! AJ + FAI capture teenage struggles amidst so much other happenings for the characters so so well.
The commentary on anti-Blackness within the Muslim community is so so important. I hope this book gets into the hands of teenagers everywhere!
Plot wise, I really enjoyed Tiwa and Said's childhood friends to haters to friends to lovers romance. They each know each other so well and it makes their past heartbreak all the more emotional for it. It also takes time for them to grow comfortable with each other again... which I loved because it gave me the moments of learning each other again.
An ode to Muslim communities, Tiwa and Said join forces to help rebuild their local Islamic center after it gets damaged in a fire. I am a huge fan of YA stories with political elements because teens are so powerful! AJ + FAI capture teenage struggles amidst so much other happenings for the characters so so well.
The commentary on anti-Blackness within the Muslim community is so so important. I hope this book gets into the hands of teenagers everywhere!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, and Car accident
The Ride of Her Life by Jennifer Dugan
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
The Ride of Her Life is the sapphic city girl x cowgirl romance of my dreams! I was immediately tuned in to the book because Molly's life is a straight up mess and she falls way too quickly and ends up hurt every time (me as a character yikes!). I'm also a sucker for a romance with an inheritance because inevitably the mc is completely unprepared to take on such a huge responsibility and it leads to chaos. I'm always ready with the popcorn!
Molly and Shani start off on the wrong foot (read: Shani can't stand Molly) but they are idiots and desperately attracted to each other. They go back and forth for most of the book because the sale of the farm is constantly hanging over their heads. Honestly, I was so in for the drama and loved the bit of tension it added to the plot. Jennifer Dugan's romances are so easy to fall in love with, because the character arcs are heartfelt and the characters are perfect for each other.
Looking for a hot lesbian cowgirl? Desperate for a queer western romance? Love messy, dramatic, hilarious, heartfelt romances? Does Nate the Hoof Guy keep popping up on your TikTok fyp? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be entitled to compensation in the form of another amazing Jennifer Dugan novel!
Molly and Shani start off on the wrong foot (read: Shani can't stand Molly) but they are idiots and desperately attracted to each other. They go back and forth for most of the book because the sale of the farm is constantly hanging over their heads. Honestly, I was so in for the drama and loved the bit of tension it added to the plot. Jennifer Dugan's romances are so easy to fall in love with, because the character arcs are heartfelt and the characters are perfect for each other.
Looking for a hot lesbian cowgirl? Desperate for a queer western romance? Love messy, dramatic, hilarious, heartfelt romances? Does Nate the Hoof Guy keep popping up on your TikTok fyp? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be entitled to compensation in the form of another amazing Jennifer Dugan novel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
Silver Foxed by Kayla Grosse
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
It's safe to say that Kayla Grosse can write just any trope and I'll devour it. Silver Foxed is obviously no exception. I've loved all the smutty novellas she's put out in the last couple months. They're always hot, charming, and funny. The pacing in this was so good; it gave the characters time to fall in love in such a short time and felt completely reasonable.
Alex is ready to be an "even hotter, ready-to-have-some-fun badass bitch" I love it! She knows her worth. She's fun and flirty. And, she's the perfect match for her dad's best friend, workaholic, stressed-out, silver fox Elijah. The chemistry was off the charts!
Looking for a steamy, open door, age gap romance with a plus-sized badass bitch fmc? Look no further! Kayla Grosse served it up to us on a silver platter. Silver Foxed is a super quick, smutty, good time. Perfect beach read for summer.
Alex is ready to be an "even hotter, ready-to-have-some-fun badass bitch" I love it! She knows her worth. She's fun and flirty. And, she's the perfect match for her dad's best friend, workaholic, stressed-out, silver fox Elijah. The chemistry was off the charts!
Looking for a steamy, open door, age gap romance with a plus-sized badass bitch fmc? Look no further! Kayla Grosse served it up to us on a silver platter. Silver Foxed is a super quick, smutty, good time. Perfect beach read for summer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent