bibliozord's reviews
406 reviews

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

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lighthearted sad fast-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

renée watson never misses

Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter by Samantha Crewson

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challenging dark 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

3.5

Set in a town that urges you to leave just as quickly as you arrived, Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter follows Providence, a woman who has spent the past thirteen years avoiding Annesvile—the place she once called home. At seventeen, she was sent to prison for running over and nearly killing her mother. But that’s the thing—her mother wasn’t the intended target. Her father was. Now, with her mother missing, Providence is forced to return to the town that shaped her, confronting the past she tried to outrun and reckoning with the mistakes she can’t take back.

Samantha Crewson delivers a sharp, twist-filled thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Every revelation hits like a gut punch, and just when you think you know where the story is headed, Crewson proves you wrong. At the heart of it all is Providence—a character you can’t help but root for, even as she wades through the wreckage of her past. Tense, gripping, and emotionally raw, Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter is the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. If you love complex characters, morally grey dilemmas, and thrillers that refuse to let go, this one’s worth picking up.

No Reservations by Sheryl Lister

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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

a heartfelt novel about Black sisterhood, Black joy, and Black love. i was immediately drawn into the bond between joy, diane, and rochelle. their friendship felt authentic and layered, with each woman navigating her own struggles while showing up for one another in meaningful ways. it’s rare to find a story that balances the complexities of individual journeys and the strength of collective support so well, but this book nailed it. joy, diane, and rochelle are fully realized characters with distinct voices, and their dynamic made the story feel alive. honestly, it read like a movie—I was hooked from start to finish and could easily picture every scene playing out on screen.

one aspect of the book that didn’t sit well with me was the recurring mentions of diets and the fatphobic comments directed at rochelle, who is described as being a size 14 and struggling with an ED. the way bigger bodies and diets were discussed felt unnecessary at times and could be especially triggering for readers because of how harsh and dismissive some of the language was. it pulled me out of the story and made certain moments difficult to sit with. that said, i did appreciate that the narrative didn’t leave rochelle to deal with her struggles alone. her loved ones stepped in with genuine care, supporting her as she worked through her challenges with body image, which offered a thoughtful and much-needed counterbalance to the negativity.

overall, this story is a celebration of friendship, resilience, and love, and despite its flaws, it’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you turn the final page.

Content Warnings

The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez

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emotional informative inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

i don’t have words to explain how much i loved this book. alvarez's words always leave me craving more, an urge to learn and understand the history de mi isla querida. this book ignited a desire to unravel the forgotten stories that are hidden in the shadows of Dominican history.

if i could give this book all the stars in the sky, i would.

The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis

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emotional funny 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

4.0

this book felt like watching a hallmark movie in the winter with a warm cup of hot chocolate—familiar yet comforting.

i enjoyed my time reading this book. it’s not something i had on my radar before getting this in a blind date with a book, but i liked it.

the characters were flawed, relatable, and lovable—like old friends you’ve haven’t seen since college. i felt for natalie and wanted the best for her (tom 🤭). tom is my standard.

if a man doesn’t dedicate a whole gallery filled with photos he took of people smiling and enjoying my music, i don’t want it

the more i think about it the more i like it.

The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

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funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

what a strange yet wonderful book. i absolutely enjoyed my time reading this short story. i definitely recommend this if you loved anxious people by the same author. this made me want to reread anxious people and the rest of backmans backlist.

also this book is aro ace and autistic coded and i love it.

Instead of falling in love, have you tried to not do that? It really saves a lot of time.

The Gift Rarely Given by Ambar Cordova

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

i really enjoyed this novella and can see so much potential in ambar córdova as an author. livie was such a relatable character for me, especially as a fellow plus-sized person. seeing how alex treated her with such care and defended her so fiercely only made me love their dynamic—and raised my own standards in the process.

that said, i couldn’t overlook some small inconsistencies and errors, like the colors of certain things changing or moments of awkward writing. it felt a bit rushed at times. i understand this was due to uploading mistakes, which i sympathize with, and because of that, i decided not to leave a star rating.

overall, i would recommend as a holiday romance!

Content Warnings