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amalas_bookstop's reviews
105 reviews
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ughhh! Books like this make me so frustrated in their realness. Even though I knew exactly where this was headed I could not help myself to feel hopeful and expect something different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Police brutality
Moderate: Rape and Sexual content
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
This book is so adorable. The flow of writing is so perfect, I love the setting of this small town. This book has me giggling and kicking my legs the whole time I was reading this. I went ahead and bought this author other two books. Absolute 5 star. A perfect lighthearted read.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Wow! This was a master class in exploring the black body and what autonomy or security is there for us by in a country whose glory days was to profit off of our ancestors bodies. I enjoyed reading what I guess can be considered a memoir that is addressed to his son, but he allowed to be made for all of us to read and learn from.
I just read James Baldwin The Fire Next Time and I could not help but think of that book as I was reading this one. A book that was written 100 years after the emancipation proclamation, is still being echoed in today’s literature. It is a know fact that we as the children of our ancestors still face racism, we have only just begun to live as a race longer than slavery was allowed. I love reading books like this that continue to remind me to stay alert and struggle on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.5
This book was so descriptive, for better or for worse you felt everything that Annis was going through. I did the full immersion on this one (audio and physical) which I think helped when it came to being able to follow along with the descriptive writing. I have been slowly making my way through this authors books and have not been disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy
Jackal by Erin E. Adams
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
This has been the best thriller I have read all year. There is something about a black horror novel, that is strangely right up my alley. I enjoyed every bit of this ride. The author is able to worked the realness of racism and the fear that brings in and of itself with the magical realism that is going on in the woods. I am going to be on the hunt to read more thrillers like this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
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
5.0
This book has so much amazing dialogue that came across perfectly as a audiobook. I really felt like I was listening to a bonus season of Dear White People set in the UK.
I love how witty the characters are with each other and the romance was perfect. It was a slow burn with the characters developing over time, slowly realizing that there is no such thing as fake dating. I also enjoyed all of the black culture pop references. The focus on friendship was wonderful as well. This book had me smiling and laughing all the way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Infidelity
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Solid 3.25 ⭐️
Giving this a rating based on it being somewhat of an entertaining read. But this was not really a thriller, I didn’t even feel suspense reading this. Definitely a overly hyped book from Tik-Toc.
I get what the author was trying to do with the twists and the end, it just didn’t hit hard enough for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Grief and Pandemic/Epidemic
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
3.5
This was a really sweet cozy read, more of a slow burn. I enjoyed the patrons and the folks who worked at the cafe. Apart of me wished that this wasn’t written in third person, I think it took me awhile to really get into the story because of that and I think it caused some type of separation between me and the characters.
I feel really comfortable rating this 3.5 stars. It was well written, but did not really wow me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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 throughly enjoyed this book. From beginning to end the author had me totally enraptured.
I felt for both of the Vignes sisters. As you follow one twin who decided to live as a black person and the other who decided to live as a white. I ended up feeling for both and the ending of this book felt appropriate as well.
The author made such smart decisions in writing. It is so well done! My only critique is that I want more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
The Street by Ann Petry
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Woah this story felt too real! I had to put it down for a while before I could finish it. Lutie’s circumstances are absolutely heartbreaking and all encompassing. I could physically feel the heartbreak and loneliness.
Ann Petry was able to tackle racism, classism, colorism, socialism, etc. She navigated flawlessly and her writing left no crumbs. This book is a perfect example of allowing the reader to discuss and think about these topics without having the narrator spoon feed the topic to us. This book is a must read. I will definitely read more from her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity, Grief, and Abandonment